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.
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Cast
83 people
Anthony Hopkins
Frederick Treves
Known for
Westworld
The Silence of the Lambs
John Hurt
John Merrick
Known for
Alien
V for Vendetta
Anne Bancroft
Mrs Kendal
Known for
The Graduate
Antz
John Gielgud
Carr Gomm
Known for
Gandhi
Merlin
Wendy Hiller
Mothershead
Known for
A Man for All Seasons
I Know Where I'm Going!
Freddie Jones
Bytes
Known for
Dune
Firefox
Michael Elphick
Night Porter
Known for
The Element of Crime
Masada
Hannah Gordon
Mrs Treves
Known for
Unforgotten
Watership Down
Helen Ryan
Princess Alex
Also in
The Crown
Persuasion
John Standing
Fox
Known for
V for Vendetta
Patrick Melrose
Dexter Fletcher
Bytes' Boy
Known for
Band of Brothers
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Lesley Dunlop
Nora
Known for
Emmerdale
Tess
David Lynch Director · Eric Bergren Screenplay Christopher De Vore Screenplay
Worldwide gross $26M · Budget $5M · United States release October 10, 1980
Box office
Budget
$5,000,000
Worldwide gross
$26,000,000
Gross vs. budget
5.2×
Production
Brooksfilms
Production
EMI Films
Production
Paramount Pictures
Studio
United States · United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United States · October 2, 1980
Premiere · New York City
United States · October 10, 1980
Theatrical
United States · September 29, 2020
Physical · Criterion Collection, DVD and Blu-ray
Argentina
December 11, 1980 · Theatrical
Australia
January 16, 1981 · Theatrical
Brazil
December 22, 1980 · Theatrical
February 21, 2025 · Limited theatrical · São Paulo, São Paulo, CineSesc (Retrospectiva Do Onírico ao Real – Uma Homenagem a David Lynch) (4K Restored Version)
Canada
October 10, 1980 · Theatrical
Chile
October 27, 2015 · Limited theatrical · Re-release
China
April 16, 2026 · Premiere · Beijing International Film Festival
Colombia
September 30, 1982 · Theatrical
Czechia
January 15, 2004 · Limited theatrical · Projekt 100
May 2, 2024 · Limited theatrical · Re-release, 4K restored
Denmark
February 27, 1981 · Theatrical
Finland
January 23, 1981 · Theatrical
France
January 1, 1981 · Premiere · Avoriaz Film Festival
April 8, 1981 · Theatrical
November 6, 1998 · Physical · DVD
November 3, 2009 · Physical · Blu-Ray
January 1, 2013 · Digital · VOD
April 8, 2020 · Physical · 4K UHD
June 22, 2020 · Theatrical · Re-release, restored version
January 1, 2021 · Digital · Netflix
Germany
February 13, 1981 · Theatrical · West Germany
Greece
June 10, 2003 · Physical · DVD
May 13, 2010 · Theatrical · Re-release
Hong Kong SAR China
October 15, 1981 · Theatrical
Hungary
December 19, 1985 · Theatrical
Iceland
December 28, 1982 · Theatrical
April 1, 2001 · Digital
Ireland
November 7, 1980 · Theatrical
Italy
March 6, 1981 · Theatrical
Japan
May 9, 1981 · Theatrical
November 20, 2004 · Limited theatrical · Re-release
Mexico
March 19, 1981 · Theatrical
Netherlands
January 15, 1981 · Theatrical
March 2, 2002 · TV · Net 5
August 4, 2008 · Physical · DVD
September 24, 2009 · Physical · Blu ray
November 29, 2018 · Theatrical · Re-release
Peru
October 8, 2015 · Limited theatrical · Re-release
Philippines
June 23, 1984 · Theatrical
Poland
August 22, 2025 · Limited theatrical
Portugal
May 22, 1981 · Theatrical
Romania
February 1, 2025 · Limited theatrical
Russia
September 7, 2009 · Physical · DVD
November 27, 2025 · Theatrical · Restored 4K version
Singapore
September 29, 2020 · Physical · Blu-ray
Slovakia
March 1, 2004 · Theatrical
Spain
March 31, 1981 · Limited theatrical · Madrid
May 4, 1981 · Limited theatrical · Barcelona
January 5, 2000 · Theatrical
June 11, 2021 · Limited theatrical · Re-release, 4K restored
Sweden
March 23, 1981 · Theatrical
Taiwan
March 29, 2013 · Premiere · Golden Horse Fantastic Film Festival
Türkiye
December 28, 1981 · Theatrical
October 16, 2020 · Theatrical · Re-release
United Arab Emirates
April 6, 2020 · Physical · DVD
United Kingdom
October 9, 1980 · Limited theatrical · London
October 16, 1980 · Theatrical
October 13, 2019 · Limited theatrical · BFI London Film Festival (4K restoration )
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