A Franchise Mistakes Accessibility for Simplicity and Breaks Itself Trying to Please Everyone

Header Image Source: Lionsgate

I was a fan of the first Now You See Me back in 2013. It was essentially Ocean’s 11 with magic, anchored by a likable cast — Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine. It clicked with audiences, earning $117 million domestically and $350 million worldwide. Three years later, the sequel swapped Isla Fisher for Lizzy Caplan and director Louis Leterrier for Jon Chu, and like Ocean’s 12 , it was breezy fun even if it wasn’t as tight as the original. Unfortunately, it underperformed at the domestic box office ($65 million).

Ordinarily, that would’ve been the end of the franchise, except it bec

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