6 Best Magic and Illusionist Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 29, 2026

The secretive world of stage magic suits a good twist. The Prestige has two rival magicians in an increasingly dangerous battle, The Illusionist has a magician winning back his childhood love, and Now You See Me has illusionists pulling heists while staying one step ahead. Big Fish, Death Defying Acts and The Great Buck Howard round out the six.

The Prestige (2006)

IMDb ★ 8.5 RT 77% Metacritic 66

Two rival magicians engage in an escalating, obsessive competition with devastating personal costs.

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.

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 gifted stage magician's reunion with his childhood love threatens a powerful crown prince.

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 disguised as stage magic.

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 gets entangled with a scheming mother-and-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. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're 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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