6 Best Magician and Illusionist Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 14, 2026

Magic is craft and deception, and these films enjoy both. Houdini follows the legendary escape artist’s dangerous stunts and obsession with the afterlife, Now You See Me stages heists during shows, and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone has a fading Las Vegas duo facing a street magician. The Great Buck Howard, The Prestige and The Illusionist round out the six.

Houdini (1953)

TMDB ★ 6.4

The legendary escape artist's dangerous stunts and obsession with the afterlife define his extraordinary career.

Directed by George Marshall · 1h 46m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ 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

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)

TMDB ★ 5.7

A fading Las Vegas magic duo has to reinvent itself to compete with a dangerous new rival.

Directed by Don Scardino · 1h 40m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Great Buck Howard (2008)

TMDB ★ 6.4

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

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

The Illusionist (2006)

TMDB ★ 7.5

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

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 Magician and Illusionist Movies

Houdini (1953)

Now You See Me (2013)

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)

The Great Buck Howard (2008)

The Prestige (2006)

The Illusionist (2006)

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