The Princess Bride

Goldman pretends to abridge an old history book by a fictional author named S. Morgenstern.

A grandfather reads a classic swashbuckling fairy tale to his reluctant grandson — a story of true love, revenge, giants, swordsmen, rodents of unusual size, and a pirate named Westley who will stop at nothing to rescue his one true love, Buttercup. The Princess Bride

Features dangerous fictional fauna like the Rodents of Unusual Size (R.O.U.S.) and the shrieking eels. Goldman pretends to abridge an old history book

When opened in 1987, it was a box office disappointment, ranking 49th for the year. The marketing was a disaster. Posters looked like cheesy romance novels. Critics were confused. The New Yorker said it "never really takes off." Features dangerous fictional fauna like the Rodents of

The film's "features" include highly recognizable symbols and characters that have become cultural shorthand: The Six-Fingered Sword: Represents family honor and a lifelong quest for justice. The Fire Swamp: Home to Flame Spurts, Lightning Sand, and (Rodents of Unusual Size). The Pit of Despair: A symbol of ultimate hopelessness, featuring "The Machine." Miracle Max: