In a surprising turn at the North American box office, "Now You See Me: Now You Don’t" emerged victorious over the highly anticipated action film "The Running Man." According to studio estimates, Lionsgate's latest installment in the magician heist franchise grossed $21.3 million during its opening weekend, while Paramount’s "The Running Man" earned $17 million.
"Now You See Me: Now You Don’t," which had a production budget of approximately $90 million, opened nearly a decade after its predecessor. Its worldwide earnings, including ticket sales from 64 international territories, are projected to reach around $75.5 million. The film is directed by Ruben Fleischer and features returning cast members Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco, alongside new young talents Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, and Justice Smith. A fourth film in the series is already in development.
Despite mixed reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, where the film holds a 59% rating, audience reception was more favorable, with 63% of viewers indicating they would recommend it. In comparison, "The Running Man" achieved a slightly lower audience recommendation score of 58%. Both films received a B+ CinemaScore, but "Now You See Me" attracted a larger audience, notably with women making up 54% of its viewers.
"The Running Man," directed by Edgar Wright and featuring Glen Powell, faced a challenging start, grossing $28.2 million worldwide against a reported $110 million budget. The film is the second adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 novel, following the original 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Other films in the box office race included "Predator: Badlands," which earned $13 million in its second weekend, and "Regretting You," which brought in $4 million. Anticipation builds for the upcoming musical "Wicked: For Good," set to open next week, which is expected to significantly boost box office numbers as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.