The Illusionist (2006 film)

The Illusionist
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNeil Burger
Screenplay byNeil Burger
Based on"Eisenheim the Illusionist"
by Steven Millhauser
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDick Pope
Edited byNaomi Geraghty
Music byPhilip Glass
Production
companies
Bob Yari Productions
Contagious Entertainment
Miracle Pictures
Stillking Films[1][2]
Distributed byYari Film Group Releasing
Freestyle Releasing[3]
Release date
  • August 18, 2006 (2006-08-18)
Running time
109 minutes[4]
CountriesUnited States
Czech Republic[5][6]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$16.5 million
Box office$87.8 million

The Illusionist is a 2006 American romantic mystery film written and directed by Neil Burger and starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel. Based loosely on Steven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist", it tells the story of Eisenheim, a magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna, who reunites with his childhood love, a woman far above his social standing. It also depicts a fictionalized version of the Mayerling incident.

It premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and opened the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival; it was distributed in limited release to theaters on August 18, 2006 and expanded nationwide on September 1. It was a critical and commercial success.

  1. ^ "Norton's "Illusionist" wraps in Prague". filmcommission.cz. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. ^ "The Illusionist - UPP". UPP. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  3. ^ "The Illusionist". Freestyle Releasing. 2006-08-19. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  4. ^ "The Illusionist". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "Iluzionista — Česká televize". Česká televize (in Czech). Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  6. ^ Spáčilová, Mirka (4 November 2006). "Edward Norton potkal Cimrmana". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 7 August 2016.