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10 Movies like Now You See Me For Fans Of Heist Films

October 4, 2022
movies like now you see me

Now You See Me’s marvellous illusions and thrilling heists helped the film become a box office hit upon its release in 2013. We have made a list of 10 riveting movies like Now You See Me that you must check out.

Now You See Me was directed by Louis Leterrier and features a talented ensemble cast. The movie’s plot follows four magicians ‘Four Horseman’ (Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco) who work on an elaborate plan devised by a mysterious trickster. An inspector (Mark Ruffalo) and an Interpol detective (Mélanie Laurent) try to track down the magicians who pull off a bang heist in their first show. 

The fun of the movie is in the clever razzle-dazzle artifice of the set pieces and the simple explanations of how and why they were done. Now You See Me symbolises the beauty of having faith in things that can’t be explained with logic. The performances by Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman and Mélanie Laurent are brilliant. In spite of getting mixed reviews from critics Now You See Me became a box office success, grossing $351.7 million worldwide.

List of Movies Like Now You See Me

  1. Now you See Me 2
  2. Prestige
  3. Ocean’s Eleven
  4. Baby Driver
  5. 21
  6. The Brother’s Bloom
  7. Knives Out
  8. The Illusionist
  9. Hugo
  10. Focus

1. Now you See Me 2 (2016)

Now You See Me 2 is the direct sequel to Now You See Me. It was directed by Jon M. Chu. Now You See Me 2 follows the story of the magicians more than a year after the first movie’s final heist. Now that the Four Horsemen have successfully outwit the FBI and won the public’s adulation they are given the task to expose a tech prodigy Walter Marby (Daniel Radcliffe) and his unethical practices.

A new member Lula (Lizzy Caplan) joins in place of Henly Reeves (Isla Fisher) as the fourth horseman. Just like the first movie, Now You See Me 2 is not short on magical illusions and clever tricks. New discoveries are made about the mysterious death of Dylan’s (Mark Ruffalo’s) father. A sequel to a popular movie always has high expectations and while now You See Me 2 is not as good as the first film, it does perform quite well. If you are searching for films like Now You See Me and you haven’t yet seen the sequel then you should definitely check it out.

Also Read: Movies like Super 8

2. Prestige (2006)

The Prestige is a Christopher Nolan film based on the 1995 novel of the same title. The Prestige follows Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale), rival stage magicians in London in the late 19th century. Robert and Alfred were stage partners once but tragedy strikes when a trick goes wrong and it creates an unhealthy competition between the two which endangers the lives of their loved ones.  

Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige does not waste a single minute, every small detail is a part of the bigger story. The real-life inventor Nikola Tesla’s technology becomes the means for Broden’s obsessive competition. The Prestige is a masterfully crafted tale with extraordinary performances by the cast. If you are looking for movies like Now You See Me, The Prestige is one of the best movies you can watch. 

3. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Directed by Gary Ross and Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven is an ensemble-heist movie. When Danny Ocean (George Clooney) wants to score one of the biggest heists in history, he brings together a group of men with specialised talents. Ocean’s Eleven is the first instalment of the Ocean franchise and a 2001 remake of the 1960 film by Rat Pack of the same title.

The story follows Danny and Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) who plan a 160-million dollar heist by targeting Las Vegas’  The Bellagio, The Mirage and MGM Grand, all casinos owned by Terry Benedict so that Danny can prove Terry’s true intentions to win back Tess, his ex-wife. If you want to see charming characters and grand heists that are ultimately done for good intentions in movies like Now You See Me, Ocean’s Eleven might be the right choice for you. 

You can also look at the rest of the movies in the Oceans series: Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s Thirteen and the all-female instalment Ocean’s Eight.

4. Baby Driver (2017)


Baby Driver was directed by Edgar Wright and it follows the story of Baby (Ansel Elgort), a getaway driver in Atlanta. Baby survives a car crash which kills his parents and leaves him with tinnitus. Baby uses music as a cathartic tool to help him aid with his hearing issue. Baby’s job is to ferry the robbers and get rid of police chasings.

Baby falls in love with a diner waitress, Debora (Lily James) and decides to quit the criminal job, and in hopes of doing so, he begins to deliver pizzas. The mastermind of the crimes, Doc (Kevin Spacey) assembles a criminal crew consisting of Buddy (Jon Hamm), Buddy’s wife Darling (Eiza González) and Bats (Jaime Foxx) who takes an immediate dislike to Baby. Baby is forced to work on the project to protect Debora and his mate Joseph. Baby Driver is highly action-packed and entertaining, so if you are looking for movies like Now You See Me then you might like this one too.

5. 21 (2008)

21 is a card game-casino heist movie directed by Robert Luketic. The movie is based on a true story where a bunch of M.I.T. students mastermind the technique of counting cards (an illegal practice in the casino) in the game Blackjack in order to take millions from Las Vegas casinos.  

The story centres around Ben Campbell, a young, highly intelligent student at M.I.T. who wants a scholarship to help him go to Harvard. His Maths professor, Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) upon discovering Ben’s extraordinary mathematical abilities makes him join a Blackjack group as a deal so he can earn enough money for the Harvard Tuition fee. This journey challenges Ben’s morals and attitude. A brutal casino security enforcer named Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne) holds a personal grudge against Rosa and wishes to bring him down. If you just watch exciting movies similar to Now You See Me then 21’s casino counting card heist will surely entertain you.

6. The Brother’s Bloom (2009)

Rian Johnson’s The Brother’s Bloom is a caper comedy drama. The movie is about two con men, Stephen and Bloom (played by Mark Ruffalo and Adrian Brody). The brothers are orphaned at a young age and grow up playing confidence tricks in dreams to one day pull off elaborate schemes. Rachel Weisz plays the role of a beautiful and delightfully ditsy New Jersey heiress. 

The scheme planned by the brothers takes them on an elaborate crooks’ tour of Europe with a mute Japanese explosives expert Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi) and a bent art connoisseur Melville (Robbie Coltrane). The con artist film The Brother’s Bloom has it all, love, deception and tricks. If you watched similar films like Now You See Me and can’t get enough of Mark Ruffalo as a con artist, then you should watch The Brother’s Bloom. 

Also Read: Movies like Coherence

7. Knives Out (2019)

Knives Out is a detective/murder mystery movie that truly keeps you on the edge. Rian Johnson, the director of Knives Out, brings in an unexpectedly refreshing take to the popular and evidently overdone genre of Detective Fiction. The academy award-winning Knives Out has an Agatha Christie-like ensemble cast. The story follows the death of Harlowe Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), the head of the aristocratic family of the Thrombeys. Benoit Blanc ( Daniel Craig) is anonymously hired to investigate the crime. 

The story of Knives out quickly switches its pace when Harlowe’s nurse and kindhearted friend Martha Cabrera (Ana de Armas) inherits all of Harlowe’s assets. The movie reveals a shocking piece of information to the viewers that entirely changes the perceived genre of a murder mystery. Knives Out’s cinematography is genius because it shows us what to focus on but never lies, only misdirects. If you want to see movies similar to Now You See me then the stellar execution of Knives out is worth a watch or two. 

8. The Illusionist (2006)

The Illusionist is a romance mystery film by Neil Burger. The movie is loosely based on the short story ‘Eisenheim the illusionist’ by Steven Milhauser. The Illusionist’s highly detailed production value is captivating to watch. The movie follows magician Eisenheim (Ed Norton) in 1900s Vienna. Eisenheim wows the crowd with his baffling magic tricks. 

The movie focuses on Eisenheim’s love for Duchess Sophie von Teschen (Jessica Biel). His attempts to win Sophie’s love puts him in a dangerous situation when Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell) accuses Eisenheim of necromancy. The Illusionist is a well-crafted movie about love and magic that you should check out if you want to watch movies similar to Now You See Me.

9. Hugo (2011)

Hugo was released in 2010 and was directed by the iconic director Martin Scorsese. The movie is based on a novel by Brian Selznick called The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The movie tells a story of a boy who lives alone in the Gare Montparnasse railway station in Paris in the 1930s. He maintains all the railway clocks (the job of his father) after his dad falls sick and eventually dies.

 

Hugo Cabret admires movie making and finds himself embroiled in a mystery surrounding his father and the real-life inventor Georges Méliès, a filmmaking pioneer. Hugo tells a heartwarming story that beautifully celebrates the art of filmmaking. If you are a lover of cinema and are looking for films like Now You See Me, Martin Scorsese’s award-winning Hugo is one of the best movies you can watch.

10. Focus (2015)

Focus is a comedy/drama movie directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. The plot revolves around the characters Nicky Spurgeon and Jess Barrett, played by Will Smith and Margot Robbie. Nicky is a con artist who takes an aspiring femme fatale named Jess under his wing. 

Focus follows gorgeous protagonists who charm their way with snappy trade banter and an expensive lifestyle. The characters are alluring but there’s nothing beneath for a viewer to have any emotional investment in them. In a movie like this, the viewers will know that they are being played just as much as the characters on screen but part of the fun is trying to stay a step ahead of the action. If you are bored and are looking for more movies like Now You See Me then you might enjoy watching Focus.

Honourable Mentions 

Here are a few thrilling movies like Now You See Me that didn’t make the list but you can also watch them:

  1. The Game
  2. Catch Me If You Can
  3. The Matrix
  4. Wanted
  5. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice 
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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