The best movies about magicians
The top 3 according to 253 votes from people: The Prestige (2006) · Nightmare Alley (1947) · The Illusionist (2006). (Updated Jul 19, 2023.)
Rival illusionists, card sharps and mentalists: the best films about magic, ranked from MovieWeb, SlashFilm and working magicians at See Magic Live.
Top 10
-
1
The Prestige (2006)
Two rival magicians in 1890s London, by Christopher Nolan.
-
2
Nightmare Alley (1947)
The original noir with Tyrone Power.
-
3
The Illusionist (2006)
A magician in love above his station in turn-of-the-century Vienna.
-
4
Nightmare Alley (2021)
A carny who becomes a mentalist, by Guillermo del Toro.
-
5
An Honest Liar (2014)
A documentary about magician and sceptic James Randi.
-
6
Now You See Me (2013)
Four magicians pulling off heists during their shows.
-
7
Sleight (2016)
A young street magician dealing drugs in Los Angeles.
-
8
Magic (1978)
A ventriloquist-magician and his sinister dummy.
-
9
Houdini (1953)
Tony Curtis as the great escape artist.
-
10
The Illusionist (2010)
An ageing French stage magician in Scotland, animated by Sylvain Chomet.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
-
11
The Great Buck Howard (2008)
A fading mentalist and his young assistant.
-
12
Magic in the Moonlight (2014)
A magician sent to expose a spiritualist, by Woody Allen.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (2)
The Prestige first, no debate. The twist still gets me.
Glad the 1947 Nightmare Alley got in, it's darker than the remake