Spoon bending is the apparent deformation of objects, especially metal cutlery, either without physical force, or with less force than would normally seem necessary. It is a common theme for magic tricks, which use a variety of methods to produce the effect.
Spoon bending attracted considerable media attention in the 1970s when certain individuals claimed to have the ability to cause such events by paranormal psychic means. The most notable was Uri Geller, who performed by bending metal spoons as well as metal keys and several other objects and materials. Geller's performances were attributed to illusion by critics such as James Randi and Martin Gardner.