What is it about magic shows and magicians that keeps us so enthralled? Perhaps it’s the feeling of wonder and bewilderment that we get from watching supposed magic and the inkling that it may be real. Or, perhaps it’s the fact that we as people love a good mystery and puzzle to solve, and magic shows indulge those fantasies. After all, a good magician never reveals their secrets, right, and isn't it fun to speculate how they do it?
Whatever it is, magicians and their magic shows have been entertaining us for generations. Whether it’s in person or on the screen, we love a good magic trick that will leave us flabbergasted. So, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, may I direct your attention to some of the best movies about magicians to ever grace our screens. (Please note, for the purpose of this article, magicians refer to magic shows and illusionists, not fantasy magicians or wizards like those found in Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings).
8 Houdini
Harry Houdini is perhaps the most well-known magician, famous for his daring escape acts. The world was shocked when he died at 52 and succumbed to overwhelming sepsis. Even almost 100 years after his death, his name still brings up images of amazing escapes from nearly impossible situations. To this day, many fans and magicians continue to speculate the explanation behind many of his incredible acts. In 1953, Paramount Pictures released Houdini, a fictionalized account of his life and death with Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Although many elements have been changed to create more suspense for the film, Houdini is still a fun, entertaining, and whimsical ride.
7 An Honest Liar
Abramorama
Are magicians and illusionists liars? What about psychics, faith healers, and con artists? It’s the job of these people to make us believe that the impossible is possible and therefore... tell us lies? The 2014 biographical documentary, An Honest Liar, takes a close look at these professionals through the lens of a retired stage magician and escape artist, James Randi. After spending years on stage as a magician, Randi worked as a scientific skeptic investigator and was known for his work exposing what he believed to be con artists. Yet, Randi had secrets too, which made viewers wonder if he was really the deceived or was actually the deceiver.
6 Sleight
BH Tilt
High Top Releasing
In Sleight, teenager Bo Wolfe (Jacob Latimore) is a street magician by day and a drug dealer by night. Since his parents are deceased, he’ll do anything to protect and care for his little sister, Tina (Storm Reid), including selling drugs to make a steady income. When it comes to magic, Bo’s specialty is sleight of hand (hence the title of the film) and his ability to control anything metal, by using an electromagnet which he built into his arm and first developed for a high school science project. However, when things turn south selling drugs, he will have to use his skills and wits to rescue his little sister and escape town.
5 The Illusionist (2010 Animated)
Warner Bros.
Is magic real? Alice believes that it is when she meets a French illusionist (Jean-Claude Donda) who cannot compete with the rock ‘n’ roll vibe of the 1950s and makes a meager living performing magic shows in shabby pubs and run-down restaurants, trying his best to keep magic alive. The two form a friendship and the illusionist doesn’t have the heart to tell his new friend that his magic tricks aren’t real. Instead, he spends his wages on gifts for Alice, thus, risking financial ruin. The Illusionist was a critical success, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but today remains a hidden gem, a sweet story of friendship with a melancholic edge that will linger well beyond the credits.
4 Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself
From Hulu comes the one-man show documentary that is pure magic: Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself. This one-man-show documentary explores DelGaudio’s amazing tricks and storytelling to create a truly unforgettable experience. DelGaudio gets philosophical through his magic and stories, trying to answer the most basic yet complicated questions of life — Who am I? Is identity just an illusion, or is it rooted in something deeper? What defines a person? Find out in Hulu’s awarding-winning documentary, which also has a perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score on the Tomatometer and an Audience rating of 89%.
3 The Illusionist (2006 Live Action)
Freestyle Releasing
The 2006 live-action film The Illusionist bears no resemblance to the animated 2010 film The Illusionist which has appeared previously on this list. Instead, this film follows mesmeric illusionist Eisenheim (Edward Norton) who wows the crowds with his shows centered around necromancy, the practice of raising the dead. Yet, his shows are not just purely for entertainment purposes, as he has an ulterior motive which draws the audience into a dark mystery. Complete with gorgeous sets and costumes, a stellar cast, and a twisting plot, The Illusionist is a historical mystery drama that will keep you guessing until the very end, as nothing is quite what it seems.
2 Now You See Me and Now You See Me 2
Now You See Me follows a mysterious organization known simply as the “Eye.” In the “Eye,” a team of four new illusionists who call themselves the “Four Horsemen” use their skills to bring order to the world by hacking into the bank accounts of the corrupt, rich population and giving that money to audience members who attend their shows. However, their schemes haven’t gone unnoticed and soon attract the attention of the federal agents. Now You See Me (2013) was a successful box office hit that got a sequel in 2016. Director Jon M. Chu wanted to name the sequel Now You Don’t to pay tribute to the famous saying but was told no by the marketing department as they didn’t like the word “don’t” in the title. We haven’t seen the last of the “Four Horsemen,” as a third film is in the works.
1 The Prestige
Unlike the other films on this list, there are some subtle magical and fantasy elements in this last entry, The Prestige. Rival magicians Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) will do anything to sabotage each other’s magic shows. That’s because a devastated Angier blames Borden for the death of his wife and now, the former friends have become enemies. This tale of magic, love, and betrayal follows the feud between these two rivals and the great lengths they will go to destroy each other. This mystery thriller film has a star-studded cast (including a great David Bowie starring as Nikola Tesla) and twists and turns that will keep you on your toes until the credits roll.