Some of the great movies have featured magicians as the main characters due to their exceptional skill in presenting tricks, whether it's for entertainment purposes or a clever heist that outwits the authorities (as depicted in the Now You See Me franchise). Whether it's in movies or in real life, they will always have an appeal to audiences.
With the upcoming release of Now You See Me: Now You Don't, you might be in the mood to watch movies about magicians and illusionists. Here are our recommendations (in no particular ranking).
The Prestige
Christopher Nolan's The Prestige follows rival 19th-century magicians (played by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman) who engage in a bitter battle for trade secrets.
The film has been hailed by fans for its intricate storytelling and shocking ending twist that is still being debated to this day. While it's not always considered a top-tier Nolan movie, it has nonetheless gained a cult following over the years, and it was one of the projects that helped turn him into one of the most admired filmmakers of this generation.
Now You See Me
Now You See Me follows an FBI agent and an Interpol detective as they track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.
The film was a major success when it was released in 2013 due to its clever plot and memorable characters. It spawned into a mini-movie franchise with two sequels. It also sparked an increased interest in learning magic tricks/illusion skills among more people.
Now You See Me 2
In Now You See Me 2, The Four Horsemen resurface and are forcibly recruited by a tech genius (played by Daniel Radcliffe) to pull off their most impossible heist yet.
While the film did not receive the same kind of critical reception as the first film, audiences still enjoyed it for introducing more clever tricks and high-stakes heists. However, Isla Fisher's character was notably absent, and she was replaced by Lizzy Caplan, who played a new character that took over her spot in The Four Horsemen.
Nightmare Alley
Guillermo del Toro's Nightmare Alley follows a grifter working his way up from a low-ranking carnival worker to a lauded psychic medium who matches wits with a psychologist bent on exposing him.
While the film is not necessarily focused on the life of a magician/illusionist, it is still worth watching due to its psychological noir nature, which explores the darker side of the job, leading to dangerous deception and ambition. It also features an exceptional, underrated performance from Bradley Cooper.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone follows a veteran Vegas magician who tries to revive his career after his longtime partner quits, he gets fired from his casino act, and an edgy new "street magician" steals his thunder.
The film notably starred two comedy legends, Steve Carell and Jim Carrey. While it doesn't have the reputation as a comedy classic to this day, it is still an entertaining film that deals with the life of a Las Vegas magician and the hijinks that ensue within the world.
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