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The Elephant Man (1980) original theatrical poster
#3 of 1980

The Elephant Man (1980)

1980 · 123 minutes · Directed by David Lynch
IMDb rating8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes91%
Box office gross$26.1M

Synopsis

Frederick Treves, a surgeon at the London Hospital, finds John Merrick in a Victorian freak show in London's East End, where he is kept by Mr. Bytes, the brutish ringmaster. Merrick's head is kept hooded outside of shows, and Bytes, who views him as intellectually disabled due to his muteness, is paid by Treves to have him brought to the hospital for examination.

Starring

Anthony HopkinsJohn HurtAnne BancroftFreddie JonesJohn Gielgud
Box office
$26.1 million
Budget
$5 million
IMDb votes
285,903

Where to watch The Elephant Man in Canada

Availability from JustWatch Canada, checked November 2026. Catalogues change often.

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More of the best movies of 1980

Star Wars strikes back, Scorsese and Kubrick deliver two of their masterpieces, and the spoof comedy is born at 30,000 feet.

See all of 1980 on the ’80s page →