

The Elephant Man
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.
TMDB
8.0/10
4,099 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $5M
- Box office
- $26M
- Language
- English
- friendship
- london, england
- escape
- nurse
- exploitation
- biography
- based on true story
- tragedy
- hospital
- black and white
- period drama
- social injustice
Top billed cast














Behind the camera
Director
Music
Produced in
United States of America, United Kingdom
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremierePGNew York City2 Oct 1980
- TheatricalPG10 Oct 1980
- PhysicalPGCriterion Collection, DVD and Blu-ray29 Sept 2020
United KingdomGB
- Theatrical (limited)PGLondon9 Oct 1980
- TheatricalPG16 Oct 1980
- Theatrical (limited)12ABFI London Film Festival (4K restoration )13 Oct 2019
United Arab EmiratesAE
- PhysicalDVD6 Apr 2020
AustraliaAU
- TheatricalM16 Jan 1981
CanadaCA
- Theatrical14A10 Oct 1980
ArgentinaAR
- Theatrical+1311 Dec 1980
BrazilBR
- Theatrical1022 Dec 1980
- Theatrical (limited)10São Paulo, São Paulo, CineSesc (Retrospectiva Do Onírico ao Real – Uma Homenagem a David Lynch) (4K Restored Version)21 Feb 2025
ChileCL
- Theatrical (limited)Re-release27 Oct 2015
ChinaCN
- PremiereBeijing International Film Festival16 Apr 2026
ColombiaCO
- Theatrical30 Sept 1982
CzechiaCZ
- Theatrical (limited)12+Projekt 10015 Jan 2004
- Theatrical (limited)12+Re-release, 4K restored2 May 2024
DenmarkDK
- Theatrical1127 Feb 1981
Frequently asked questions
The Elephant Man was released on 9 October 1980.
Audience reviews
2- W7/10
Wuchak
7/2/2020
_**The ultimate outcast**_ In 1884 London, a doctor (Anthony Hopkins) meets Joseph Merrick, aka The Elephant Man (wrongly called John Merrick in the film) who was being exploited as a freak show attraction. Treves (Hopkins) tries to help Merrick (John Hurt) for the last six years of the latter’s life wherein he becomes cultured, but he inevitably remains an object of curiosity, to high society as well as low socie…
- C8/10
CinemaSerf
6/7/2023
Saw this, recently up-converted to 4K at the London Film Festival and, apart from the clear improvements to the quality and detail of the image, I was reminded of just how good it is. Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft play their roles with engaging sincerity - very ably supported by Sir John Gielgud and Dame Wendy Hiller. Prosthetics aside, John Hurt captures both the despair and optimism of Merrick with empathetic s…
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