Review – Now You See Me: Now You Don’t
Review – Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (In theatres 14 November 2025).
The twist reveal at the end is as amazing as in the first film.
Magic, misdirection, and one hell of a global heist: Now You See Me: Now You Don’t
(third in the “Four Horsemen” franchise) is the kind of popcorn-slick blockbuster you go
to when you want to see illusions, stunts, old favourites back in action — and a little
more. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, written by a stacked team (Seth GrahameSmith,
Michael Lesslie, among others) and boasting returning stars Jesse Eisenberg (J. Daniel
Atlas), Woody Harrelson (Merritt McKinney), Dave Franco (Jack Wilder), Isla Fisher
(Henley Reeves) plus a new generation of sleight-of-handers (Justice Smith, Ariana
Greenblatt, Dominic Sessa) and a villainous turn by Rosamund Pike — the film promises
spectacle. What it delivers is entertaining, uneven, and ultimately heading toward
franchises-ville, but still with some solid thrills.
What the film is about
The Horsemen are back, older, maybe a little world-worn, and drawn into one more
mission by the secret society known as The Eye (yes, again). Their goal is to expose
(and help dismantle) a global criminal network trafficking diamonds and laundering
money through underground arms deals. Enter Veronika Vanderberg (Pike), heir to a
corrupt crime dynasty. She’s hoarding the massive “Heart Diamond,” and the Horsemen
must recruit a younger team of illusionists (Charlie, June, Bosco) to pull off the heist of
the century. The game is bigger. The stakes are global. The illusions are more
audacious. That’s the setup. (See trailer write-ups.)
The good stuff
- Cast and chemistry
Eisenberg, Harrelson, Franco and Fisher slip into their roles like old gloves. Eisenberg’s
Atlas is still fast-talking, showy, but he carries an undertone now — of a man trying to
pass the torch. Harrelson retains his laid-back trickster edge. Fisher’s Henley’s return is
welcome and adds some sparkle. The new trio bring energy. Charlie has swagger. June
fights to prove she belongs. Bosco keeps things unpredictable. Rosamund Pike as
Veronika is a highlight: charismatic, deadly, and she brings menace to a franchise that
often sidesteps genuine menace.
Their ensemble chemistry keeps the film afloat in its more ridiculous moments. When
the team is planning, joking, setting up illusions, you believe they’ve done this kind of
madness before — and that they enjoy it. That gives the film moments of genuine fun. - Stylish set pieces and illusions
If you came for the magic tricks and the big heist sequences, there is a solid measure
of that here. The set pieces are global: the action jumps from Budapest to Las Vegas to
Dubai (or so it feels), the illusions scale up, the visual “how did they do that?” factor is high. For many viewers, that’s enough. The film zips along, rarely letting the|momentum drop. And in its better moments, the trick is still about surprise, misdirection, and timing — which the first film nailed and this one essentially delivers. - Franchise evolution and new voices
The decision to extend the mythos by passing the torch to younger illusionists gives the
film a sense of “legacy” rather than mere repetition. It’s smart: franchises stale when
they treat themselves as endless riffs; here, there’s at least a sense of change, of
generational rehearsal and takeover. The themes explore mentorship, identity, and
ownership of the spectacle. That attempt elevates the lightweight story in a welcome
way.
The things that don’t fully work - Story coherence & emotional weight
Here’s the rub: Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is fun, but it lacks the sharpness of
the first film. While it fulfills the formula, it rarely surprises, and the characters aren’t as
deeply drawn as in the first. The villain is somewhat under-defined until late, the
emotional stakes feel thinner, and the transition from “magic show” to “global financial
crime thriller” sometimes sacrifices logic for spectacle. If you’re looking for a fully tight
storyline, you’ll find holes. - Ensemble overcrowding
With so many characters (returning Horsemen, new recruits, villains, side players), the
screen gets crowded. Some new characters are underdeveloped. The younger
illusionists, while fun, don’t all get equal screen time, and their arcs tend to feel
derivative of the originals. At times, the film appears more invested in spectacle than
character development. - Magic vs. action imbalance
What made the first film special was its balance of illusion and story — the metaphor of
magic was woven into the narrative. Here, the action sequences and CGI-heavy heists
dominate, and the “trick” becomes big stunts rather than subtle sleight-of-hand. For
purists of the franchise’s original charm, that shift may disappoint.
My verdict: enjoy the ride, but don’t expect enchantment
I went into Now You See Me: Now You Don’t wanting the magic show, the misdirection,
the “how’d they do that?” moment. I got that, and for much of the ride, I was smiling.
The film is slick, showy, and built for the big screen. It entertains. However, I also
found myself missing the tighter conceit of the earlier films: the sense that magic is
more metaphor than a result of CGI. This one leans into blockbuster territory more than
illusion-art territory.
If I were grading it, I would give it a 7 out of 10. Strong shows from the cast, some
excellent heist moments, and enough twisty fun to satisfy fans. However, it is less
unforgettable than the original and less emotionally engaging than it could have been.
If you’re a fan of the franchise, you’ll probably leave happy. If you love the idea of
magic-heist cinema with emotional underpinnings, you’ll wish for a bit more.
Why it matters
In 2025, when audiences have seen every variant of the “team assembles, heist
happens, twist revealed” structure, the question for a sequel is: what makes this
iteration worth doing? Now You See Me: Now You Don’t attempts to answer the
questions of legacy, new faces, and a bigger scale. And in that sense, it succeeds more
than you might expect. The latest film expands the franchise’s world, gives younger
characters a platform, and delivers a big-screen event.
Final thoughts
When you sit down for this film, buckle in for illusions, big set pieces, and a sense of
spectacle. Enjoy the familiar faces, the new magic crew, and the heist rhythms. Don’t
expect a meditation on the art of magic. Expect a blockbuster dressed as a magic show.
And if you can accept that, you’ll have fun.
The curtain goes up on 14 November 2025. Let the cards fly, let the tricks dazzle, and
remember: sometimes the real magic is in the reveal.
