Overview
A magician's rise to fame takes a dark turn when his ventriloquist dummy begins to take control.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- claustrophobic
- eerie
- foreboding
- late night horror viewing
- classic horror marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Anthony Hopkins, Burgess Meredith, Richard Attenborough’s direction, and the film’s unsettling premise, while finding the screenplay and final act conventional or overextended.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Fats develops a mind of his own and seeks control over Corky, making the ventriloquist dummy the film’s central supernatural threat.
Corky’s relationship with Fats can be read through telepathy, alter ego, madness, or split personality, sustaining uncertainty about the source of the danger.
The film emphasizes Corky’s pressured performances, isolated retreat, and increasingly controlling relationship with Fats.
Flashbacks and jumps forward document Corky’s relationship with Fats and were specifically noted in the critical discussion of the film’s editing.
Films like Magic, and why
Psycho
psychological horror centered on an unstable protagonist and a disturbing object whose apparent autonomy blurs reality
Dead of Night
slow-burn supernatural horror using performance, manipulation, and an uncanny theatrical presence to generate dread
The Twilight Zone: The Dummy
psychological horror about identity fracture, obsession, and an unnervingly lifelike figure
The Ventriloquist's Dummy
claustrophobic horror focused on a ventriloquist, a sinister dummy, and the collapse of psychological control
Movie Details
- Director
- Richard Attenborough
- Release Date
- 1978-11-08
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (333)
Cast
- Anthony Hopkins
- Ann-Margret
- Burgess Meredith
- Ed Lauter
- E.J. André
- Jerry Houser
- David Ogden Stiers
- Lillian Randolph
- Joe Lowry
- Robert Hackman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Shudder, Night Flight Plus, Shudder Amazon Channel, Screambox Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Magic about?
- A troubled ventriloquist’s career-making dummy becomes an unnervingly forceful rival for control of his life.
- What is Magic like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Magic as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Magic violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Magic as moderate.
- What did critics think of Magic?
- Critics broadly praised Anthony Hopkins, Burgess Meredith, Richard Attenborough’s direction, and the film’s unsettling premise, while finding the screenplay and final act conventional or overextended.
- Which films are like Magic?
- Films with a similar feel include Psycho, Dead of Night, The Twilight Zone: The Dummy, and The Ventriloquist's Dummy.
- How long is Magic?
- Magic runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch Magic?
- In United States, Magic streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Shudder, Night Flight Plus, Shudder Amazon Channel, Screambox Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
