The Elephant Man poster

The Elephant Man(1980)

2h 4mDrama, HistoryEnglish
8/10
3,940 user ratings

A true story of courage and human dignity.

Overview

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.

Director

David Lynch

Studio

Brooksfilms

Budget

$5M

Revenue

$26M

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Cast

Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins

as Frederick Treves

John Hurt

John Hurt

as John Merrick

Anne Bancroft

Anne Bancroft

as Mrs Kendal

John Gielgud

John Gielgud

as Carr Gomm

Wendy Hiller

Wendy Hiller

as Mothershead

Freddie Jones

Freddie Jones

as Bytes

Michael Elphick

Michael Elphick

as Night Porter

Hannah Gordon

Hannah Gordon

as Mrs Treves

Helen Ryan

Helen Ryan

as Princess Alex

John Standing

John Standing

as Fox

Dexter Fletcher

Dexter Fletcher

as Bytes' Boy

Lesley Dunlop

Lesley Dunlop

as Nora

Where to Watch

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Movie Facts

Release Year

1980

Runtime

2h 4m

Language

English

Rating

8 / 10

Budget

$5M

Box Office

$26M

Production Companies

Brooksfilms

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch The Elephant Man?

Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for The Elephant Man (1980).

What is The Elephant Man about?

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.

Who directed The Elephant Man?

The Elephant Man was directed by David Lynch and released in 1980. It is a drama, history film.

How long is The Elephant Man?

The Elephant Man has a runtime of 2 hours and 4 minutes (124 minutes total).

Who stars in The Elephant Man?

The cast of The Elephant Man includes Anthony Hopkins as Frederick Treves, John Hurt as John Merrick, Anne Bancroft as Mrs Kendal, John Gielgud as Carr Gomm, Wendy Hiller as Mothershead and more.

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