Sightlines · reception
How The Princess Bride was received
1987 · Rob Reiner · The Princess Bride on Sightlines
The arc
A modest performer in 1987 that marketing famously couldn't figure out how to sell, it became a giant on VHS and cable — one of the defining examples of a movie the home-video era rescued into classic status.
What’s debated
It's less argued over than fiercely guarded — the recurring flashpoint is remake talk, which reliably triggers a collective 'inconceivable, don't you dare' from the internet, and the contrarian take that it's overrated comfort food remains one of film Twitter's most dangerous opinions.
Its footprint
'Inconceivable!', 'As you wish', 'mostly dead', and 'Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.' are all permanent fixtures of the quote canon — few films have this many lines that people can finish for you.
Where it stands
The archetypal 'everyone has seen it' comfort classic — a family-movie touchstone passed between generations and a perennial four-star warm blanket on Letterboxd.
Did you know? Mandy Patinkin has said his only injury on the entire shoot was a bruised rib — from trying not to laugh at Billy Crystal's improvised takes as Miracle Max.