Film

The Elephant Man 1980

Directed by David Lynch

  • Drama, History
  • 124 min
  • PG

A true story of courage and human dignity.

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man being mistreated by his "owner" as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of great intelligence and sensitivity. Based on the true story of Joseph Merrick (called John Merrick in the film), a severely deformed man in 19th century London.

DramaHistoryfriendshiplondon, englandescapenurseexploitationbiographybased on true storytragedyhospitalblack and whiteperiod dramasocial injustice

Heads up
  • Bleak ending

Log it

Sign in to log this.

Where do you stand?

Three questions people argue about. Answer first, then see how your circle and the community split.

  • Is this David Lynch's best work?

    Sign in to answer

    Be the first to answer.

  • Would The Elephant Man hit harder if it came out today rather than in 1980?

    Sign in to answer

    Be the first to answer.

  • Is it the best drama film of its decade?

    Sign in to answer

    Be the first to answer.

Ask the title a question

Answered from what people have written, never made up: a verdict, how much when it's a matter of degree, and the sentences that say so, quoted with their names. Reviews here first, then TMDB's reviews and the title's Wikipedia plot and reception. If nothing settles it, you can put it to the curators.

Character

Earnest, grave, contemplative and prestige.

  • earnestironic
  • gravecomic
  • contemplativerelentless
  • unpretentiousprestige
  • rawmeticulous

Who loves it, who doesn't

The Prestige HunterThe Prestige Hunter: loved by 66The ArchivistThe Archivist: loved by 33The ProvocateurThe Provocateur: loved by 22The SincereThe Sincere: loved by 11The IronistThe Ironist: loved by 11The EmpathThe Empath: loved by 11loved (4★+)disliked (2.5★ or less)

17 profiled raters. Loved most by The Prestige Hunters.