The Illusionists (2015): cast, story & where to watch

2015 · Film · ★ 6

The Illusionists poster

Released in 2015, The Illusionists is a documentary film directed by Elena Rossini, running about 86 minutes. “A Film About the Globalization of Beauty” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Sex sells. What sells even more? Insecurity. Multi-billion dollar industries saturate our lives with images of unattainable beauty, exporting body hatred from New York to Beirut to Tokyo. Their target? Women, and increasingly men and children. "The Illusionists" turns the mirror on media, exposing the absurd, sometimes humorous, and shocking images that seek to enslave us.

Who’s in it. The Illusionists stars Jean Kilbourne as Herself, Susie Orbach as Herself, Laura Mulvey as Herself and Gail Dines as Herself.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, The Illusionists has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Illusionists page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Illusionists tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.

Frequently asked

Where can I watch The Illusionists (2015)?
Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Illusionists change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
Is The Illusionists worth watching?
The Illusionists holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy documentary. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
Who stars in The Illusionists?
The Illusionists stars Jean Kilbourne, Susie Orbach, Laura Mulvey and Gail Dines.
When was The Illusionists released?
The Illusionists was released in 2015, with a runtime of about 86 minutes.