The Elephant Man (1980)
A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous facade, there is revealed a person of intelligence and sensitivity. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: David Lynch
Written By: David Lynch, Christopher De Vore, Ashley Montagu, Sir Frederick Treves
Starring: John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins, John Gielgud, Anne Bancroft, Dexter Fletcher, Freddie Jones, John Standing, Kathleen Byron, Wendy Hiller, Michael Elphick, Phoebe Nicholls, Claire Davenport
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The Elephant Man belongs to 100 collections
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Browse the full list of collections
| Stars | User | Rating | |
| 12 |  |
frederic_g54 | 10 97th |
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I'm kinda speechless. The film is directed with such subtlety and deliberation, you can't help but care for the main character. John Hurt plays him exceedingly well, a great performance, more than just clothes and makeup (the latter being amazing). Hopkins is perfect as the kind and caring doctor. I would like to recommend this film to everyone, especially to those who like myself may have found its subject arresting and off-putting. Pretty much a beautiful film.
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| 8 |  |
BillyShears | 95 96th |
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This is how I felt while watching Magic Mike in the theater and all the women kept pointing and fainting.
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| 6 |  |
doctor7 | 91 93rd |
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It's a terribly tragic but amazing film. Hopkins is great and John Hurt is amazing as The Elephant Man as he's able to convey so much despite being covered in massive amounts of make-up and costume. Lynch's trademark surreal style is evident, most notably in the dream sequences, the entire film does have a subtle dream-like feel to it. The Elephant Man is a surprisingly touching film that allows you to emotionally connect with the title character.
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| 6 |  |
Pickpocket | 9 93rd |
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The story of John Merrick is very emotional and beautiful and one that profoundly affected me. John Hurt is amazing and this is a definitive Lynch film and one of his best.
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| 5 |  |
CMonster | 90 93rd |
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Maybe I missed the point of the film, but I don't see the problem with exploiting grossly oversized physical features for profit. Well, guess I'm off to Hooters for their world famous chicken wings!
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| 5 |  |
goremeat | 90 95th |
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A film at it's most compelling when carefully examining the apparent illusion of alturism, and the difficult discrimination between those with or without goodness. The few setups that seemed dangerously close to heavy-handed melodrama were marvellously well handled by Lynch, to the point where they mostly came across as genuine and subtle. Brilliant.
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| 4 |  |
Magb | 85 73rd |
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People sometimes get too hung up on David Lynch's idiosyncrasies and forget what a tremendously talented director he is. The Elephant Man has none of the surreal elements most people associate with his work, but it has the same eerie atmosphere as Eraserhead and his early short films.
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| 4 |  |
febraro | 85 80th |
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I had never heard of Joseph Merrick before watching this film. This is an obviously very powerful story, and it was nice to see Lynch putting many of his stylistic resources on hold in favor of storytelling, even though this was only his second film.
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| 4 |  |
KlausGlenski | 90 95th |
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There is not a lot to be missed in this movie, it got the captivating and touching story of John Merrick which is told at great pace. Cinematography by Lynch and his men is awesome. The Art department did a wonderful job to visualize victorian Britain, sound and music is great and last but not least John Hurts acting is just fabulous and is supported by a fantastic Anthony Hopkins.
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| 4 |  |
omgfridge | 10 97th |
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A raw emotional film. Hopkins gives a great performance and Hurt is absolutely wonderful. It was a treat to watch though a very saddening story as you would expect.
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| 3 |  |
Grit | 95 99th |
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Emotionally and visually gripping from start to finish, it couples a sensitive retelling of the trials of John Merrick with fantastic acting and direction. Hopkins is great but Hurt simply could have been any better in such a difficult role to portray. Not to be missed.
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| 3 |  |
purgatos | 88 88th |
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It's about the best and the worst in people. It's one of the most moving films I've seen.
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| 3 |  |
JakeAesthete | 35 31st |
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As generally acknowledged, it's rather conventional and straight-forward for a Lynch film (although there are several moments where he seems to be asserting his directorial voice almost just for the sake of it). But it is generally very well-made and nicely filmed, and the story is quite moving in it's own way. The most interesting thing about it is probably that it reveals Lynch's deep seated penchant for completely earnest sentimentality that often gets mistaken for "irony" in his other films.
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| 3 |  |
NathanDarko | 97 96th |
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It is the tragic story of Robert " The Elephant Man" Melvin a Man who went to Hell and back. A Journey of pain, rejection & exclusion. This Movie is so sad on one side but full of hope on the other in Person of Frederick Treves ( Excellent played by Anthony Hopkins ) Society thinks Melvin is disgusting, the only thing that's disgusting are intolerant people like those gapers on the funfair.
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| 3 |  |
Hawkins | 85 79th |
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It's a little uneven but there's at least three tear-worthy moments. Dude gets alienated his whole life until Anne Bancroft kneels before him and says "you dropped this, king", how can you not love it?
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| 2 |  |
BattleToad | 89 85th |
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The Elephant Man is a tragic, moving, and exceptionally acted film. It's sad, but at the same time, you can't help but be amazed by how good a man John Merrick was even through all of his hardship. The film is as much about kindness and belonging as it is a biographic story. Really good!
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| 2 |  |
cagedwisdom | 100 90th |
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Decided to up this a point after watching it again. It is pretty damn excellent in every aspect. The scene in which the Elephant Man recites the 23rd psalm is deeply touching and only one example of the many brilliant parts of this movie. Superb.
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| 2 |  |
Potzblitz | 100 96th |
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Fantastic film. And a real tearjerker too. Truly masterful direction by David Lynch... You know, I love his other work, but sometimes I wish he'd make some more "conventional" films like this.
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| 2 |  |
Judge Holden | 7 88th |
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On understanding & tolerance. The danger with this subject matter is of succumbing to screeching melodrama, but I'd say Lynch successfully avoids coming across as emotionally manipulative -- kind of. Certain scenes were heartbreaking, others were slightly over-the-top. But Lynch is obviously very talented, and his gift for crafting a memorable & haunting story is just as evident here as it is in his more surreal films, perhaps more so. Casting the great John Hurt doesn't, erm, hurt either.
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| 2 |  |
Valenzetti | 85 72nd |
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I need to give it another watch; there is so much going on with regards to architecture and urbanization, and abnormality and normalisation, beyond what appears to be Lynch's most openly sentimental turn (excepting The Straight Story, of course). How "authorial intent" factors here is irrelevant; it's a rich work offering plenty to read.
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| 2 |  |
TinyBonanza | 18 20th |
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lol get plastic syrgery ugly
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| 1 |  |
Moribunny | 90 97th |
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Dark and very moving, yet wisely kept clear of melodrama. In my view, The Elephant Man was Lynch's second and final great film.
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| 1 |  |
wayofthegun | 100 97th |
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Beautiful, touching, and moving film. Can't say enough good things about it.
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| 1 |  |
TheDenizen | 85 91st |
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Hey, a David Lynch film with a fairly conventional structure that didn't confuse me once! That's pretty rare. John Hurt gives an excellent performance from beneath a ton of foam latex.
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| 1 |  |
Nathan S | 5 93rd |
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Lynch's second feature exists in the shadow of his awesome debut, and though The Elephant Man is a more traditional narrative, grotesque flesh deformation and industrial hum and clang of Victorian London are direct successors to Eraserhead, and certainly the film isn't without strange macabre flourishes anyway. The sensitivity is all its own: consideration for the merits of altruism, exploitation of otherness, ostensive and genuine tolerance. Hopkins and Hurt thread those needles brilliantly.
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| 1 | Chuchaqui | 94 84th |
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Heartwarming and very human film. Not comparable to other Lynch films, its a whole different thing. Still very beautiful.
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| 1 |  |
Farzan | 92 92nd |
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A wonderful film.
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| 1 |  |
TedDedon | 86 76th |
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This is Lynch's greatest film that is nothing like a Lynch film. It's emotionally gripping and visually interesting. John Hurt puts on the performance of his career as The Elephant Man. It's a must-see for everyone.
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| 1 |  |
dieter | 84 82nd |
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A must-see!
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| 1 |  |
Mentaculus | 94 94th |
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Restrained Lynch is still phenomenal Lynch. Kudos to Hurt for giving a performance beyond the realms of his prosthetics, and touching acting all around, for that matter, for a story that does reach towards what it means to be human. Shockingly profound and disturbing (the commoners' busting into the room is as good as Bunuel's Beggar's Banquet or Browning's one-of-us Wedding Reception).
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| 1 |  |
Boobjuice | 90 92nd |
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The story of John Merrick deeply affected me as a child, and this movie is a stirring depiction of his life. Horribly depressing, though tender. It's funny that one of David Lynch's most "normal" movies is based on the story of a hideously-deformed circus freak.
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| 1 |  |
sebby | 75 83rd |
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Completely unsettling, makes your heart hurt.
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| 1 |  |
stepsideways | 79 24th |
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This could have been put across as a fascinating Victorian dream-myth about exploitation and science, but in in Lynch's hands it just becomes a mushy triumph-of-the-human-spirit story. In other words, Lynch's first cop-out.
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| 1 |  |
Jeb | 85 70th |
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David Lynch's best work!
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| 1 |  |
tathiel | 89 93rd |
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The most untypical Lynch of Lynch's movies, but really good!
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| 1 | penchu | 90 98th |
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Dark heartbreaking story.
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| 1 |  |
Josie19 | 85 96th |
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Magnificent!
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| 1 | deastman | 55 26th |
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What a freak.
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| 1 |  |
cranky | 97 99th |
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Unspeakably sad and touching story which disturbs. So good performance by Hurt and story with such strong meaning.
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| 1 |  |
roofs_runner | 94 93rd |
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The most straight and clear story by Lynch which leaves you absolutely satisfied.
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| 1 |  |
woodoo | 85 63rd |
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What people forget about Lynch is that he does sentiment extremely well. John Hurt is amazing at imbuing Merrick with a kind of painful dignity.
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| 1 | glm | 89 89th |
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88.875
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| 1 |  |
JSchlansky | 85 85th |
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I wonder how many children went as the Elephant Man for Halloween in 1980
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| 1 |  |
offlineoz | 100 98th |
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Under Quarantine Film Reviews #39: Human beings are the cruelest animals. You can be the kindest man in the world but just because you may look different, you will be ostracized & David Lynch is the perfect director to capture it. There is no one better to deftly balance the warmness of John with the coldness of the general public. However, all this would not have been possible without the performance of John Hurt, who is simply fantastic. Oh and keep a box of tissues nearby, I think I ran out.
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| 1 |  |
JonnyHalftab | 88 80th |
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So Sonny Jim of Twin Peaks S3 was an Elephant Man reference. Amazing
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| Average Percentile 70.74% from 6167 Ratings |  |