15 Movies To Watch If You Like Now You See Me

Summary

• Now You See Me
  draws from heist movies and crime capers, adding a magic twist for a unique experience.
• Now You See Me 3
  has been announced with the main cast returning, but fans will have to wait for filming to start.
• Fans looking for similar movies can explore other heist films, star-studded capers, or thrillers with magicians.

Now You See Me draws inspiration from heist movies and crime capers while adding a magic twist, and the best movies like it find other fascinating ways to embrace these genres. The 2013 film follows Mark Ruffalo’s FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes as he is on the trail of a group of magicians known as the Four Horsemen who are using their “magic tricks” to pull off daring heists for an unknown party. Along with the various genre elements, Now You See Me also features a star-studded cast with Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine joining Ruffalo.

After a long wait, Now You See Me 3 has been announced with many of the main cast members returning alongside some new characters. However, with the release not expected until 2025, there will still be more of a wait ahead for fans, making it the best time to seek out some other fun movies that capture that same vibe. From movies that take new approaches to the heist formula to star-studded capers to thrillers with magicians at the center, there are a surprising amount of great movies like Now You See Me for fans to check out.

20 Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

Ethan Hunt And His Team Are On The Run And Pulling Off The Impossible

Tom Cruise’s incredible stunts steal the show in the Mission: Impossible movies, but some of the best aspects of the franchise are the team elements. While the first three movies in the series focus squarely on Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol served as an example of how much fun it can be to have some other characters for Hunt to play off when he’s trying to save the world.

While the team of IMF may be a little more sophisticated than the Four Horsemen in Now You See Me, the use of gadgets and incredibly planned-out heists make them seem almost magical at times. Hunt and his team may be the good guys but, Ghost Protocol (and many other Mission: Impossible movies) see them on the run from the law, giving them an anti-hero quality as well.

19 The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

An Art Thief Forms A Romance With The Detective Who Is Chasing Him

During Pierce Brosnan’s era as James Bond, he took some time away from the 007 franchise to play another suave and cool hero in The Thomas Crown Affair. A remake of the Steve McQueen caper and directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard), this fun and sexy crime romp finds Brosnan playing a successful playboy who has a unique hobby of stealing priceless pieces of art. However, he soon finds himself being pursued by an intriguing detective (Rene Russo).

Now You See Me doesn’t have much of a romance angle to speak of, while The Thomas Crown Affair is mostly focused on the romance that blossoms between these two people on opposite sides of the law. However, while Crown is a much more grounded thief than the magicians, the climatic heist in the movie is the same kind of fun and inventive sequence that makes Now You See Me so entertaining.

18 The Sting (1973)

Two Conmen Team Up To Pull A Grift On A Mob Boss

Following their iconic team-up in the Western movie classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Robert Redford and Paul Newman joined forces again to put their amazing chemistry to work in the crime genre. The duo star in The Sting as two conmen who, after a mutual friend is killed by a ruthless crime boss (Robert Shaw), rally together to make the villain pay.

The movie is a funny, light, and hugely entertaining ride as the audience follows these colorful characters planning the perfect con together. The dynamic of the con feels very similar to seeing a heist plan come together. Like Now You See Me, The Sting loves to misdirect the audience and confuse them with plenty of backstabbing and double-crosses. However, both films build to a clever twist that allows the story to end in a terrific crowd-pleasing fashion.

17 Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

A Case Of Mistaken Identity Puts A Man In The Middle Of A Gang War

An early scene in Lucky Number Slevin introduces the idea of a “Kansas City Shuffle”, explaining that it is “when everybody looks right, you go left.” That sense of misdirection has a similar feel to Now You See Me and provides a lot of fun in seeing how the movie can trick the audience into looking the wrong way. Josh Hartnett stars as Slevin, a seemingly ordinary young man caught up in a case of mistaken identity that puts him in the middle of a gang war between two bitter criminal rivals.

The movie is darker and more grounded than Now You See Me, with a lot less of the blockbuster flash. However, it does have a good sense of humor. The reveals in both films are also similar with the motivations of key characters showing how the trick was pulled off. Morgan Freeman even plays a similar role in both twists.

16 Sneakers (1992)

Security Experts Are Pulled Into A Trap

While there are a lot of great heist movies that revel in the grittiness of the crime genre, Now You See Me embraces the fun of seeing some likable characters working together to pull off an intricate and brilliant plan. That is also the approach taken by the hugely entertaining and vastly underrated heist movie Sneakers. Robert Redford leads a cast that includes Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, and River Phoenix as a band a skilled operatives working as security consultants. However, when they are drawn into a trap, they must use their skills to pull off a real heist.

Like Now You See Me, Sneakers is a story about the sins of the past returning and betrayals leading to revenge. However, it is also a fun caper with a terrific ensemble. It is a lot of fun to see Hollywood legends like Redford and Poitier embracing their comedic side and not taking themselves too seriously.

15 The Brothers Bloom (2008)

Conmen Brothers Target An Eccentric Heiress

Before wowing the world with Knives Out, writer and director Rian Johnson made his first foray into the lighter side of crime movies with this story about Stephen (Now You See Me‘s Mark Ruffalo) and Bloom Bloom (Adrien Brody), two conmen brothers. The pair attempt to con Penelope Stamp (Rachel Weisz), a wealthy heiress but Stephen falls for the mark, complicating the plot.

As seen in Knives Out and the Peacock series Poker Face, Johnson has a love for these fun and twisting crime stories and seems to relish playing with the genre. Like Now You See Me, there is a lot of fun in seeing the pieces of this complex plot fall into place, but the real entertainment in The Brothers Bloom comes from watching the characters interact.The Brothers Bloom is a unique crime caper that has its own sense of quirky humor and magic to it.

14 After the Sunset (2004)

A Fed Closes In On A Thief Planning His Last Score

Now You See Me‘s Woody Harrelson stars in this much more laid-back take on a heist movie also elevated by a star-studded cast. After Sunset stars Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek as two master jewel thieves who’ve escaped Harrelson’s FBI agent before. As the couple plans one last big score before returning, Harrelson closes in on them.

Set in the Bahamas, After the Sunset has a uniquely easygoing vibe that may not have been a hit with either critics or audiences at the time of its release but has garnered it a stronger following over the years since. Like the thieves in Now You See Me, Brosnan makes for a criminal who is easy to cheer for and there is a fun friendship that develops between him and Harrelson as they play their game of cat and mouse.

13 Inside Man (2006)

A Detective Deals With A Bank Robbery Turned Hostage Situation

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee team up for their fourth movie together in the crime thriller Inside Man. Washington leads an all-star cast of heavy hitters, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Willem Dafoe, and Jodie Foster, as a detective negotiating with Clive Owen’s robber who is holding hostages inside the bank as part of his master heist plan.

Lee uses the backdrop of New York City in the way that only he can, adding so much character to what could have been just another by-the-numbers cops and robbers movie. However, the thriller elements are also intriguing, with more and more complexities added to this crime, leading to plenty of mind games that will stimulate fans of Now You See Me‘s many switcheroos and disappearing acts. It all leads to a satisfying reveal that adds to the more light-hearted take on the heist genre.

12 Fast Five (2011)

Dom And His Crew Plan A Heist Of A Drug Lord’s Fortune

One of the complaints against Now You See Me is the improbable nature of the heists, even taking the “magic” aspect of the story into account. However, that sort of mindless fun is what many people look for in movies like this and Fast Five. The ever-accelerating Fast & Furious franchise kicked up into a new gear with its fifth installment, which leaned heavily into the heist aspect of the previous movies, bringing on new recurring cast member Dwayne Johnson for the first time, and the series has never looked back.

In the spirit of the 2003 remake of The Italian Job, Fast Five is all about a team of car-centric thieves using some theatrical planning and execution that Now You See Me fans will surely appreciate. It’s not all high-octane muscle from the crew, and they have their own set of tricks up their sleeves to surprise the audience.

11 Logan Lucky (2017)

Two Brothers Plan A Heist At A NASCAR Race

For those who enjoy the structure and execution of an elaborate heist plan, Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky is a must-see. This is Soderbergh returning to the fun crime genre after the Ocean’s movies, but substituting the cool sophistication of that franchise with a dimmer ensemble of characters with Southern charm. Led by Channing Tatum and Adam Driver as two brothers planning on robbing a local speedway, the would-be criminals at the heart of the scheme are simply lovable.

With supporting roles played by the likes of Daniel Craig and Seth McFarlane, the movie is filled with big laughs and a clever script that makes the heist exciting and unique. Even if the main characters aren’t the slick criminal geniuses of Now You See Me‘s world, it all comes together in a thrilling way that heist genre fans will love.

10 Inception (2010)

Dream Thieves Plan Their Most Ambitious Mission

Christopher Nolan’s Inception is a much more epic and serious take on the heist genre that has a lot to offer for fans of Now You See Me. For starters, Inception also brings in a tremendous ensemble cast of actors together to tell a very heist unique story just like Now You See Me does. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as the leader of a gang of thieves who specialize in extracting ideas from people’s dreams only to be tasked with a new mission of implanting an idea in the mind of a target.

The film has some great visuals and while there is no actual magic taking place, there is no doubt that the feats the group pulls off are certainly magic. The gravity-defying scenes are wonderful to experience and make for unique action sequences. There are a lot of surprises throughout the movie as well, which keeps audiences guessing and questioning the reality right up until the climax.

9 Baby Driver (2017)

A Getaway Driver Is Fueled By Music

Much like Inception, Baby Driver takes a well-known concept — a colorful ensemble of criminals coming together to pull off a heist job — but it does so in a modern and unique manner. In this case, that is mainly done through music, which plays a huge part in telling the story. Getaway driver Baby uses music as his comfort due to the fact he suffers from tinnitus, making Baby Driver’s soundtrack not only the score but a big part of the story.

While music doesn’t have much of a role in Now You See Me, it is the comedic tones and fresh ideas that make these two movies so similar. The fact both films bring a team of talents together to pull off a mission is also a very similar concept. There are some good twists and betrayals throughout that really add to the drama.

8 Knives Out (2019)

A Detective Investigates A Mystery Death At A Family Party

One of the most exciting aspects of Now You See Me was the mystery behind it. While everyone knew who the main magicians were, the person pulling the strings wasn’t revealed right until the end of the movie. It left people guessing about who was doing it and why, leading to a shocking reveal that recontextualized the whole story.

Another film that does that brilliantly is Knives Out. This is a murder mystery film mostly set in one home after a death takes place, with Daniel Craig as the brilliant and eccentric detective Benoit Blanc who tries to work out if this was a murder and who might be responsible. While this film does actually reveal the death early on, there are plenty of other twists that keep audiences on edge with a lot of gripping mystery.

7 The Illusionist (2006)

A Magician Fights To Get The Woman He Loves

Though often unfairly seen as a lesser version of Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, The Illusionist is another period movie about a magician that has its own fun and original story to tell. Edward Norton plays an illusionist who isn’t allowed to be with the woman that he loves. However, with his magic shows drawing a considerable crowd, he intends to use his skills to challenge the corrupt people in power. While this film isn’t quite as secretive and fun as Now You See Me, there are still a lot of similar themes.

The magic within this movie is a lot of fun to watch and there is no shortage of suspense. Norton makes for a terrific heroic protagonist with Jessica Biel as his love interest and Paul Giamatti as the lawman tasked with stopping him.

6 Zodiac (2007)

The Story Of The Infamous Zodiac Killer

Before his lawman role in Now You See Me, Mark Ruffalo played a real-life detective at the center of one of the most infamous cases in the history of American crime. David Fincher’s Zodiac is a gripping true crime movie focusing on the real-life serial killer who was on the loose in 1960s California, using letters to the newspapers to make sure they his crimes were well known.

The movie brings that story to life in an engrossing and brutal manner as both the police and the media try to catch the mystery man. The consistent surprises as they try to work out the many clues make for an engrossing experience as the viewers are able to see the evidence coming together and share in the frustrations of the characters when they encounter yet another roadblock. Certainly, it is a much darker movie than Now You See Me but shares the same thrill of putting the puzzle together.

5 The Game (1997)

A Man Is Drawn Into An Elaborate Game Where Reality Is Put Into Question

Though David Fincher’s movies are very different from Now You See Me, he has another one that those fans may want to check out. The Game brings all the elements of mystery and intrigue that make Now You See Me such a good film yet tells a darker and more mind-bending story. Michael Douglas plays the lead role of a wealthy man who has everything anyone could want. He ends up getting a membership card for a game and that leads to him joining and totally changing his life.

The film is constantly changing and having those twists throughout makes it incredibly exciting to watch from start to finish. Like Now You See Me, The Game has a lot of fun constantly making the audience question what the reality of the situation is. Is it just a game or is there a darker conspiracy at work? The movie offers one explanation only to subvert it and call the true nature of events into question yet again.

4 Tower Heist (2011)

A Gang Of Blue-Collar Workers Plan To Rob The Millionaire Who Scammed Them

Tower Heist has a very similar narrative to Now You See Me in the sense that it sees a group come together in order to scam a very wealthy businessman while also approaching it with the same light-hearted tone. The movie follows a group of blue-collar workers who lose everything when a crooked investor embezzles all their money. They look to take revenge and even though they’re not highly skilled like the magicians are, they still work together to make it happen.

Like the ensemble cast of Now You See Me, the stars of Tower Heist have a fun chemistry with the likes of Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, and Matthew Broderick leading it up. Both movies offer a lot of fun in seeing these characters carry out the daring heist while also delivering big laughs. It is a solid crime story without the heaviness of the genre.

3 Focus (2015)

A Conman Falls For His Protégé

The star power of Now You SeeMe coupled with the fun genre story is part of the fun and a similar technique is used for the caper movie Focus. Will Smith and Margot Robbie deliver brilliant performances in a thrilling movie that is full of suspense from start to finish. The film sees two con artists come together, with Smith’s Nicky trying to teach Jess (Robbie) the tricks of the trade.

The movie brings in romance as well as the caper element, with Smith and Robbie proving to have excellent chemistry as the romantic leads. It is a nice twist and something that Now You See Me doesn’t have too much of. However, there are plenty of twists in this movie, so Focus isn’t just relying on the smoldering star power of its A-list actors.

2 Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

A Team Of Thieves Plan A Heist Of Three Casinos

Though the original Ocean’s 11 with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack is largely forgettable crime comedy, it showed the potential of having an all-star cast in a thrilling and fun caper story. When it came time to do the remake, Ocean’s Eleven brought plenty of star power while also making the heist element clever and cool.

George Clooney leads the ensemble as a career criminal who organizes a crew of thieves for the ambitious plan of robbing three Las Vegas casinos in one night.

George Clooney leads the ensemble as a career criminal who organizes a crew of thieves for the ambitious plan of robbing three Las Vegas casinos in one night. Each character has their own individual talents and skills, which is exactly how the Four Horsemen within Now You See Me operate. With Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle among the criminals, as well as roles for Julia Roberts and Andy García, Ocean’s Eleven is funny, smart, and leaves the viewers smiling.

1 The Prestige (2006)

Two Magicians Begin A Deadly Rivalry

Before Christopher Nolan cemented himself among movie fans with The Dark Knight, he made perhaps his most underrated movie with The Prestige. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale star as two magicians in the 1800s whose intense rivalry over the years grows deadly as they both search for the greatest trick.

Obviously, the main similarity to Now You See Me is that these are two stories about magic and mystery, but that is what makes it the ideal movie to watch as a double feature. Both films show the very different approaches that can be made to a movie about magicians pulling off an elaborate ruse. Now You See Me goes for a fun heist angle with plenty of laughs and excitement. In contrast, The Prestige is a darker thriller showing how far this pursuit takes the men. It is a fun comparison to look at while also enjoying the similarities between the two movies.