Now You See Me: Now You Don't Review: Flashy Tricks, Bigger Stakes and Pure Fun

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher 

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Producers: Bobby Cohen, Alex Kurtzman

There’s a moment early in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t when J. Daniel Atlas stands alone on a dimly lit rooftop in Paris, staring at a deck of cards as if he’s trying to bend the entire world to his will. He flicks one into the air just a tiny motion, barely noticeable but the way it hangs for a split second tells you everything. Atlas is older now, sharper, a little more haunted. And Jesse Eisenberg wears that weight like a tailored suit. No monologue, no dramatic sting. Just a man whose confidence is a mask that’s starting to crack.

That’s the magic of this third chapter: it knows exactly what audiences love about the Horsemen, and it leans into it. This isn’t trying to be The Prestige, and it’s not pretending to be a grounded crime thriller. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t plays the same game the franchise always has—big illusions, bigger twists, and a constant stream of smirking charisma—but with a cleaner rhythm and a little more emotional muscle.

The tricks this time feel more tactile, more practical, almost like the film is daring you to look closer. Woody Harrelson continues his delightful double-act chaos, flipping between personas with a wink. Dave Franco slides back into the role of the earnest sleight of hand prodigy, still the moral compass of a team that lies for a living. And Mark Ruffalo’s Dylan Rhodes, older and more battered by the past, gets some of the film’s strongest moments quiet scenes that ground the spectacle without slowing it down.

Director Ruben Fleischer shoots the illusions with a swagger the franchise hasn’t quite hit before. Instead of “camera magic,” the film tries to show magic. Close up sleight of hand, one-take escapes, and a London set piece involving a runaway museum exhibit that’s so absurdly bold it circles all the way back to brilliant. Is the plot airtight? Of course not. It’s a Now You See Me movie. The script throws twists at you like confetti, some landing perfectly, others drifting away before you even register them.

But the film doesn’t care if you catch every detail and neither will most viewers. Because it’s fun. Stylish. Confident. A cinematic magic show that thrives on momentum, charm, and the thrill of seeing the impossible staged with straight-faced conviction.

Is it groundbreaking? No. Is it a blast? Absolutely. And in a world of overly serious blockbuster franchises, that might be the real trick up its sleeve.

Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4/5) – Slick, playful, and irresistibly showy. Exactly the kind of magic you came for.