{{Short description|1987 film by Rob Reiner}} {{about|the 1987 film|the novel upon which the film is based|The Princess Bride (novel)|other uses}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox film | name = The Princess Bride | image = Princess bride.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster by John Alvin<ref>{{cite web|url=https://d23.com/as-you-wish-the-princess-bride-and-the-art-of-john-alvin/|last=Auxier|first=Natalie|title=As You Wish: The Princess Bride and the Art of John Alvin|publisher=D23|date=May 1, 2020|access-date=May 2, 2024|archive-date=May 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502222959/https://d23.com/as-you-wish-the-princess-bride-and-the-art-of-john-alvin/|url-status=live}}</ref> | director = Rob Reiner | screenplay = William Goldman | based_on = {{Based on|''The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure, The "Good Parts" Version''|William Goldman}} | producer = {{Plainlist| * Andrew Scheinman * Rob Reiner }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Cary Elwes * Mandy Patinkin * Chris Sarandon * Christopher Guest * Wallace Shawn * André the Giant * Robin Wright * Peter Falk * Billy Crystal }} | cinematography = Adrian Biddle | editing = Robert Leighton | music = Mark Knopfler | studio = Act III Communications | distributor = {{Unbulleted list|20th Century Fox (United States and Canada)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://repertoire.cinema.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/film/il-etait-une-fois-la-princesse-bouton-dor-26313/ | title=Once Upon a Time... Princess Buttercup - Classified Movie Directory | date=June 2, 1990 | access-date=April 11, 2025}}</ref>|Interaccess Film Distribution (international)}} | released = {{Film date|1987|9|25|ref1=<ref name="HR">{{Cite magazine |last=Odman |first=Sydney |date=September 25, 2017 |title=The Cast of 'The Princess Bride,' Then and Now |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/princess-bride-cast-photos-then-and-now-1021697 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022113400/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/princess-bride-cast-photos-then-and-now-1021697 |archive-date=October 22, 2018 |access-date=October 21, 2021 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>}} | runtime = 98 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $16 million | gross = $30.9 million }}
'''''The Princess Bride''''' is a 1987 American fantasy-adventure-comedy film directed and co-produced by Rob Reiner and starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, André the Giant, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Peter Falk, Fred Savage, Billy Crystal and Carol Kane. Adapted by William Goldman from his novel of the same name, it tells the story of a swashbuckling farmhand named Westley, accompanied by companions befriended along the way, who must rescue his kidnapped true love Princess Buttercup from the evil Prince Humperdinck. The film preserves the novel's metafictional narrative style by presenting the story as a book being read by a grandfather to his sick grandson.
The film was first released by 20th Century Fox in the United States and by Interaccess Film Distribution in international markets on September 25, 1987,<ref name=HR/> and received widespread critical acclaim. After having only modest initial box office success, it has over time become a cult film and gained recognition as one of the greatest films of the 1980s as well as one of Reiner's best works.<ref name="our-time" /> The film is number 50 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies", number 88 on The American Film Institute's (AFI) "AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions" list of the 100 greatest film love stories, and 46 in Channel 4's 50 Greatest Comedy Films list.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2010 |title=50 Greatest Comedy Films |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/50-greatest-comedy-films |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104165534/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/50-greatest-comedy-films |archive-date=November 4, 2011 |access-date=October 30, 2011 |publisher=Channel 4}}</ref> The film also won the 1988 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 26, 2007 |title=1988 Hugo Awards |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1988-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622160935/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1988-hugo-awards/ |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |access-date=September 14, 2020 |publisher=thehugoawards.org}}</ref> and the People's Choice Award at the 12th Toronto International Film Festival. In 2016, the film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Domonoske |first=Camila |date=December 14, 2016 |title='Lion King,' 'Princess Bride,' 'The Birds' Among Additions to Film Registry |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/14/505556002/lion-king-princess-bride-the-birds-among-additions-to-film-registry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131509/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/14/505556002/lion-king-princess-bride-the-birds-among-additions-to-film-registry |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=December 15, 2016 |publisher=NPR}}</ref>
==Plot== [[File:Fantasy Worlds of Myth and Magic, EMP, Seattle - The Princess Bride (15197707344).jpg|thumb|Inigo Montoya's sword (left) crossed with the sword used by Westley (right) in the duel at the Cliffs of Insanity; beside it, Count Rugen's six-fingered glove. At bottom is the prop sword used in ''Highlander: The Series''.]] <!--Per WP:FILMPLOT, film summaries are not to exceed 700 words. Please check the word count in connection with any changes. --> In the frame story, a grandfather reads a novel called ''The Princess Bride'' to his sick grandson, who reluctantly listens.
Princess Buttercup is a young woman living on a farm in the kingdom of Florin. Her farmhand Westley, whom she calls "farmboy", always follows her orders, saying only, "As you wish". Buttercup eventually realizes it is his way of telling her he loves her. She soon falls in love with him, and Westley leaves to seek his fortune overseas so they can marry. However, she is told his ship has been attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts, who is known for leaving no survivors.
Five years later, Buttercup is forcibly betrothed to Florin's arrogant Prince Humperdinck. Before the wedding, she is kidnapped by crafty Sicilian criminal Vizzini and his men: gentle Turkish giant Fezzik, and expert Spanish swordsman Inigo Montoya, who is driven by revenge against his father's six-fingered killer. A masked man in black pursues them across the sea, as do Humperdinck and his soldiers.
Atop the Cliffs of Insanity, the man in black defeats Inigo in a sword duel and knocks him out, chokes Fezzik into unconsciousness, and kills Vizzini by tricking him into drinking deadly poison. He takes Buttercup and flees ahead of Humperdinck's party. She correctly guesses he is the Dread Pirate Roberts, rebukes him for killing Westley, and shoves him down a steep hill. While tumbling down, he shouts, "As you wish!". Realizing he is Westley, Buttercup tumbles after him, and they are reunited.
Making their way through the dangerous Fire Swamp to avoid Humperdinck and his soldiers, Westley explains that "Dread Pirate Roberts" is a transferable title he assumed when the previous Roberts, who had let him live out of respect for his love for Buttercup, retired. Having found her, Westley intends to retire and pass on the title to someone else, but Humperdinck captures them after they escape the Fire Swamp. Buttercup agrees to return with Humperdinck after he promises to release Westley. He, however, then secretly orders his henchman Count Rugen to take him to his torture chamber, the Pit of Despair. Westley, who immediately understands he will not be freed, notices Rugen has six fingers on his right hand before he is knocked out.
Buttercup, knowing Westley is alive, threatens to kill herself if Humperdinck forces her to marry him. He falsely promises to find Westley. He soon reveals his real plan: he wishes to start a war with neighboring country Guilder by killing Buttercup and framing them for it. Humperdinck had secretly hired Vizzini to kill her to this end, but Westley interfered.
Fezzik, as part of the "brute squad", is ordered to clear the thieves' forest before the wedding. Finding a drunk Inigo in the forest, he sobers him up, telling him about Rugen. Inigo, knowing neither he nor Fezzik can devise a plan, realizes they need Westley's help to storm the castle.
Buttercup discovers Humperdinck did not search for Westley, so calls him a coward. Enraged, he imprisons her and tortures Westley to near death. Inigo and Fezzik follow Westley's screams to the pit and take his body to Miracle Max, a folk healer whom Humperdinck recently fired. Max declares that Westley is actually "mostly dead". Once Inigo promises that Westley will humiliate Humperdinck and ruin his wedding, Max and his wife revive him. However, Westley is so severely weakened he needs to be carried.
The three enter the castle during the wedding. Inigo confronts Rugen, who flees and then stabs Inigo in an ambush, taunting his obsession. Inigo braves his injuries and kills Rugen. Westley locates Buttercup before she can commit suicide and assures her that the marriage is invalid as she never said "I do". Humperdinck finds them and challenges Westley to a duel, but is intimidated into surrendering. Inigo finds Westley and Buttercup, and Fezzik procures four horses for their escape. When Inigo is unsure what to do next with his life, Westley offers him the Dread Pirate Roberts title. As dawn breaks, the reunited Westley and Buttercup share a passionate kiss.
The sick grandson eagerly asks his grandfather to read him the story again the next day. His grandfather replies, "As you wish."
==Cast== {{Cast listing|<!-- Order per closing credits --> * Cary Elwes as Westley/the Dread Pirate Roberts * Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya * Chris Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck * Christopher Guest as Count Tyrone Rugen * Wallace Shawn as Vizzini * André the Giant as Fezzik * Fred Savage as the grandson * Robin Wright as Princess Buttercup * Peter Falk as the grandfather * Peter Cook as the Impressive Clergyman * Mel Smith as the Albino * Carol Kane as Valerie * Billy Crystal as Miracle Max }}
Additional cast members include Betsy Brantley as the mother of Savage's character; Margery Mason as the Ancient Booer who heckles Buttercup in her dream; Willoughby Gray and Anne Dyson as the King and Queen of Florin; Malcolm Storry as chief enforcer Yellin; Paul Badger as an assistant brute; and Anthony Georghiou and Danny Blackner as the Rodents Of Unusual Size.
==Production== ===Development=== Rob Reiner, who had been enamored of Goldman's book ever since he was given it as a gift from his father, realized he wanted to make the film adaptation after successfully demonstrating his filmmaking skill with the release of ''This Is Spinal Tap'' in 1984.<ref name="variety 30th">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Susan |date=September 24, 2017 |title='The Princess Bride' Turns 30: Rob Reiner, Robin Wright, Billy Crystal Dish About Making the Cult Classic |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/features/the-princess-bride-turns-30-1202565060/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114650/http://variety.com/2017/film/features/the-princess-bride-turns-30-1202565060/ |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |access-date=December 29, 2017 |website=Variety}}</ref> During production of ''Stand by Me'', released in 1986, Reiner had spoken to an executive at Paramount Pictures regarding what his next film would be, and suggested the adaptation of ''The Princess Bride''. He was told they could not, leading Reiner to discover that several studios had previously attempted to bring Goldman's book to the big screen without success.<ref name="variety 30th" />
Those previous attempts included 20th Century Fox, which paid Goldman $500,000 for the film rights and to do a screenplay in 1973.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weiler |first=A. H. |date=September 30, 1973 |title=News of the Screen |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/30/archives/news-of-the-screen-brolin-writes-new-prescription-westfall-ready.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202153018/http://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/30/archives/news-of-the-screen-brolin-writes-new-prescription-westfall-ready.html |archive-date=December 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Haber |first=Joyce |date=September 19, 1973 |title=Schlesinger to Direct West Work |page=d12 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Richard Lester was signed to direct and the movie was almost made, but the head of production at Fox was fired and the project was put on hiatus. Goldman subsequently bought back the film rights to the novel.<ref>Goldman, 2000 pp. 25–26</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Cleese|first= John|title=Professor at Large : the Cornell Years|publisher=Cornell University Press|year= 2018|chapter=Screenwriting Seminar: John Cleese and Bill Goldman October 14, 2000}}</ref> Other directors had also attempted to adapt the book, including François Truffaut, Robert Redford and Norman Jewison,<ref name="variety 30th" /> and at one point, Christopher Reeve was interested in playing Westley in one planned adaptation.<ref>William Goldman, ''The Big Picture?: Who Killed Hollywood and Other Essays'', Applause, 2000 p 189</ref> Reiner found success by gaining financial support from Norman Lear, whom Reiner knew from ''All in the Family'' and who had funded production of ''This Is Spinal Tap'', with the production to be distributed by 20th Century Fox.<ref name="variety 30th" /><ref>Goldman, 2000 p. 27</ref> Reiner worked closely with Goldman to adapt the book for the screenplay.<ref name="variety 30th" />
In a 2011 interview with ''Entertainment Weekly'', Reiner acknowledged that then-20th Century Fox head Barry Diller also had a prominent role in the film's production, instructing him to make it a film which, like ''The Wizard of Oz'', could instead find greater success over time rather than immediately after its initial release.<ref name="rottenberg">{{cite news|url=https://ew.com/movies/2011/10/14/princess-bride-oral-history/|title=The Princess Bride: An oral history|first=Josh|last=Rottenberg|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 14, 2011|access-date=December 27, 2025|archive-date=October 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016035056/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/10/14/princess-bride-oral-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Casting=== Reiner had quickly decided on Cary Elwes for Westley, based on his performance in ''Lady Jane''; however, during the casting period in Los Angeles, Elwes was in West Germany on set for ''Maschenka''. Reiner flew out to West Berlin to meet with Elwes, confirming his appropriateness for the role. While Reiner and casting director Jane Jenkins auditioned other actors for Westley, they knew Elwes was perfect for the part.<ref name="vice casting">{{Cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |date=September 29, 2017 |title=What It Was Like Finding the Legendary Cast of 'The Princess Bride' |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/what-it-was-like-finding-the-legendary-cast-of-the-princess-bride/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204075910/https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/xwg5xq/what-it-was-like-finding-the-legendary-cast-of-the-princess-bride |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |access-date=December 29, 2017 |website=Vice}}</ref> Elwes had read the book in his childhood and associated himself with the character of Westley, but never believed he would have the opportunity to play him.<ref name="abc elwes 30th">{{Cite web |last=Messer |first=Leslie |date=September 25, 2017 |title='The Princess Bride' turns 30: Cary Elwes shares stories from the set |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/princess-bride-turns-30-cary-elwes-shares-stories/story?id=49990697 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114733/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/princess-bride-turns-30-cary-elwes-shares-stories/story?id=49990697 |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |access-date=December 29, 2017 |website=ABC News}}</ref>
Robin Wright was cast late in the process, about a week before filming.<ref name="abc elwes 30th" /> Uma Thurman, Meg Ryan, Sean Young, Suzy Amis, Courteney Cox, Alexandra Paul and Whoopi Goldberg all auditioned for the role.<ref name="Lyttelton-2012">{{Cite web |last=Lyttelton |first=Oliver |date=September 25, 2012 |title=5 Things You Might Not Know About 'The Princess Bride' on its 25th Anniversary |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-princess-bride-on-its-25th-anniversary-105642/ |access-date=October 21, 2021 |website=IndieWire |archive-date=August 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807091322/https://www.indiewire.com/2012/09/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-princess-bride-on-its-25th-anniversary-105642/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Wright's agent had heard of the casting call and encouraged Wright to audition. Though initially shy, Wright impressed Jenkins, and later Reiner. They invited Wright to come meet Goldman at his house. Jenkins recalls: "The doorbell rang. Rob went to the door, and literally, as he opened the door, [Wright] was standing there in this little white summer dress, with her long blonde hair, and she had a halo from the sun. She was backlit by God. And Bill Goldman looked across the room at her, and he said, 'Well, that's what I wrote.' It was the most perfect thing."<ref name="vice casting" /><ref name="robinwrightlooks">{{cite web |title=Robin Wright Looks Back on Her Career, From 'The Princess Bride' to 'House of Cards' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/robin-wright-looks-back-her-164807925.html|website=Yahoo Entertainment |date=7 July 2023 |access-date=14 May 2026}}</ref> Moreover, Wright adopted a British accent for her role, reflecting the convention in medieval-set fantasy films of using British accents to evoke a historical European setting.<ref name="robinwrightlooks" /> Mandy Patinkin and Wallace Shawn were early choices for the cast; Shawn in particular was chosen as Vizzini due to his diminutive size to contrast that of the giant Fezzik.<ref name="vice casting" /> Danny DeVito was considered for the role of Vizzini.<ref name="Lyttelton-2012" />
When Goldman originally shopped his novel in the early 1970s, his first choice for Fezzik was André the Giant, whose wrestling schedule left him unavailable for filming. Goldman's second choice was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who at that time was almost unknown as an actor. By the time ''The Princess Bride'' was finally green-lit, Schwarzenegger was a major film star and the studio could not afford him. Jenkins contacted the World Wrestling Federation to ask about hiring André, but was told that the filming conflicted with a wrestling match in Tokyo that would pay him $5 million. Jenkins auditioned other tall men, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lou Ferrigno and Carel Struycken, but these did not pan out. André was hesitant to take the part on the account of the fact that the film's dialogue was in English while he was French and because he was a professional wrestler, not an actor.{{sfn|Elwes|Layden|2014|p=50}} Furthermore, André was suffering much pain resulting from his acromegaly, which was to eventually lead to his early death.{{sfn|Elwes|Layden|2014|p=118}} Liam Neeson also auditioned for the role, but he was turned down due to height.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Russian |first=Ale |date=October 12, 2020 |title=Liam Neeson Says He Met for Princess Bride's Andre the Giant Role But Was Told He Was Too Short |url=https://people.com/movies/liam-neeson-says-he-was-not-tall-enough-for-princess-bride/ |access-date=October 21, 2021 |website=PEOPLE.com |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020032523/https://people.com/movies/liam-neeson-says-he-was-not-tall-enough-for-princess-bride/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Near the end of casting, the World Wrestling Federation told Jenkins that André's match in Tokyo had been cancelled, clearing him to play the role of Fezzik.<ref name="vice casting" /> For his part, André found his participation was a gratifying experience considering that no one stared at him on set during production as a kind of freak, but instead simply treated him as a fellow member of the cast.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2017 |title=12 Inconceivable Facts That Prove That 'The Princess Bride' Isn't Just Another 'Kissing Book' |url=https://www.throwbacks.com/12-inconceivable-facts-that-prove-that-the-princess-bride-isnt-just-another-kissing-book/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920114025/https://www.throwbacks.com/12-inconceivable-facts-that-prove-that-the-princess-bride-isnt-just-another-kissing-book/ |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |access-date=August 22, 2020 |website=Throwbacks}}</ref>
===Filming=== {{Multiple image | perrow = 2 | total_width = 400 | image1 = Haddon Hall near Bakewell, Derbyshire, UK 3.jpg | caption1 = Haddon Hall was used for the interior and exterior of Prince Humperdinck’s castle. | image2 = Boulders at Robin Hood's Stride - geograph.org.uk - 554470.jpg | caption2 = Robin Hood's Stride was the location for the fight between Westley and Fezzik. | image3 = Penshurst Place, Baron's Hall, Looking towards the minstrels' gallery - geograph.org.uk - 5767132.jpg | caption3 = The interior for Prince Humperdinck’s castle hall was filmed at Baron's Hall, Penshurst Place. | image4 = Cliffs of Moher, looking north.jpg | caption4 = The establishing shot of the Cliffs of Insanity was the Cliffs of Moher. }}
The film was shot in various locations in England and Ireland in late 1986:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kent Film Office The Princess Bride Film Focus |date=March 18, 1987 |url=http://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/1987/03/the-princess-bride-1987/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318134215/http://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/1987/03/the-princess-bride-1987/ |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |access-date=March 18, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Caroline |date=October 11, 2020 |title=Where The Princess Bride Was Filmed: All Locations |url=https://screenrant.com/princess-bride-movie-filming-locations/ |access-date=April 15, 2026 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> * Carl Wark, Sheffield, England * Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire, England * Lathkill Dale where it meets Cales Dale, Derbyshire, England (the "battle of wits" scene) * Cave Dale, Castleton, Derbyshire, England * Bradley Rocks and Robin Hood's Stride, Birchover, Derbyshire, England * Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland (for the Cliffs of Insanity) * Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire, England * Penshurst Place, Kent, England * Hever Castle, Kent, England
The framing story scenes, the last to be filmed, were shot at Shepperton Studios in Surrey.<ref name="variety 30th" /> Reiner rented a house in England near these sites and frequently invited the cast over for meals and light-hearted get-togethers. Many cast members believed this helped to create a sense of "family" that helped to improve their performances for the film.<ref name="variety 30th" /><ref name="ew 30th">{{Cite magazine |last=Coggan |first=Devan |date=October 3, 2017 |title=Cary Elwes talks sword fights, André the Giant, and The Princess Bride |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/10/03/princess-bride-cary-elwes-30th-anniversary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114715/http://ew.com/movies/2017/10/03/princess-bride-cary-elwes-30th-anniversary/ |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |access-date=December 29, 2017 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> Elwes and Patinkin learned to fence (both left- and right-handed) for the film, and they performed the combat scenes themselves, with the exception of two somersaults performed by stunt doubles.<ref>Reiner, Rob. ''The Princess Bride''. DVD audio commentary. Directed by Rob Reiner. 1987; Santa Monica, California: MGM Home Entertainment, 2001. ''(see Ch. 06, time 17:45)''</ref> They were trained by fencing instructor Bob Anderson and stunt coordinator Peter Diamond, both of whom had also worked on training the actors in the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy. Elwes and Patinkin spent about three weeks prior to filming learning to fence, and they spent most of their off-camera free time practicing.<ref name="variety 30th" /><ref name="ew 30th" /> Anderson encouraged the two to learn the other's choreography for the fight to help them anticipate the movements and avoid an accident.<ref name="variety 30th" /> They also watched many sword fights from previous films to see how they could improve on those.<ref name="variety 30th" />
André the Giant had undergone major back surgery prior to filming and, despite his great size and strength, could not support the weight of Elwes during their fight scene or Wright for a scene at the end of the film. For the wrestling scene, when Elwes hangs on André's back, he was actually walking on a series of ramps below the camera during close-ups. For the wide shots, a stunt double took the place of André.<ref>Reiner, Rob. ''The Princess Bride''. DVD audio commentary. Directed by Rob Reiner. 1987; Santa Monica, California: MGM Home Entertainment, 2001. ''(see Ch. 08, time 25:40)''</ref> When he was apparently carrying Wright, she was actually suspended by cables.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2010 |title=Wright: 'Giant Was In So Much Pain On The Princess Bride Set' |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/robin-wright/news/wright-giant-was-in-so-much-pain-on-the-princess-bride-set_1134854 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221030137/http://www.contactmusic.com/robin-wright/news/wright-giant-was-in-so-much-pain-on-the-princess-bride-set_1134854 |archive-date=February 21, 2016 |access-date=October 20, 2015 |website=Contactmusic.com}}</ref> Billy Crystal and Carol Kane spent time before traveling to England to work out the backstory between Miracle Max and his wife and develop a rapport for their characters. Once on set, Reiner allowed them to improvise some of their lines.<ref name="variety 30th" />
===Soundtrack=== {{main|The Princess Bride (soundtrack)}} The original soundtrack album was composed by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. It was released by Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Vertigo Records internationally in November 1987. The album contains the song "Storybook Love", performed by Willy DeVille and produced by Knopfler. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 60th Academy Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Princess Bride |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-princess-bride-original-soundtrack-r84523 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102074244/http://allmusic.com/album/the-princess-bride-original-soundtrack-r84523 |archive-date=November 2, 2011 |access-date=November 23, 2011 |website=Allmusic}}</ref>
In his audio commentary of the film on the special edition DVD, director Reiner said that only Knopfler could create a soundtrack to capture the film's quirky yet romantic nature. Reiner was an admirer of Knopfler's work but did not know him before working on the film. He sent the script to him hoping he would agree to score the film. Knopfler agreed on one condition: that somewhere in the film Reiner would include the {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43}} baseball cap (which had been modified to say "USS Ooral Sea OV-4B") he wore as Marty DiBergi in ''This Is Spinal Tap''. Reiner was unable to produce the original cap, but did include a similar cap in the grandson's room. Knopfler later said he was joking.
==Reception== The film premiered at the Ryerson Theatre in Toronto as part of the 1987 Toronto International Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.torontomu.ca/performance/the-theatre/ |title=The Theatre at The Creative School |publisher=Toronto Metropolitan University |access-date=November 28, 2022 |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128230826/https://www.torontomu.ca/performance/the-theatre/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It went into wide release later that fall in North America.<ref name="HR"/>
===Box office=== Unsure how to describe the film's postmodern narrative, Fox promoted it to theaters as a zany comedy and released it without an audience trailer.<ref name="rottenberg" /> The film was initially a modest success,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gray Streeter |first=Leslie |date=December 9, 2007 |title='The Princess Bride' Turns 20 |journal=The Palm Beach Post |quote=[w]as a modest hit[...]}}</ref> grossing $30.8 million in the United States and Canada box office,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Princess Bride (1987 |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=princessbride.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104204409/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=princessbride.htm |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |access-date=September 27, 2011 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> on a $16 million production budget.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Mike |date=September 25, 1987 |title=Reiner's 'Princess' is charming |newspaper=USA Today |quote=Despite a $16 million budget, [...]}}</ref> Fox head Barry Diller, who wanted the film to be a success over the course of time rather than in its initial release, reassured a frustrated Reiner that the film could find a broader audience in time.<ref name="rottenberg"/>
===Critical response=== ''The Princess Bride'' was critically acclaimed upon release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lea |first=Rebecca |date=November 3, 2014 |title=As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From The Making Of The Princess Bride review |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/as-you-wish-inconceivable-tales-from-the-making-of-the-princess-bride-review/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |work=Den of Geek |quote=Although it met with critical acclaim upon its release in 1987}}</ref> On Rotten Tomatoes, ''The Princess Bride'' holds a 93% approval rating based on 147 reviews. The site's consensus states, "A delightfully postmodern fairy tale, ''The Princess Bride'' is a deft, intelligent mix of swashbuckling, romance, and comedy that takes an age-old damsel-in-distress story and makes it fresh."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Princess Bride (1987) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/princess_bride/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830074446/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/princess_bride/ |archive-date=August 30, 2013 |access-date=January 7, 2026 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref> On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 78 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Princess Bride |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-princess-bride |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025113832/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-princess-bride |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=May 24, 2025 |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS}}</ref> Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a rare grade of "A+" on a scale of A to F.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cinemascore |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert gave the film a "two thumbs up" rating on their television program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert'' review |url=http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/atm/reviews.html?sec=1&subsec=1737 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401175155/http://www.nypost.com/seven/02162007/entertainment/theater/bride_not_to_be_theater_michael_riedel.htm |archive-date=April 1, 2007 |access-date=August 5, 2010 |publisher=Bventertainment.go.com}}</ref> Ebert also wrote a very favorable print review in his column for the ''Chicago Sun-Times''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=October 9, 1987 |title=The Princess Bride |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-princess-bride-1987 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012155114/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19871009%2FREVIEWS%2F710090301%2F1023 |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |access-date=December 5, 2018 |website=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref> Richard Corliss of ''Time'' said the film was fun for the whole family,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |date=September 21, 1987 |title=Errol Flynn Meets Gunga Din THE PRINCESS BRIDE |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965565,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930093032/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965565,00.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=June 28, 2007 |magazine=Time}}</ref> and later, ''Time'' listed the film as one of the "Best of '87".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 4, 1988 |title=Best of '87 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,966369,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012153630/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,966369,00.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> Janet Maslin of ''The New York Times'' praised the cast and the sweetness of the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Maslin |date=September 25, 1987 |title=The New York Times review |work=The New York Times |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B0DE2D8133DF936A1575AC0A961948260 |access-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-date=May 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505000217/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/25/movies/film-princess-bride-full-length-fairy-tale.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
The American critic Dalton Mullins praised the film as one of the best love stories ever filmed, writing: "The chemistry between the two leads is palpable and is clear from the first moment they're on screen together. When Buttercup asks Wesley {{bracket|''sic''}} to do something, the tension of the unspoken love between the two is profound and dense, especially when they were standing face to face right before they professed their undying love for each other."<ref name="Mullins">{{cite web |last1=Mullins |first1=Dalton |title="As You Wish": True Love and Longing in The Princess Bride |url=https://cineccentric.com/2020/02/03/as-you-wish-true-love-and-longing-in-the-princess-bride/ |website=Cineccentric |date=February 3, 2020 |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326223124/https://cineccentric.com/2020/02/03/as-you-wish-true-love-and-longing-in-the-princess-bride/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Mullins argued that the phrase "as you wish" sums up the film's philosophy as Westley was willing to suffer any hardship and brave any peril for the woman he loves, which led him to argue the film was a story about "true love".<ref name="Mullins"/> He wrote that the scenes in the swamp were especially effective because the characters have been apart for so long and: "the way Wesley {{bracket|''sic''}} cradles Buttercup and the affectionate hug has always been a moment that stood out to me because it accentuates the love between the two characters and reinforces the themes of longing and true love".<ref name="Mullins"/> Mullins called the film the "...greatest romantic, fantasy, adventure story. It flawlessly represents love in that it can be a long arduous process but when fought for, it can be the most beautiful, passionate thing and fill you with the most joyful feelings".<ref name="Mullins"/>
===Legacy=== ''The Princess Bride'' was not a major box-office success, but it became a cult classic after its release to the home video market. The film is widely regarded as eminently quotable.<ref name="our-time">{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Suzan |date=October 7, 2011 |title='Princess Bride' Reunion, Thanks to Entertainment Weekly Magazine |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2011/10/princess-bride-reunion-thanks-to-entertainment-weekly-magazine/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008023923/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2011/10/princess-bride-reunion-thanks-to-entertainment-weekly-magazine/ |archive-date=October 8, 2011 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |publisher=ABC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2002 |title=Reelviews Movie Reviews: The Princess Bride |url=http://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/princess-bride-the |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209061003/http://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/princess-bride-the |archive-date=December 9, 2016 |access-date=October 31, 2016}}</ref> Elwes noted in 2017, on the film's 30th anniversary, that fans still frequently come up to him and quote lines from the movie, usually opening with “As you wish". According to him, Wallace Shawn had it worse because any time he made a small error, like dropping his keys, people would shout "Inconceivable!" at him.<ref name="ew 30th" />
In 2000, readers of ''Total Film'' magazine voted ''The Princess Bride'' the 38th greatest comedy film of all time. In 2005 ''The Princess Bride'' was voted 40th in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Family Films poll ahead of ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' and ''Beetlejuice'' and just behind ''Bugsy Malone'' and ''Bedknobs & Broomsticks''. In 2006, William Goldman's screenplay was selected by the Writers Guild of America West as the 84th best screenplay of all time; it earned the same ranking in the Guild's 2013 update.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Savage |first=Sophia |date=February 27, 2013 |title=WGA Lists Greatest Screenplays, From 'Casablanca' and 'Godfather' to 'Memento' and 'Notorious' |url=http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=1807 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306065813/http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=1807 |archive-date=March 6, 2013 |publisher=Writers Guild of America, West}}</ref> The film was selected number 88 on the American Film Institute's (AFI) "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions" listing the 100 greatest film love stories of all time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-passions/ |title=AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions |publisher=American Film Institute |access-date=June 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313150603/http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/passions100.pdf |archive-date=March 13, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> BBC Radio 5's resident film critic, Mark Kermode, is a fan of the film, frequently considering it a model to which similar films aspire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McRae |first=Duncan |date=June 27, 2015 |title=20: The Princess Bride |url=https://duncmcrae.blogspot.com/2015/06/20-princess-bride.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319015439/https://duncmcrae.blogspot.com/2015/06/20-princess-bride.html |archive-date=March 19, 2020 |access-date=March 18, 2020 |website=This AKTing Lark}}</ref>
In December 2011, director Jason Reitman staged a live dramatic reading of ''The Princess Bride'' script at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), with Paul Rudd as Westley; Mindy Kaling as Buttercup; Patton Oswalt as Vizzini; Kevin Pollak as Miracle Max; Goran Visnjic as Inigo Montoya; Cary Elwes (switching roles) as Humperdinck; director Rob Reiner as the grandfather; and Fred Savage reprising his role as the grandson.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=December 30, 2011 |title='The Princess Bride' Comes Alive! |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/12/30/princess-bride-comes-alive/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115050153/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20558503,00.html |archive-date=January 15, 2012}}</ref> In 2013, director Ari Folman released a live-action animated film titled ''The Congress'', which directly referenced ''The Princess Bride''. Folman's film starred Robin Wright, playing both a live and animated version of herself, as a digitally cloned actress.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |author-link=Manohla Dargis |date=September 4, 2014 |title=Movie Review—A Princess Bride in a Digital Forever |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/05/movies/robin-wright-stars-in-the-congress.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228082856/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/05/movies/robin-wright-stars-in-the-congress.html |archive-date=December 28, 2018 |access-date=December 27, 2018 |quote=...Ms. Wright [plays] a version of herself – a midcareer actress named Robin Wright who...starred in "The Princess Bride"... |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>
In 2014, Cary Elwes wrote ''As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride'', a behind-the-scenes account of the film's production, co-written with Joe Layden.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kelly |first=Caitlin |date=October 25, 2014 |title=The Movie That Won the Internet |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/movie-won-internet |url-status=live |access-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114837/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/movie-won-internet |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |issn=0028-792X}}</ref> To help Elwes recall the production, Lear sent him a bound copy of the filming's call sheets.<ref name="ew 30th" /> The book debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times Bestseller list.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The New York Times Bestsellers List – Hardcover Nonfiction |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2014/11/02/hardcover-nonfiction/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028114038/https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2014/11/02/hardcover-nonfiction/ |archive-date=October 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cary Elwes: Biography |url=https://www.cary-elwes.org/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028094209/https://www.cary-elwes.org/about |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |access-date=October 28, 2017}}</ref> In addition to a foreword by director Rob Reiner and a limited edition poster, the book includes exclusive photos and interviews with the cast members from the 25th anniversary cast reunion, as well as unique stories and set secrets from the making of the film.{{sfn|Elwes|Layden|2014}}{{page needed|date=March 2023}} In 2018, Savage reprised his role as The Grandson in a PG-13 version of ''Deadpool 2'' entitled ''Once Upon a Deadpool'', with Deadpool taking the role of The Narrator and reading ''Deadpool 2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s story to him at bedtime and skipping over the more adult parts from the R-rated version.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |date=September 28, 2018 |title=New 'Deadpool' Movie Coming This December; Will Feature 'Princess Bride' Star Fred Savage |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://collider.com/new-deadpool-movie-release-date/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929004447/http://collider.com/new-deadpool-movie-release-date/ |archive-date=September 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Boucher |first=Geoff |date=November 5, 2018 |title='Once Upon A Deadpool': Ryan Reynolds (and Fred Savage) On Franchise's PG-13 Plunge |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/deadpool-ryan-reynolds-disney-pg13-marvel-1202495981/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105223630/https://deadline.com/2018/11/deadpool-ryan-reynolds-disney-pg13-marvel-1202495981/ |archive-date=November 5, 2018 |access-date=November 5, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> In 2020, a bar themed after the film, named "As You Wish", opened in Chicago. The menu features 16 themed cocktails.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rogers |first=Kristen |title=Inconceivable! A Princess Bride-themed bar is popping up in Chicago |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/princess-bride-themed-as-you-wish-bar-chicago/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311165029/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/princess-bride-themed-as-you-wish-bar-chicago/index.html |archive-date=March 11, 2020 |access-date=March 16, 2020 |website=CNN}}</ref>
===Accolades=== At the 60th Academy Awards it was nominated for Best Original Song for "Storybook Love." At the 15th Saturn Awards it won Best Fantasy Film and Best Costume Design, it was nominated for Best Writing, and Robin Wright was nominated for Best Actress. It won the 1988 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and at the 1987 Toronto International Film Festival it won the People's Choice Award. At the 9th Youth in Film Awards Fred Savage won Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture: Drama. At the 4th Artios Awards it was nominated for best Feature Film Casting — Comedy.
==Post-theatrical release== {{Anchor|DVD|Video|Home video history}} In North America, the film was released on VHS and LaserDisc in 1988 by Nelson Entertainment, the latter being a "bare bones" release in unmatted full screen. New Line Home Video reissued the VHS in 1994.<ref>''Billboard'' (May 21, 1994), page 55.)</ref> The film was also released on Video CD by Philips.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=November 1996 |title=CD Films/Music |magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine |issue=13 |page=97}}</ref> The Criterion Collection released a matted widescreen version, bare bones version on laserdisc in 1989, supplementing it with liner notes. In 1997 Criterion re-released the Laserdisc as a "special edition". This edition was widescreen and included an audio commentary by Rob Reiner, William Goldman, Andrew Scheinman, Billy Crystal and Peter Falk (this commentary would also later appear on the Criterion Blu-ray and DVD release); excerpts from the novel read by Rob Reiner; behind the scenes footage; a production scrapbook by unit photographer Clive Coote; design sketches by production designer Norman Garwood; and excerpts from the television series ''Morton and Hayes'', directed by Christopher Guest.
By 1998, MGM had acquired the US home video rights to the film (as part of the pre-1996 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment film library package) and released the film on VHS and DVD. The DVD release featured the soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 with the film in wide and full screen versions, and included the original US theatrical trailer. The next year MGM Home Entertainment re-released the film in another widescreen "special edition", this time with two audio commentaries—one by Rob Reiner, the other by William Goldman—"As You Wish", "Promotional", and "Making Of" featurettes;{{Clarify|date=December 2010}} a "Cary Elwes Video Diary"; the US and UK theatrical trailers; four television spots; a photo gallery; and a collectible booklet.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henkel |first=Guido |date=2001-06-04 |title=MGM serves up a new Special Edition of The Princess Bride |url=https://www.dvdreview.com/2001/06/mgm-serves-up-a-new-special-edition-of-the-princess-bride/ |access-date=2025-12-25 |website=DVD Review & High Definition |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2006, MGM and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released a two-disc set with varying covers—the "Dread Pirate" and "Buttercup" editions. Each featured their respective character, but had identical features: in addition to the features in the previous release were, the "Dread Pirate Roberts: Greatest Legend of the Seven Seas", "Love is Like a Storybook Story", and "Miraculous Make Up" featurettes, "The Quotable Battle of Wits" game, and Fezzik's "Guide to Florin" booklet. A year later, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the film, MGM and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released the film with flippable cover art featuring the title displayed in an ambigram. This DVD did not include any bonus features from the older editions, but had new short featurettes and a new game. A Blu-ray Disc was released on March 17, 2009, encoded in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Special features included two audio commentaries, the original theatrical trailer and eight featurettes.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=MGM Press Release: The Princess Bride (Blu-ray) |url=http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/ht-software-high-definition/282196-mgm-press-release-princess-bride-blu-ray.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210180244/http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/ht-software-high-definition/282196-mgm-press-release-princess-bride-blu-ray.html |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |via=Home Theater Forum}}</ref>
In 2007, the film was released for download in the iTunes Store.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Itunes – Princess Bride |website=iTunes |date=September 25, 1987 |url=https://itunes.apple.com/ca/movie/the-princess-bride/id263952053 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626173718/https://itunes.apple.com/ca/movie/the-princess-bride/id263952053 |archive-date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=October 31, 2011}}</ref> The film is available in Europe (DVD Region 2), published by Lions Gate Entertainment. Its extras are the theatrical trailer and text filmographies. The Criterion Collection released the film on Blu-ray and DVD on October 30, 2018. It included a new 4K digital transfer, the same audio commentary from the Criterion LaserDisc release, an edited 1987 audiobook reading of Goldman's novel by director Rob Reiner, new programs on William Goldman's screenplay and tapestry, a new interview with art director Richard Holland, an essay by author Sloane Crosley, and a Blu-ray exclusive book highlighting four screenplays, as well as Goldman's introduction to the 1995 screenplay.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2018 |title=Criterion Announces October Titles |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=23637 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717070802/http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=23637 |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref> Criterion would re-release the film on a 4K/Blu-Ray combo pack on September 3, 2023. ''The Princess Bride'' has been made available on May 1, 2020, on The Walt Disney Company's streaming service Disney+.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bucksbaum |first=Sydney |date=April 20, 2020 |title=Robin Wright and Cary Elwes reunite to announce Princess Bride heading to Disney+ |url=https://ew.com/movies/robin-wright-cary-elwes-the-princess-bride-disney-plus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215231649/https://ew.com/movies/robin-wright-cary-elwes-the-princess-bride-disney-plus/ |archive-date=December 15, 2020 |access-date=October 21, 2021 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>
==Adaptations== It was announced that composer Adam Guettel was working with William Goldman on a musical adaptation of ''The Princess Bride'' in 2006. The project was abandoned in February 2007 after Goldman reportedly demanded 75 percent of the author's share, even though Guettel was writing both the music and the lyrics.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Riedel |first=Michael |date=February 16, 2007 |title='Bride' Not to Be While Broderick Balks at 'Producers' |work=New York Post |url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/02162007/entertainment/theater/bride_not_to_be_theater_michael_riedel.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225201851/http://www.nypost.com/seven/02162007/entertainment/theater/bride_not_to_be_theater_michael_riedel.htm |archive-date=February 25, 2007}}</ref> In late 2013, Disney Theatrical Productions announced that they would adapt a stage musical adaptation of ''The Princess Bride''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Champion |first=Lindsay |date=November 11, 2013 |title=Inconceivable! Disney Stage Adaptation of The Princess Bride in the Works |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/172985/inconceivable-disney-stage-adaptation-of-the-princess-bride-in-the-works/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301164557/https://www.broadway.com/buzz/172985/inconceivable-disney-stage-adaptation-of-the-princess-bride-in-the-works/ |archive-date=March 1, 2018 |access-date=February 28, 2018 |website=Broadway.com}}</ref> A website was launched a couple of months later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cerasaro |first=Pat |date=February 8, 2014 |title=Disney Launches THE PRINCESS BRIDE Stage Musical Website |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Disney-Launches-THE-PRINCESS-BRIDE-Musical-Website-20140208 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819114918/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Disney-Launches-THE-PRINCESS-BRIDE-Musical-Website-20140208 |archive-date=August 19, 2018 |access-date=March 1, 2018 |website=Broadway World}}</ref> In 2016, Rob Reiner said the project was still in development despite "roadblocks" and that Marc Shaiman, Randy Newman and John Mayer had all been approached to write songs, but had turned them down.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Viagas |first1=Robert |last2=Hetrick |first2=Adam |date=May 11, 2016 |title=Rob Reiner Says He Still Wants to See a Princess Bride Stage Musical |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/rob-reiner-says-he-still-wants-to-see-a-princess-bride-stage-musical-com-326627 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301224957/http://www.playbill.com/article/rob-reiner-says-he-still-wants-to-see-a-princess-bride-stage-musical-com-326627 |archive-date=March 1, 2018 |access-date=March 1, 2018 |website=Playbill}}</ref> In June 2019, it was confirmed Rick Elice and Bob Martin were writing the script and David Yazbek was composing the music and lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/what-to-expect-from-the-princess-bride-musical |title=What to Expect From The Princess Bride Musical |access-date=April 24, 2024 |archive-date=March 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303175013/https://playbill.com/article/what-to-expect-from-the-princess-bride-musical |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/theater/frozen-broadway-closing-virus.html |title=Disney Closes 'Frozen' on Broadway, Citing Pandemic |work=The New York Times |date=May 14, 2020 |access-date=April 24, 2024 |archive-date=March 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329220832/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/theater/frozen-broadway-closing-virus.html |url-status=live |last1=Paulson |first1=Michael }}</ref> In 2018, ''The Princess Bride'' was adapted by players of a virtual reality social game, ''Rec Room'', into what is likely to be the world's first full-length virtual reality stage production. The duration of the production was approximately 80 minutes, and ran for a total of four shows.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carson |first=Erin |title=The Princess Bride performed live -- in a VR app |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/the-princess-bride-gets-the-vr-treatment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219180047/https://www.cnet.com/news/the-princess-bride-gets-the-vr-treatment/ |archive-date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2019 |website=CNET |quote=The Orange Bucket Acting Troupe...pulled off what's likely the first full-length play performed in VR.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Seev70WSSk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/6Seev70WSSk| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Orange Bucket Acting Troupe presents: The Princess Bride – A Rec Room Tale |date=October 31, 2018 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 11, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
There have been many board games based on the film, beginning with a promotional roll and move game distributed with an early VHS video release in 1988.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Princess Bride – Board Game |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35495/princess-bride |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020171842/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35495/princess-bride |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2021 |website=BoardGameGeek}}</ref> In 2008, PlayRoom Entertainment released ''The Princess Bride: Storming the Castle'', a board game based on the film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Princess Bride: Storming the Castle – Board Game |url=http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35524 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081108052204/http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35524 |archive-date=November 8, 2008 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |website=BoardGameGeek}}</ref> Since 2013, Game Salute (now Tabletop Tycoon, under the SparkWorks imprint) has published multiple games based on specific scenes from the film, including party game ''The Princess Bride: Prepare to Die!'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prepare to Die – Board Game |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/137348/princess-bride-prepare-die |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124185808/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/137348/princess-bride-prepare-die |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2021 |website=BoardGameGeek}}</ref> card game ''The Princess Bride: A Battle of Wits'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Battle of Wits – Board Game |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/169459/princess-bride-battle-wits |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111220629/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/169459/princess-bride-battle-wits |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2021 |website=BoardGameGeek}}</ref> and dice game ''The Princess Bride: I Hate to Kill You...''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Princess Bride: I Hate to Kill You – Board Game |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/image/2913198/princess-bride-i-hate-kill-you |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314030804/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181574/princess-bride-i-hate-kill-you |archive-date=March 14, 2021 |access-date=March 14, 2021 |website=BoardGameGeek}}</ref> In 2020, Ravensburger published ''The Princess Bride Adventure Book Game'', a collaborative card and miniatures game with several boards presented as "chapters" of a book.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Princess Bride Adventure Book Game – Board Game |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316750/princess-bride-adventure-book-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323205426/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316750/princess-bride-adventure-book-game/ |archive-date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=March 14, 2021 |website=BoardGameGeek}}</ref> ''The Princess Bride Game'' is a casual video game developed and published by New York game development studio Worldwide Biggies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Brenden |date=October 3, 2007 |title=Princess Bride game conceivable |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6180318.html?sid=6180318&action=convert |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525174538/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6180318.html?sid=6180318&action=convert |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2008 |website=GameSpot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McElroy |first=Justin |date=October 3, 2007 |title=As you wish, Princess Bride game in development |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007-10-03-as-you-wish-princess-bride-game-in-development.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128143748/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/03/as-you-wish-princess-bride-game-in-development/ |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |access-date=January 10, 2026 |publisher=Joystiq |via=Engadget}}</ref>
In June 2020, a "fan made" recreation of ''The Princess Bride'' was released on Quibi called ''Home Movie: The Princess Bride''. It was produced by Jason Reitman during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine in March 2020 with help from an ensemble cast who filmed themselves recreating the various scenes at their homes to raise money for the World Central Kitchen charity. Reitman received backing from Jeffrey Katzenberg for the project, as well as the rights to stream the film on his Quibi service. The "fan-made" film also had approval from Norman Lear and the estate of William Goldman, and Mark Knopfler permitted the use of his music. Rob Reiner approved of the project, even briefly stepping in to play the grandfather.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=June 26, 2020 |title='Watch the Celebrity-Filled Fan-Film Version of The Princess Bride |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/06/the-princess-bride-homemade-fan-film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728140043/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/06/the-princess-bride-homemade-fan-film |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |website=Vanity Fair}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=William |date=June 26, 2020 |title=Quibi to air star-studded, filmed at home remake of The Princess Bride |url=https://www.avclub.com/quibi-to-air-star-studded-at-home-remake-of-the-prince-1844183330 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628131214/https://news.avclub.com/quibi-to-air-star-studded-at-home-remake-of-the-prince-1844183330 |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |publisher=The A.V. Club}}</ref> It also features the final performance of Carl Reiner, playing the grandfather in the last scene to his own son. The film was dedicated to his memory as he died days later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=July 9, 2020 |title=As You Wish: Carl Reiner's Fairy-Tale Ending |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/07/carl-reiner-final-performance-the-princess-bride |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812045616/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/07/carl-reiner-final-performance-the-princess-bride |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |access-date=July 24, 2020 |website=Vanity Fair}}</ref>
On September 13, 2020, most of the original cast members took part in a virtual live read-through of ''The Princess Bride'' script, ''Princess Bride Reunion'', to support the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. The returning cast included Elwes, Wright, Sarandon, Patinkin, Guest, Shawn, Crystal, and Kane, with additional performances by Rob Reiner as the Grandfather, Josh Gad as Fezzik, Eric Idle as the Impressive Clergyman, Whoopi Goldberg as the Ancient Booer and the Mother, King Bach as Yellin, the Assistant Brute and the King, Finn Wolfhard as the Grandson, Shaun Ross as The Man With Albinism, and Jason Reitman as the narrator. Norman Lear joined the Q&A session at the end, which was hosted by Patton Oswalt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=September 9, 2020 |title=Whoopi Goldberg, Eric Idle Among Guests Added To 'Princess Bride' Reunion Script Reading |url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/princess-bride-wisconsin-democratic-party-1234573958/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910162420/https://deadline.com/2020/09/princess-bride-wisconsin-democratic-party-1234573958/ |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=September 9, 2020 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> Cast members promoted the event beforehand using the hashtags "#PrincessBrideReunion and "#DumpTrumperdinck".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Linnane |first=Rory |date=September 6, 2020 |title=Princess Bride' cast to host virtual fundraiser for Wisconsin Democrats |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/06/princess-bride-cast-reads-script-wisconsin-democrats-fundraiser/5734214002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914164030/https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/06/princess-bride-cast-reads-script-wisconsin-democrats-fundraiser/5734214002/ |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |access-date=September 14, 2020 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |quote=Word of the event quickly spread on Twitter, with promotions by Elwes using the hashtag "#DumpTrumperdinck" as a nod to "Princess Bride" character Prince Humperdinck.}}</ref> More than 110,000 viewers donated a dollar or more to Wisconsin Democrats to view the livestream event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spicuzza |first=Mary |date=September 13, 2020 |title=Inconceivable!': More than 110,000 tune into 'A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion' fundraiser |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2020/09/13/princess-bride-fundraiser-brings-100000-donors-wisconsin-democrats/5789813002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914121620/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2020/09/13/princess-bride-fundraiser-brings-100000-donors-wisconsin-democrats/5789813002/ |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |access-date=September 14, 2020 |website=USA Today |quote=More than 110,000 people donated at least $1 to tune into "A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion" on Sunday night, making the online event an inconceivable fundraising win for Democrats here...Those who joined the reading included Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Carol Kane, Chris Sarandon, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, as well as Reiner as the grandfather reading a story to his sick grandson.}}</ref> Zen Studios released ''The Princess Bride'' table for ''Pinball FX'' on August 29, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Its Weirdest Crossover Yet, Pinball FX Is Getting Goat Simulator And The Princess Bride Tables |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/in-its-weirdest-crossover-yet-pinball-fx-is-getting-goat-simulator-and-the-princess-bride-tables/1100-6525427/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Potential remake== In a September 2019 biographical article on Norman Lear in ''Variety'', Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Tony Vinciquerra, speaking of Lear's works and interest in remaking them, stated, "Very famous people whose names I won't use, but they want to redo ''The Princess Bride.''"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=September 17, 2019 |title=Norman Lear Won't Stop: TV Legend's Sony Deal Renewal Takes Him to Age 100 |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/norman-lear-sony-deal-emmys-one-day-at-a-time-1203337598/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917171713/https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/norman-lear-sony-deal-emmys-one-day-at-a-time-1203337598/ |archive-date=September 17, 2019 |access-date=September 17, 2019 |website=Variety}}</ref> The reaction to this via social media was very negative, with fans of the film asserting that a remake would be a bad idea and, in reference to the film, "inconceivable".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garvey |first=Marianne |date=September 18, 2019 |title='The Princess Bride' remake idea has people crying inconceivable |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/18/entertainment/the-princess-bride-remake-trnd/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918154110/https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/18/entertainment/the-princess-bride-remake-trnd/index.html |archive-date=September 18, 2019 |access-date=September 18, 2019 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> Elwes paraphrased the film, saying, "There's a shortage of perfect movies in this world. It would be a pity to damage this one."<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1174124906327330816 |user=Cary_Elwes |title=There's a shortage of perfect movies in this world. It would be a pity to damage this one. |date=September 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920130745/https://twitter.com/Cary_Elwes/status/1174124906327330816 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Jamie Lee Curtis, Guest's wife, stated "there is only ONE ''The Princess Bride'' and it's William Goldman and [Reiner]'s".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitten |first=Sarah |date=September 18, 2019 |title='The Princess Bride' remake rumors spur social media outrage |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/18/the-princess-bride-remake-rumors-spur-social-media-outrage.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918180233/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/18/the-princess-bride-remake-rumors-spur-social-media-outrage.html |archive-date=September 18, 2019 |access-date=September 18, 2019 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref>
==See also== *List of cult films
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite web |url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6005-the-princess-bride-let-me-sum-up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119064414/https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6005-the-princess-bride-let-me-sum-up |archive-date=2024-01-19 |date=2018-10-30 |last1=Crosley |first1=Sloane |author1-link=Sloane Crosley |title=''The Princess Bride'': Let Me Sum Up |publisher=The Criterion Collection}} * {{cite book |last1=Elwes |first1=Cary |author1-link=Cary Elwes |last2=Layden |first2=Joe |title=As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nNW5BAAAQBAJ&pg=PP3 |publisher=Atria Books |year=2014 |location=New York City |isbn=978-1-4767-6402-3}} * {{cite book |last1=Goldman |first1=William |author1-link=William Goldman |title=Which Lie Did I Tell? |year=2000 |publisher=Pantheon Books |isbn=0-375-40349-3}} * {{cite web |title=The Roy Faires Collection, no. 5 - Interviews with Cast and Crew of The Princess Bride (1987) |publisher=Austin History Center |url=https://texasarchive.org/2013_04969 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105110739/https://texasarchive.org/2013_04969 |archive-date=2024-01-05 |via=Texas Archive of the Moving Image}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb title}} * {{TCMDb title}} * {{AFI film}} * [https://www.behavenet.com/movie/the-princess-bride The Princess Bride] at BehaveNet (Movies)
{{The Princess Bride}} {{Rob Reiner}} {{William Goldman}} {{Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation}} {{Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film}} {{TIFF People's Choice Award}} {{portal bar|Film|United States|1980s}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Princess Bride (film), The}} Category:The Princess Bride Category:1987 films Category:1987 children's films Category:1987 fantasy films Category:1987 romantic comedy films Category:1980s adventure comedy films Category:1987 American films Category:1987 English-language films Category:1980s fantasy adventure films Category:1987 adventure films Category:1980s fantasy comedy films Category:1980s romantic fantasy films Category:20th Century Fox films Category:American adventure comedy films Category:American fantasy adventure films Category:American fantasy comedy films Category:American films about revenge Category:American romantic comedy films Category:American romantic fantasy films Category:American swashbuckler films Category:1980s swashbuckler films Category:20th Century Studios franchises Category:Films about giants Category:Films about kidnapping Category:Films about princesses Category:Films about royalty Category:Films about weddings Category:Films about grandparent–grandchild relationships Category:Films based on adventure novels Category:Films based on American novels Category:Films based on fantasy novels Category:Films based on romance novels Category:Films based on works by William Goldman Category:Films directed by Rob Reiner Category:Films scored by Mark Knopfler Category:Films set in castles Category:Films set in fictional countries Category:Films set in swamps Category:Films shot at Shepperton Studios Category:Films shot in Buckinghamshire Category:Films shot in County Clare Category:Films shot in Derbyshire Category:Films shot in Kent Category:Films shot in Sheffield Category:Films with screenplays by William Goldman Category:Frame stories Category:Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation–winning works Category:Pirate films Category:Postmodern films Category:American self-reflexive films Category:Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award winners Category:United States National Film Registry films Category:Vestron Pictures films Category:English-language romantic comedy films Category:English-language romantic fantasy films Category:English-language fantasy adventure films Category:English-language fantasy comedy films Category:English-language adventure comedy films Category:Saturn Award–winning films Category:Damsels in distress