The much-anticipated third installment in the magic heist series, which reunites the original cast and introduces a new generation of illusionists, currently holds a “Fresh” rating of 62% on Rotten Tomatoes.
While critics remain mixed on the film’s narrative complexity, the score represents a significant improvement, proving that the magic—and the fun—of the caper films is far from finished. The film hits theaters this weekend, November 14, 2025.
The Franchise Scores and Synopsis
The Now You See Me series is defined by its elaborate, often nonsensical, plot twists and highly charismatic ensemble cast. Each film centers on the anti-establishment illusionist collective known as The Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and Isla Fisher (1st and 3rd installment)/Lizzy Caplan) who perform increasingly grandiose heists under the guidance of the secretive magicians’ organization, The Eye.
The two previous films in the Now You See Me franchise received widely mixed to poor scores from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The original film, Now You See Me (2013), holds a score of 51%, indicating a slight critical leaning toward negative reviews despite its commercial success. Its 2016 sequel, Now You See Me 2, fared much worse, earning a dismal 34% approval rating. The latest installment, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, currently sitting at 62%, represents the highest critical approval rating of the entire series, suggesting that the franchise’s creative team has managed to course-correct the critical response.
A Return to Form and Roster Expansion
The film, directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland), is being praised for embracing the original film’s sense of sheer, ridiculous fun while toning down the excessive CGI that plagued the sequel. The threequel brings back almost the entire original core cast, including the highly anticipated return of Isla Fisher as escape artist Henley Reeves. This reunion creates a strong sense of nostalgic stability for the franchise.
Passing the Torch to Gen Z
To infuse the franchise with fresh energy, Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith, and Dominic Sessa join the cast as a new, tech-savvy trio of illusionists. This generational mix allows for a comedic dynamic, with the older Horsemen navigating the challenges of social media fame and updated illusions, preventing the series from feeling entirely reliant on its 2013 origins.