Now You See Me 2

#Feature: With Now You See Me 2 out July 4th we look at Magicians in Film

In Now You See Me 2, (cert 12A) The Four Horsemen return for their second mind-bending adventure, elevating the limits of stage illusion to new heights and taking them around the globe. One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their Robin-Hood-style magic spectacles, the illusionists resurface for a comeback performance. When the Horsemen are threatened into pulling off their most impossible heist yet, their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.

Now You See Me 2 boasts a stellar cast including; Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Lizzy Caplan, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, Jay Chou, Daniel Radcliffe and Michael Caine.

As we eagerly wait to see what incredible tricks and illusions wait in store for us in Now You See Me 2, let’s take a look at some of the most exceptional magicians to ever appear on the silver screen.

Most Awe-Inspiring Reputation – The Wizard, The Wizard of Oz (1939)

In this classic film, a tornado strikes Kansas and transports Dorothy and her dog Toto to a land presided over by a fearsome and all-powerful wizard. The Wizard has everyone in Oz convinced that he can use magic to grant any wish, and uses his powers to appear to others as a huge and imposing floating head. However, as Dorothy takes a closer look at the incredible illusions in the Emerald City, she begins to realise that his feats of magic may not be quite what they seem.

Most Horrid – Don Gallico, The Mad Magician (1954)

Horror legend Vincent Price plays Don Gallico aka Gallico the Great in John Brahm’s 1954 film The Mad Magician. Gallico murders his manager for revealing the secret of one of Gallico’s tricks to a rival magician. The trick involves an apparatus that Gallico uses to simulate the decapitation of an assistant, but Gallico uses the device to kill his manager, effectively transforming the illusion into an act of real violence. Brilliantly filmed in stereoscopic 3D, this brought new tricks to an old revenge plot.

Most Cutthroat – Robert Angier and Alfred Borden, The Prestige (2006)

Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale star in this dark and mysterious thriller as rival magicians obsessed with topping each other’s impressive tricks. Using technology and ingenuity, the two men are consumed by the desire to create incredible illusions, and aren’t above sabotaging the other to prove themselves the better magician.

Most Romantic – Eisenheim, The Illusionist (2006)

Illusionist Eisenheim, played by Edward Norton, has travelled the world studying magic. His greatest desire is to wed Duchess Sophie, but as an Austrian peasant in the late 1800s, his social standing is too low to allow this dream to come true. Using an impressive command of trickery and magic may be his only hope to create a future with the love of his life.

Most Wacky – Burt Wonderstone, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)

The prize for silliest magician (and best hair) on this list has to go to Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrell). In this goofy comedy, Burt, a has-been Las Vegas magician, attempts to reunite with his old partner to take down a newer, more popular street magician. As their illusions get more and more ridiculous, Burt and his partner will stop at nothing to return to fame as Vegas’ top magic act.

Now You See Me 2 opens in cinemas on July 4th.