Gayle Sequeira BFI Jul 29, 2023

This Richard Attenborough film is less scary than it is sad, about a mentally ill man wrestling with his inner demons and finding them no easier to control when they’re in tangible form.

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Malcolm L. Johnson Hartford Courant May 17, 2023

It is fun to watch, chiefly because of the deftness and bravura of Anthony Hopkins's brilliantly split personality in the leading role, but... One yearns for the sidelights and starts that Alfred Hitchcock might have brought to this story.

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Amanda Mazzillo Film Joy Mar 8, 2022

Magic is a psychological horror with strong performances and moments that will linger in your brain.

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David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jun 6, 2021 2.5/4

...an irresistible setup that is, at the outset, employed to exceedingly promising effect...

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Joe Leydon The Times (Shreveport, LA) Apr 22, 2021

Hopkins is very impressive -- he learned ventriloquism for the film, and uses the art most effectively. But it is the emotional impact which he scores that lifts his performance beyond mere trickiness and up to the level of masterwork.

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Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009

In adapting his own best-seller, William Goldman has opted for an atmospheric thriller, a mood director Richard Attenborough fleshes out to its fullest.

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Walter Chaw Film Freak Central Jul 9, 2006 3.5/4

It makes you feel uncomfortable in your own skin.

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Derek Adams Time Out Jun 24, 2006

A hammed-up version of the old chestnut about the ventriloquist who is 'taken over' by his dummy, clumsily adapted by William Goldman from his own novel.

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Rory L. Aronsky Film Threat Jun 21, 2006 4.5/5

Because of Hopkins, because of Ann-Margret (who hardly looks like that Ann-Margret, adeptly proving herself as an occasional dramatic actress), and because of Burgess Meredith as well as Fats the dummy, "Magic" is one of the top-notch films of the 1970s.

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Christopher Null Filmcritic.com May 9, 2006 3.5/5

Odd combo, but it's creepy and generally works.

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Chuck O'Leary FulvueDrive-in.com Mar 15, 2006 A-

A very well-crafted suspense-thriller that unfolds with one dramatically tense scene after another. Hopkins is superb.

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Oct 7, 2005 5/5

Very likely to produce nightmares.

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Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Jun 12, 2005 3/5

Still creepy story of Hopkins and his psychotic dummy.

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Vincent Canby New York Times May 9, 2005 2/5

Magic is neither eerie nor effective. It is, however, very heavy of hand.

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Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion May 8, 2005 2/5

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Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Feb 7, 2005 3/5

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Dec 18, 2004 3/5

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Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Nov 20, 2003 3/5

Good cast can't keep this thriller afloat.

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Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall Nov 15, 2003 3/5

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