Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is the third film in the franchise and is now playing in theaters. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, it stars Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, Rosamund Pike, and Morgan Freeman. The original Four Horsemen team up with a new generation of illusionists to take on Veronika Vanderberg, a powerful diamond heiress presiding over a criminal empire built on money laundering and trafficking. Old and new magicians alike must set aside their differences to pull off their most ambitious heist yet.

Nine years after the last installment, we finally have a sequel with the title many felt should have belonged to the second film. I remember seeing the first movie back in high school—it was a favorite among my peers, and I watched it repeatedly at friends’ houses. The second film came out while I was in college, and I recall it being noticeably weaker. Normally I enjoy revisiting a franchise before a new entry releases, but nothing about the first two compelled me to rewatch them this time—and honestly, I think that was the right call. While the newest film is undeniably fun, I do worry I would have finally hit my limit with just how much “cheese” this series delights in serving.

Even after a nine-year hiatus, the latest installment treats itself like a legacy sequel. The original cast returns, but a brand-new ensemble is added—clearly setting up the possibility of continuing the franchise with fresh faces. Many franchises attempt this kind of generational handoff, but I honestly can’t think of a single one that’s pulled it off gracefully. The newcomers are talented in their own right, but after such a long break, fans mostly want more of what they already love, not a reinvention that feels like it’s trying to replace the original identity. In many ways, this feels like the Star Wars: The Force Awakens approach.

Unfortunately, leaning so hard into being a legacy sequel becomes the film’s biggest misstep. The dialogue feels like more of the same—sometimes to a fault. Even at the franchise’s lowest points, the cast has always been the saving grace, often elevating material that doesn’t quite hold up on the page. But the characters continue to speak in convoluted, nonsensical ways. It’s easy enough to let it wash over you and enjoy the film’s popcorn appeal, but there were plenty of moments when I simply wanted the characters to stop talking.

When the characters finally stop talking, the film truly shines thanks to its grand action set pieces. Even though each Now You See Me film has had a different director, the action has never lost its entertainment value. This installment becomes a sort of Zombieland reunion with Ruben Fleischer stepping in as director, and he knows exactly how to bring out the best in the cast while delivering energetic, crowd-pleasing spectacle. With several magic-infused sequences, it’s easy to get swept up in the illusions and enjoy the ride.

Although I still feel the expanded cast makes the film feel bloated and pulls some attention away from the returning players, Rosamund Pike emerges as arguably the franchise’s best villain. She fully embraces the tone the film is aiming for, striking the right balance between menace and theatrical flair. Let’s face it: Pike makes everything she’s in better.

Like many legacy sequels, this one doesn’t do much to set itself apart from its predecessors. In particular, there’s a creative choice involving one key character that I strongly disagreed with. The film attempts to elevate itself with an emotional twist, but instead it undercuts what has traditionally made this franchise work. I also think it leans too heavily into the new cast’s storyline, which ultimately overshadows the returning characters and dilutes the appeal of seeing them back together.

Still, for a film built on illusion, there are some genuinely delightful surprises. One twist in particular caught me off guard, and I suspect many viewers will call it one of the movie’s highlights. Impressively, it’s not treated as a quick, throwaway gimmick—the film actually commits to it. I’m honestly amazed the marketing managed to keep it completely under wraps.

Overall, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t delivers more of the same—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. The main cast returns with the same energy as before, while the new additions, though talented, contribute little to the story. The dialogue remains occasionally cumbersome, but the impressive action set pieces and strong performances make it an entertaining watch nonetheless.

VERDICT: 3/5 – Good