6 Best Magic and Illusionist Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 29, 2026

The secretive world of stage magic and its obsessive practitioners has powered some of cinema’s most twist-laden mysteries. In The Prestige (2006): Two rival stage magicians engage in an increasingly dangerous battle of one-upmanship and sabotage. Also notable is Big Fish (2003): A son tries to separate fact from fantasy in his dying father’s tall tales of an extraordinary life.

The Prestige (2006)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 77% Metacritic 66

Two rival stage magicians engage in an increasingly dangerous battle of one-upmanship and sabotage.

Directed by Christopher Nolan · 2h 10m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 2 Oscars6 wins & 44 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Big Fish (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 76% Metacritic 58

A son tries to separate fact from fantasy in his dying father's tall tales of an extraordinary life.

Directed by Tim Burton · 2h 05m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar69 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Illusionist (2006)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A magician uses his abilities to win back his childhood love, defying the crown prince who covets her.

Directed by Neil Burger · 1h 50m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+, Sundance Now, FlixFling · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Now You See Me (2013)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 51% Metacritic 50

A team of illusionists pulls off elaborate heists during their performances while staying one step ahead of the FBI.

Directed by Louis Leterrier · 1h 56m · Rated PG-13

1 win & 3 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Death Defying Acts (2007)

TMDB ★ 5.8

Harry Houdini becomes entangled with a scheming mother-daughter psychic act while investigating his own mother's death.

Directed by Gillian Armstrong · 1h 37m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Great Buck Howard (2008)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A disillusioned law school dropout becomes the road manager for a fading, eccentric mentalist.

Directed by Sean McGinly · 1h 30m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Magic and Illusionist Movies

The Prestige (2006)

Big Fish (2003)

The Illusionist (2006)

Now You See Me (2013)

Death Defying Acts (2007)

The Great Buck Howard (2008)

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