Now You See Me 2 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Now You See Me 2

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2016Thriller, Crime

55%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A flashy but forgettable heist sequel where magician-thieves pull off impossible stunts and critics pull their hair out.

6.4/10

34%

53%

6.8

→

Now You See Me 2

movie

2016, Thriller, Crime

55%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A flashy but forgettable heist sequel where magician-thieves pull off impossible stunts and critics pull their hair out.

6.4

34%

6.8

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6.4/10

34%

6.8

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a sequel that nobody really asked for. The first Now You See Me had a clever premise; this one just recycles the formula with diminishing returns. Critics gave it 34% on Rotten Tomatoes, and they're not wrong—it's all flash, no substance.

That said, if you've got a 13-16 year old who wants something exciting on movie night, it's harmless enough. The magic tricks are fun, the action is decent, and there's nothing that'll scar them. Just don't expect anyone to remember it a week later.

The moral ambiguity (our heroes are literally criminals) might warrant a conversation with younger teens, but older kids will get that it's fantasy. Bottom line: it's fine for a rainy Saturday, but there are way better options if you're looking for something actually enriching or memorable.

Age Fit

Best for teens 13+ who want a flashy action-thriller without R-rated content. Younger kids will miss the plot nuances and might be confused by the moral ambiguity. Adults can enjoy it as turn-your-brain-off entertainment, though critics would argue even that's generous.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A heist thriller that focuses on teamwork and outsmarting villains rather than graphic violence. The tone is fast-paced and chaotic, which can be overwhelming, but the core themes revolve around loyalty and cleverness. Some deception and morally gray areas (they're thieves, after all) keep it from scoring higher. No strong emotional modeling of kindness or cooperation beyond the team dynamic.

Imaginative

The magic/illusion premise is inherently creative and invites curiosity about how tricks work. The heists are elaborate and visually inventive, blending sleight-of-hand with technology. However, it's more about spectacle than inspiring viewers to create or explore themselves—it's passive entertainment rather than participatory imagination. Still, the puzzle-solving aspect and 'how did they do that?' factor earns solid points.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 13+, which aligns with PG-13 expectations. There's action violence (chases, fights) but no gore or graphic content. Some peril and tension, but nothing traumatic or unexpectedly disturbing. No nudity or sexual content. The main safety concern is the fast-paced, sometimes intense action sequences and the moral ambiguity of protagonists who are essentially con artists. For a teen thriller, it's relatively safe but not appropriate for younger kids who might be confused by the ethics.

Enriching

This is pure popcorn entertainment with minimal takeaways. While there's some problem-solving and the illusions might spark interest in magic, the film doesn't offer much cognitive growth, ethical depth, or meaningful themes. The 'bad guys win through cleverness' premise is fun but not particularly enriching. It's entertaining (hence not scoring lower), but you won't walk away with new insights or skills. Critics panned it (34% RT) for good reason—it's a forgettable sequel that prioritizes spectacle over substance.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The illusion sequences are visually creative and might spark interest in magic or sleight-of-hand
Fast-paced action keeps teens engaged without graphic violence or inappropriate content
Teamwork and problem-solving are central, even if the ethics are questionable
Good option for a family movie night with teens who want something exciting but not R-rated

⚠

What to Watch For

The protagonists are thieves and con artists—morally gray territory that younger kids might struggle with
Action sequences include fights, chases, and peril (no gore, but definitely intense moments)
Critics hated it and it's pretty forgettable—don't expect profound storytelling or lasting impact
The runtime is over 2 hours, which feels long for what's essentially a popcorn flick

Conversation Starters

"How do you think they pulled off that card trick? Do you want to learn any magic tricks yourself?"
"The Horsemen break the law but think they're doing good—what do you think about that?"
"If you could plan an impossible heist, what would you steal and why?"
"Which character's skills would you want to have—the magician, the mentalist, or the escape artist?"

Deep Dive

The "Plane Movie" paradox

There is a specific category of film that exists almost entirely to be watched on a long flight or a lazy Sunday when you’ve scrolled through Netflix for twenty minutes and given up. Now You See Me 2 is the heavyweight champion of that category. It’s flashy, it’s loud, and it moves fast enough that you don't have time to realize the plot makes zero sense.

If you’re looking at that 34% critic score and wondering if your family will actually enjoy this, you need to understand how to interpret the Rotten Tomatoes score for a movie like this. Critics hated it because it’s logically bankrupt, but for a 14-year-old who wants to see cool people doing "impossible" things, it’s a total vibe.

The card scene is the entire movie

If you’ve heard anything about this film, it’s probably "the card scene." There is a sequence involving the team smuggling a computer chip through a security checkpoint by hiding it on playing cards and flicking them to each other while being searched. It is over-the-top, physically impossible, and absolutely thrilling to watch.

This is the peak of the movie’s "magic-as-superpower" approach. While the first film tried to stay somewhat grounded in stage magic, the sequel leans hard into the heist genre. If your kid is into the Ocean’s Eleven series or likes the high-tech gadgetry of the later Mission: Impossible movies, this will hit the spot. Just be prepared for them to spend the next three days trying to "palm" their homework or flicking playing cards across the living room.

CGI vs. Sleight of hand

The biggest friction point for actual magic fans is that the movie cheats. A lot. It uses heavy digital effects to simulate tricks that would be impossible in real life, which can feel a bit hollow if you’re looking for a movie that respects the craft of magic.

However, we find this is actually a great "teaching moment" if you want to be that parent. You can use the film’s absurdity to talk about the difference between a camera trick and a physical skill. If the movie sparks a genuine interest, skip the sequel's "science" and look up some basic card handling tutorials on YouTube. The movie is the hook, but the actual hobby of magic is a lot more rewarding than the plot of this film.

Why it’s a "Safe" thriller

Finding a movie for the 12-15 age gap is notoriously difficult. Everything is either too "kiddy" or jumps straight into R-rated grit. Now You See Me 2 occupies a comfortable middle ground. It deals with crime, global syndicates, and "dangerous" heists, but it does so with almost zero blood and very little heavy thematic baggage.

The protagonists are technically criminals, but they’re the "Robin Hood" variety of criminals who use their skills to expose corporate greed. It’s a sanitized rebellion. You get the adrenaline of a heist movie without having to worry about the "darkness" that usually comes with the genre. It’s 129 minutes of popcorn entertainment that won't give them nightmares, even if it won't give them much to think about the next morning either.

Stills