The Prestige

The Prestige has built a real following in Australia on HBO Max, and in the US on Hulu and Peacock Premium among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Hugh Jackman's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on HBO Max.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Prestige is worth clearing space for. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry The Prestige through its more ambitious moments. A mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy -- full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences. The human element stays intact thanks to Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, who anchor every scene. The Prestige came out in 2006. What separates The Prestige from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give The Prestige a chance. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Hugh Jackman grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.