Saagar Kote
Directed by Louis Leterrier, ‘Now You See Me’ is a crime thriller movie that follows a group of magicians called The Four Horsemen, who are chased by FBI agent DylanRhodes (Mark Ruffalo) after they use magic to steal from a rich man named Arthur Tressler. They explore the world of magic, trickery, and secrecy fueled by a motivation of greatness and revenge. Painted with noir elements, it is driven by a compelling narrative on the world of magic, exploring the underbelly of this world filled with mysteries. With breathtaking action, heists, and gravity-defying moments, the 2013 film is an edge-of-the-seat ride from start to finish.
The performances of the lead cast, which includes Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Mélanie Laurent, and Morgan Freeman, among others, elevate the cinematic experience. Owing to the favorable response it received from both the audiences and critics alike, it spawned a sequel titled ‘Now You See Me 2’ and a third installment titled ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.’ If you find the genre, themes, and the visual elements of the heist movie appealing, these movies similar to ‘Now You See Me’ will be great additions to your watchlist.
10. Trance (2013)
Directed by Danny Boyle, ‘Trance’ is a mystery thriller that follows the hiring of Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson), a hypnotherapist, by a gang leader named Franck (Vincent Cassel) to locate a painting by helping a fellow accomplice called Simon (James McAvoy), who is experiencing memory loss, to remember where it is. Exploring sinister themes like romantic obsession, passion, and betrayal, it has a compelling narrative featuring strong performances from the cast. It goes from being a simple story of information extraction to a web of secrets, ulterior motives, and unpredictable twists, making it a relevant part of this genre of filmmaking. There are thematic similarities between ‘Trance’ and ‘Now You See Me’ since both deal with highly personal motives of characters centered around a general theme of revenge and redemption that drive their choices.
9. Logan Lucky (2017)
‘Logan Lucky’ follows the lives of brothers Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver) as they attempt to successfully conduct a heist during the Coca-Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, it explores the idea of reversing the fortunes of a family that has mostly been unlucky in life. The concepts of brotherly bond, desperation, and these emotions driving a heist are also explored in the comedy thriller. Though not dealing with magic, ‘Logan Lucky’ is spiritually connected to the world of ‘Now You See Me’ as familial complexities are explored within both heists. Both films are commentaries on the power of redemption in their own ways.
8. Inside Man (2006)
‘Inside Man’ is a crime thriller centered around a bank heist by an armed gang in Manhattan that challenges Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington), assigned to the case, who happens to be dealing with his demons. Directed by Spike Lee, the film’s central plot point deals with the heist not being done for money or the usual motivations, but to expose the dark truth behind the bank’s foundation as an institution born out of collaboration with undesirable elements. It is a commentary on the hidden truths of the American financial world and the lengths that people go to keep them so. It shares similarities with ‘Now You See Me’ as both deal with heists with a deeper and more meaningful objective than just monetary gains.
7. Den of Thieves (2018)
A Christian Gudegast directorial, ‘Den of Thieves’ chronicles the journey of an elite unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the state’s most notorious crew of robbers who plan a heist connected to the Federal Reserve Bank. Unlike ‘Now You See Me,’ this one does not deal with moral conundrums or deep character motivations, but focuses mainly on the art of executing a heist. The crime thriller deals with the challenges faced by the police and the lengths that masterminds can go to protect their plan and to achieve their objectives. In lines similar to the classic, ‘The Usual Suspects’, the film is an ode to brilliance and commitment in delivering a grand robbery. However, in terms of narrative choices, there are similarities between the two.
6. The Brothers Bloom (2008)
‘The Brothers Bloom’ is a comedy adventure drama that centers around the lives of a pair of brothers, Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) and Bloom (Adrien Brody), who make their living by conning rich people. The swindling duo finds themselves in a situation where they decide to quit being con men, but agree to do one more job before ending it for good. They choose to con an American Heiress, Penelope (Rachel Weisz), which leads to them going on a globe-trotting adventure. What follows is a tale of a conflict between brotherly love and romantic pursuit that threatens to destroy the brothers’ bond. In ways similar to ‘Now You See Me’, the Rian Johnson directorial challenges the characters’ beliefs and explores the consequences of involving love in a dangerous life space in the world of conning.
5. Wrath of Man (2021)
‘Wrath of Man’ is a thriller directed by Guy Ritchie that follows the life of a security guard for a truck company in Los Angeles. Only called ‘H’ (Jason Statham), the security guard appears to be hiding ulterior motives, and the unraveling of these forms the core of the narration. Centred around the theme of ‘revenge’, it is an adrenaline rush of action, brutality, and mayhem, contrasting with ‘Now You See Me’. However, both movies deal with themes of betrayal and redemption. They also feature precise skills, motivations, and perfectly executed scenes that connect them not only thematically, but also in filmmaking styles and radically different color schemes that exude different flavors of cinema.
4. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ follows a twisted game of cat and mouse between a thieving billionaire and an insurance investigator. Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) is a billionaire who steals a Monet painting from a museum to keep himself pleased. An insurance agent, Catherine Banning (Rene Russo), is soon hot on Crown’s heels. In this romantic thriller directed by John McTiernan, what follows is a game of twists and turns complicated by a growing romantic arc between the two lead characters. Like ‘Now You See Me,’ the movie is narrated by heists and conning while exploring the thrill and motivations of executing them. Both heists explore the element of ‘passion’ that drives the crime, which stands above motivations like money or fame.
3. Sleight (2016)
‘Sleight’ is a science fiction thriller film directed by J.D. Dillard. It deals with the life of an ordinary street magician named Bo (Jacob Latimore) who has to care for his younger sister while being involved in the dark realm of drug dealing in Los Angeles. When his little sister is abducted due to his beef with a supplier, Jacob is forced to use his brilliance and his sleight of hand to rescue her. The narrative follows Bo’s journey as he explores the underbelly of Los Angeles’s crime world to achieve his objective. The thematic similarities between ‘Sleight’ and ‘Now You See Me’ are unmissable as they both contain characters who have to go the extra mile to save their loved ones in different ways. The idea of familial bond also drives the narration in both dramas, which makes them complementary.
2. The Illusionist (2006)
‘The Illusionist’ explores the tale of Eisenheim (Edward Norton), an illusionist in love with a Duchess, who has to overcome class differences to succeed in his attempts to woo a Duchess. Followed relentlessly by the watchful eye of an inspector, the protagonist must fight with magic as the society around him threatens to tear the lovers apart. It is a great example of the effective use of magic to narrate core plot points while maintaining the intrigue of viewers. The film deals with themes such as class difference and the idea of magic as an instrument of liberation and greatness. It is extremely well connected to ‘Now You See Me’ as it uses magic to communicate complex emotions while remaining true to the thriller and drama genres. The idea of vengeance is explored intricately in both dramas, though in entirely different styles.
1. Focus (2015)
‘Focus’ is a crime thriller directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. It features a complex relationship of mentorship, romance, betrayal, and purpose between Nicky (Will Smith), a conman and Jesse (Margot Robbie) as they explore the world of conning. Nicky takes Jesse under his wing, recognizing her talents in this world of trickery and her beauty. However, frictions and egos challenge this rather complex and power-imbalanced relationship and threaten to destroy the very foundations of their world. It shares thematic similarities with ‘Now You See Me,’ with both movies exploring the complexities of situations involving mentorship, conning, heists, and mystery. ‘Focus,’ like ‘Now You See Me,’ is also a brilliant commentary on the costs of intertwining personal and professional lives, especially when the profession is dangerous.
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