The Elephant Man (1980): cast, story & where to watch
1980 · Film · ★ 8.1
Released in 1980, The Elephant Man is a drama and history film directed by David Lynch, running about 124 minutes. “A true story of courage and human dignity.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s 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’s in it. The Elephant Man stars Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Frederick Treves, John Hurt as John Merrick, Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Kendal and John Gielgud as Carr Gomm, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.1/10, The Elephant Man sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue. It went on to earn $26M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Elephant Man page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Elephant Man tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Elephant Man (1980)?
- In US, The Elephant Man is available to stream on Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Elephant Man worth watching?
- The Elephant Man holds an audience score of 8.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Elephant Man?
- The Elephant Man stars Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud and Wendy Hiller.
- When was The Elephant Man released?
- The Elephant Man was released in 1980, with a runtime of about 124 minutes.