From left, Justice Smith, Ariana Greenblatt, Dominic Sessa, Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco in a scene from "Now You See Me: Now You Don’t." (Lionsgate via AP)
The North American box office delivered a surprising twist this weekend. The long-awaited “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” surged ahead of the high-profile action release “The Running Man,” securing the top spot with ease. The magician-heist franchise returned after nearly a decade and proved its pull is far from fading.
Strong Opening Gives ‘Now You See Me 3’ the Lead
Lionsgate’s “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” debuted with $21.3 million in North America. Paramount’s “The Running Man” followed with $17 million, despite strong pre-release buzz. Studio estimates released on Sunday confirm that the magician caper outperformed early projections.
The third film cost about $90 million to produce. With earnings from 64 international markets, its global launch is expected to hit $75.5 million. Industry forecasts had predicted a tighter race, but momentum shifted sharply during the final days before release.
A Late Surge Turns the Weekend Around
Kevin Grayson, Lionsgate’s president of worldwide distribution, admitted the team did not expect a No. 1 finish until the final stretch.
“About ten days ago, we didn’t see this happening,” he said. “But ticket sales surged mid-week, and by Saturday morning, we were pulling away.”
Grayson credited the win to strong brand recall, sharp marketing, and sustained audience interest. He believes the film will continue performing well through the holiday period.
Franchise Strength and Returning Cast Boost Appeal
The “Now You See Me” franchise has a track record of solid global earnings. The first two films, released in 2013 and 2016, collected over $686 million worldwide. This new chapter returns with its original “Four Horsemen”: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco.
Director Ruben Fleischer also introduced three new young magicians played by Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, and Justice Smith. A fourth installment is already in development.
Reviews remained mixed, with a 59% Rotten Tomatoes score, but audiences were more generous. PostTrak reported 63% would “definitely recommend” the film.
‘The Running Man’ Faces a Tougher Climb
“The Running Man,” directed and co-written by Edgar Wright, had slightly weaker audience scores. PostTrak recorded 58% in definite recommendations. Both films earned a B+ CinemaScore, but demographics told a deeper story.
Women contributed 54% of the “Now You See Me” audience. For “The Running Man,” they made up only 37%, reducing its reach.
The action thriller is the second adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel. The first film, released in 1987 and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, earned only $38 million. The new version features Glen Powell, whose recent hits include “Anyone But You” and “Twisters.”
Released in 3,400 domestic theaters and 58 international markets, the film generated $28.2 million globally against a $110 million budget.
Other Weekend Performances
Oz Perkins’ horror title “Keeper” opened to $2.5 million and received a poor D+ CinemaScore. However, as a Neon acquisition, its low opening is not alarming.
“Predator: Badlands” took third place with $13 million. “Regretting You” followed with $4 million, and “Black Phone 2” secured fifth place with $2.7 million, pushing its domestic total to $74.7 million.
Universal re-released the original “Wicked” in 2,195 theaters, collecting $1.2 million ahead of next week’s major release “Wicked: For Good.”
Holiday Season Expected to Lift Box Office
With “Wicked 2” and “Zootopia 2” arriving before Thanksgiving, analysts predict a major rebound.
Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore said the industry is finally regaining momentum after a disappointing October. “It’s never too late to move in the right direction,” he noted.
Weekend Domestic Top 10
- Now You See Me: Now You Don’t — $21.3M
- The Running Man — $17M
- Predator: Badlands — $13M
- Regretting You — $4M
- Black Phone 2 — $2.7M
- Nuremberg — $2.6M
- Keeper — $2.5M
- Sarah’s Oil — $2.3M
- Bugonia — $1.6M
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc — $1.6M
