Now You See Me 2
Now You See Me 2 | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Jon M. Chu |
Screenplay by | Ed Solomon |
Story by |
|
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Peter Deming |
Edited by | Stan Salfas |
Music by | Brian Tyler |
Production companies |
|
Distributed by | Summit Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 129 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | |
Box office | $334.9 million[3] |
Now You See Me 2, also known as Now You See Me: The Second Act, is a 2016 American heist film directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Ed Solomon. The film stars an ensemble cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan, Jay Chou, Sanaa Lathan, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. A sequel to the 2013 film Now You See Me and the second installment of the film series, the plot has the Four Horsemen, and their leader Dylan Rhodes, recruited by Walter Mabry, a criminal mastermind, to steal a data chip.
On July 3, 2013, a sequel to Now You See Me was officially announced to be in development. Filming began in November 2014 and lasted until May 2015. The film was released on June 10, 2016 by Summit Entertainment, received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success grossing $334 million worldwide.
Plot
Eighteen months after outwitting the FBI, the Four Horsemen - J. Daniel Atlas, Merritt McKinney, Jack Wilder, and newest member Lula May having replaced Henley Reeves - await orders from the Eye, the secret society of magicians. While waiting, Daniel finds a message purporting that the Eye will be revealed to them soon. Their handler, FBI Special Agent Dylan Rhodes, instructs the Horsemen to expose corrupt businessman Owen Case, as his newest cell phone technology uses software that collects all of a user's private information. At the New York City reveal event for the phone, the Horsemen interrupt Owen's introductory speech, but they themselves are soon interrupted by a mysterious figure that reveals to the public that Jack is still alive, and Dylan is their contact. Dylan distracts the FBI to give the Horsemen a chance to flee through an escape tube from the roof of the building, but when they get oriented at the bottom, find themselves in Macau. Meanwhile, Dylan eludes the FBI and is contacted by Thaddeus Bradley from prison. Thaddeus offers to help Dylan after Dylan extracts him from prison. Dylan agrees, and soon learns about the Horsemen in Macau and the two travel there.
In Macau, the Horsemen are captured by Chase McKinney, Merritt's twin brother, and taken to Walter Mabry. Walter and Chase explain how they had lulled the Horsemen unconscious in the escape tubs to bring them to Macau. Walter further explains he wants the Horsemen's help to get back at Owen, his former business partner who had taken Walter's company from him, and forced Walter into hiding. Owen has the central chip that controls the data collection of the new phone system in Macau and wants the Horseman to swap it with a counterfeit to stop his privacy collection. Daniel convinces the group they should help, believing Walter may be with the Eye. They acquire supplies from a magic store in Macau owned by Li and Bu Bu, and arrange to deliver the chip to the Eye in case Walter has lied to them. They successfully complete the heist with sleight-of-hand and distractions in front of security agent Allen Scott-Frank. They are soon joined by Dylan and Thaddeus.
Before they can deliver the chip to the Eye, Walter reveals he had used Daniel's trust in the Eye to coerce the group to help them. Walter reveals the chip can help break into any encrypted systems and has nefarious plans to use it across the globe. Dylan attempts to swap the chip, but Chase and other mercenaries subdue him and take him to a yacht. The Horsemen shortly follow and learn that Walter is really the son of Arthur Tressler, whom they had exposed and ruined previously. Dylan is placed in the same manufacturer of a safe as his father had died in, and pushed into the waters. After Walter, Arthur, and Chase leave, Dylan manages to escape with help of the Horsemen. Regrouping, the Horsemen decide to expose Walter.
Some time later, the Horsemen announce via video of a new trick they will perform in London and will expose someone like they had done to Arthur. Arthur, Walter, and Chase head to London via private jet to try to stop the Horsemen. Massive crowds gather for the Horsemen's acts, which are performed at different locations around London, but Walter and Chase discover that Dylan is still alive, and through him, manage to capture Dylan and the other Horsemen. They take them back to their jet, and once in the air and affirming that they still hold the working chip, Chase throws the Horsemen and Dylan out of the jet. However, Arthur, Walter, and Chase soon realize something is wrong, and they find that they are in an elaborately staged set up on a floating barge on the Thames, with the Horsemen having set them up. The Horsemen explain how their multiple tricks helped to misdirect the three, recover the chip, and hypnotize Chase to throw them out the jet as planned. Arthur, Walter, and Chase are taken into custody, while Dylan and the Horsemen escape before they can be arrested too.
Sometime later, the Horsemen and Dylan are invited to the Greenwich Observatory, where they meet other members of the Eye, including Li, Bu Bu, Allen, as well as Thaddeus, the leader of the Eye.
Thaddeus reveals he had been in a plan with Dylan's father all this time, but now is ready to step down and offers Dylan the leadership role, which he accepts. The Horsemen are shown a secret entrance to see more of the Eye.
Cast
- Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas. He is a member of the Four Horsemen.
- Mark Ruffalo as Dylan Rhodes Shrike, a former FBI agent and the leader of the Four Horsemen and the son of the late illusionist Lionel Shrike.
- Woody Harrelson as Merritt McKinney/Chase McKinney. Member of the Four Horsemen.[4] Twin brothers who specialize in hypnosis.
- Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, a magician specializing in card tricks. He is a member of the Four Horsemen.
- Daniel Radcliffe as Walter Mabry, Arthur Tressler's illegitimate son, a young technology tycoon.
- Lizzy Caplan as Lula May, a new member of the Four Horsemen, replacing Henley.[5]
- Morgan Freeman as Thaddeus Bradley, a magic debunker, exposing the tricks of other magicians and a member of the Eye and a friend of Lionel Shrike.[6]
- Jay Chou as Li, a Macanese magic shop owner.
- Sanaa Lathan as FBI Deputy Director Natalie Austin, who tracks down Rhodes for helping the Horsemen.
- Michael Caine as Arthur Tressler, the Four Horsemen's former sponsor, who wants revenge for losing his money and power.
- Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Allen Scott-Frank, head of the Macau Science Center and member of the Eye.
- Ben Lamb as Owen Case, Walter's former business partner.
- David Warshofsky as FBI Agent Cowan.
- Tsai Chin as Bu Bu, Li's grandmother, who owns a magic shop in Macau.
- Richard Laing as Lionel Shrike, a magician who drowned while performing an escape trick thirty years ago.
Production
On July 3, 2013, after the box office success of the first film, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer confirmed that there would be a sequel to the film, with production beginning in 2014 for an unspecified release date.[7] In September 2014, it was confirmed that Jon M. Chu would replace Louis Leterrier as director.[8] On October 2, 2014, Michael Caine confirmed in an interview that Daniel Radcliffe would be playing his son in the film and that shooting is expected to begin in December in London.[9] The film was produced by Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment.[10] In October 2014, it was announced that Isla Fisher would be unable to reprise her role as Henley Reeves due to her pregnancy and Lizzy Caplan was cast as new character Lula to replace her as the Fourth Horseman.[11][12] The sequel was thought to be titled Now You See Me: Now You Don't,[12] with the director pushing for that name,[13] but the studio call announced in November 2014 was that the film had changed its title to Now You See Me: The Second Act.[14][15] On January 28, 2015, Henry Lloyd-Hughes was confirmed to play the role of a tech whiz kid named Allen Scott-Frank.[16] On December 22, 2014, it was reported that Morgan Freeman was not going to reprise his role as Thaddeus Bradley,[17] but on January 19, 2015, film director Chu posted a selfie with Freeman on his Instagram, verifying that he would return.[6]
Filming
On November 25, 2014, Mark Ruffalo posted to his Facebook that filming had begun on the sequel,[18] as the film was shooting in London, England.[11] On March 11, 2015, shooting began in China, where filming took place in Macau and the Macau Science Center, and ended on May 12, 2015 in New York City.[19]
Soundtrack
Now You See Me 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | June 10, 2016 | |||
Recorded | 2016 | |||
Genre | Film score | |||
Length | 77:37 | |||
Label | Varèse Sarabande | |||
Producer | Brian Tyler | |||
Brian Tyler film scores chronology | ||||
|
The film's music was written and composed by Brian Tyler. The soundtrack was released on June 10, 2016 by Varèse Sarabande.
All music is composed by Brian Tyler
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Now You See Me 2 Fanfare" | 3:20 |
2. | "Now You See Me 2 Main Titles" | 3:00 |
3. | "300 Seconds" | 7:25 |
4. | "The Setup" | 5:45 |
5. | "Sleight of Hand" | 5:52 |
6. | "Revelatory" | 1:24 |
7. | "A Special Invitation" | 4:38 |
8. | "Equivoque" | 3:18 |
9. | "Off The Grid (Walter's Theme)" | 2:13 |
10. | "Trifecta" | 3:53 |
11. | "The Fool" | 1:55 |
12. | "Buffy the Chippie" | 2:58 |
13. | "Behind the Curtain" | 4:10 |
14. | "Thaddeus' Game" | 2:23 |
15. | "Octa" | 1:37 |
16. | "United" | 1:36 |
17. | "Deliverance" | 4:10 |
18. | "Diversion Tactics" | 4:34 |
19. | "Sibling Rivalry" | 1:55 |
20. | "Bazaar Getaway" | 2:09 |
21. | "The New Horseman" | 1:05 |
22. | "See You in 3 to 5" | 1:41 |
23. | "The Big Finish" | 3:56 |
24. | "Finale" | 2:40 |
Total length: | 77:37 |
Release
In November 2014, the film was officially titled Now You See Me 2, and was set to be released on June 10, 2016.[18][8] In March 2016, the film's international release date was announced as July 4, 2016.
Now You See Me 2 was released on Digital HD on August 19, with a subsequent Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD released on September 6.[20]
Reception
Box office
Now You See Me 2 grossed $65.1 million in the United States and Canada and $269.8 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $334.9 million, against a budget of $90 million.[3]
In the United States and Canada, Now You See Me 2 opened on June 10, 2016, alongside Warcraft and The Conjuring 2, and was projected to gross $23–26 million from 3,232 theaters in its opening weekend.[21][22] The film grossed $1.8 million from its Thursday night previews, besting the $1.5 million made by its predecessor, and $8.4 million on its first day.[23][24] It went on to gross $22.3 million in its opening weekend, finishing third at the box office behind The Conjuring 2 ($40.4 million) and Warcraft ($24.1 million).[25]
In China, the film was released on June 24, 2016 and had an opening day of $14.8 million, a record for Lionsgate and up 67.9% from the original's first day. In its opening weekend the film grossed $44.4 million, also a record for Lionsgate.[26] China was the largest territory for the film, with a total gross of $97.1 million.[27]
Critical response
Now You See Me 2 received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 34% based on 165 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Now You See Me 2 packs in even more twists and turns than its predecessor, but in the end, it has even less hiding up its sleeve."[28] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 46 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[29] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale, the same score earned by its predecessor.[24]
Although critics and fans were disappointed that Isla Fisher was not returning as Henley Reeves, many praised Lizzy Caplan's addition to the cast. Caplan was described as "one of the sequel's biggest improvements" by Entertainment Weekly,[30] while Dave White of TheWrap wrote that she "provides a fresh infusion of smart-ass energy into the boy's club."[31] Australian film magazine Filmink also noted that Caplan "over-shadows her skilled co-stars with her sassy and commanding screen presence."[32] Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote that "all bearded creepy grins, [Daniel Radcliffe] makes Walter a megalomaniac imp, like the world's youngest Bond villain."[33] Randy Cordova of The Arizona Republic, who preferred the film to the original, said of the villain character that "In [Radcliffe's] hands, he is a spoiled and petulant baddie, alternately creepy and hilarious."[34]
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of The A.V. Club wrote that the sequel "up[s] the ludicrous quotient" from the original, "double-timing the convoluted plotting and embracing implausibility as an aesthetic...[I]f [director Jon M.] Chu doesn't seem comfortable with the swooping, lens-flare-speckled flashiness that director Louis Leterrier brought to the first film, he seems even less interested than his predecessor in creating the impression of a recognizably real world — which is a good thing, at least for a movie about a superstar heist crew called the Horsemen that involves twins, multiple secret identities, and a global corporate surveillance plot that can only be foiled through the use of stage magic."[35]
Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave the film a mixed review but considered it "more fun" than its predecessor.[36]
Accolades
Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teen Choice Awards | July 31, 2016 | Choice Summer Movie | Nominated | [37] | |
Choice Summer Movie Star: Male | Dave Franco | Nominated | |||
Choice Summer Movie Star: Female | Lizzy Caplan | Nominated |
Future
Now You See Me 3
In May 2015, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer announced that they had indeed "already begun early planning" for Now You See Me 3.[38] It was later confirmed that Lizzy Caplan will be reprising the role of Lula May, that a new cast member, Benedict Cumberbatch, will be joining the cast.[39][40][41]
Spin-off film
In July 2016, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Lionsgate plans on making a Now You See Me spin-off with a primarily Chinese cast, starring Jay Chou as Li, his character from Now You See Me 2.[42]
References
- ^ "NOW YOU SEE ME 2 (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ a b FilmL.A. (June 2017). "2016 Feature Film Study" (PDF). Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ a b "Now You See Me 2 (2016)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
- ^ Zwecker, Bill (June 6, 2016). "Harrelson creates very different twins in 'Now You See Me 2'". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 20, 2014). "Sanaa Lathan To Arrest Tricksters In 'Now You See Me 2'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ a b Gill, James (January 20, 2015). "First look at Daniel Radcliffe in magic heist Now You See Me 2". Radio Times. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
- ^ Brew, Simon (August 13, 2013). "'Now You See Me' to get sequel". Den of Geek. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
- ^ a b "Lionsgate Sets Dates for Now You See Me 2 and Dirty Grandpa". ComingSoon.net. September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
- ^ "Daniel Radcliffe to Play Michael Caine's Son in NOW YOU SEE ME 2". GeekTyrant.com. October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
- ^ "Film Briefs: Weinsteins Will Distribute Quentin Tarantino's 'Hateful Eight' Worldwide; Lionsgate, eOne Expand Joint Agreement". Deadline Hollywood. September 3, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ a b Peter Sciretta (November 4, 2014). "Now You See Me 2 Cast And Plot Revealed". Slash Film. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ a b Lily Aria (November 13, 2014). "'Now You See Me 2' Release Date, Updates And News: Officially Titled 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't;' Plot Revealed, Confirmed New Cast Includes Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan And Jay Chou". Franchise Herald. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ "Now You See Me 2 trailer: Jon M. Chu answers questions".
- ^ Adam Chitwood (November 25, 2014). "NOW YOU SEE ME 2 Title Revealed". Collider. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
- ^ H. Shaw-Williams. "'Now You See Me 2′ Official Title Revealed". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (January 28, 2015). "Henry Lloyd-Hughes Conjures Role In 'Now You See Me: The Second Act'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ^ Aria, Lily (December 22, 2014). "Official Title For 'Now You See Me' Sequel Revealed: 'Now You See Me 2: The Second Act' Release Date Set For 2016; Cast Details And Plot Unleashead". Retrieved February 12, 2015.
- ^ a b Mark Ruffalo. "And so it begins... Now You See Me...again". Mark Ruffalo's Verified Facebook. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ "Daniel Radcliffe Filming a new Project". the-leaky-cauldron.org. March 11, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
- ^ Alexander, Jim. "Now You See Me 2 Home Release Date Announcement". The Movie Blog. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
- ^ "Box Office: 'Conjuring 2' to Ward Off 'Warcraft,' 'Now You See Me 2'". Variety.com.
- ^ Dave McNarry (May 27, 2016). "'Warcraft' Opens in First in 11 International Markets With $9.3 Million". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ "'Warcraft' Invades The U.S. On Thursday Night". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- ^ a b "'Conjuring 2' Screams Up $37M+, 'Warcraft' Spoils At $26M+, 'Now You See Me 2' At $22M+". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Scott Mendelson (June 12, 2016). "Weekend Box Office: 'Now You See Me 2' Steals $23 Million Debut". Forbes. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ Nancy Tartaglione (June 25, 2016). "'Now You See Me 2' Conjuring Record China Weekend Bow For Lionsgate – Intl Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
- ^ "Now You See Me 2". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ "Now You See Me 2 (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ "Now You See Me 2 reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
- ^ Greenblatt, Leah (June 7, 2016). "Now You See Me2: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ White, Dave (June 1, 2016). "'Now You See Me 2' Review". TheWrap. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ Watson, Sophia (June 17, 2016). "Review: Now You See Me 2". Filmink. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (June 1, 2016). "Film Review: 'Now You See Me 2'". Variety. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ Cordova, Randy. "'Now You See Me 2' surpasses original." The Arizona Republic (newspaper). June 10, 2016.
- ^ Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy (June 9, 2016). "Now You See Me 2 doubles down on giddy ludicrousness". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ Chicago Tribune review of Now You See Me 2
- ^ Goodman, Jessica (July 31, 2016). "Teen Choice Awards 2016: See the full list of winners". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ McNary, Dave (May 22, 2015). "'Now You See Me 3' in the Works at Lionsgate". Variety. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- ^ Lawrence, Sophie (December 2, 2016). "'Now You See Me 3' Release Date Confirmed As Production Rolls In Plus A New Cast Member To Join The Gang". Parent Herald. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
- ^ Espiritu, Emmanuelle (March 7, 2017). "'Now You See Me 3' Release Date, Cast News: Isla Fisher Officially Out, Benedict Cumbercatch In?". The Christian Post. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
- ^ Jabin, Bhatz (March 31, 2017). "'Now You See Me 3' Update: Benedict Cumberbatch Reportedly Joins Cast". Travelers Today. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
- ^ Brzeski, Patrick (July 15, 2016). "Lionsgate to Make Chinese Spinoff of 'Now You See Me' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
External links
- 2016 films
- 2010s thriller films
- 2010s sequel films
- American films
- American sequel films
- American thriller films
- American heist films
- Directorial debut films
- English-language films
- Federal Bureau of Investigation in fiction
- Films scored by Brian Tyler
- Films directed by Jon M. Chu
- Films about magic and magicians
- Films produced by Roberto Orci
- Films set in 1984
- Films set in 2014
- Films set in 2015
- Films set in London
- Films set in New Jersey
- Films set in New York City
- Films set in Macau
- Films set in Sydney
- Films set in Tokyo
- Films shot in London
- Films shot in Macau
- Films shot in New York (state)
- New Year films
- Lions Gate Entertainment films
- Summit Entertainment films
- Films about con artists
- Now You See Me films