Now You See Me (2013) - Quotes

Perception vs. Reality in Illusion

Taglines: Look closely, because the closer you think you are, the less you will actually see.

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Magicians, Heists, and Illusions Unveiled

Taglines: 4 amazing magicians. 3 impossible heists. 1 billion dollars. This is no illusion.

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Illusion and Perception in Magic

Taglines: Come in close, because the more you think you see, the easier it'll be to fool you.

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The Mystery of the Playing Card

Alma Dray: So if you had nothing to do with it, then how did the playing card get in the vault?

Daniel Atlas: Oh, yes. That would be...What do the kids call it these days? Oh, yeah, that's right, magic.

Dylan Rhodes: Just answer the question, okay, smart-ass.

Daniel Atlas: You can keep that. Don't share it with him. Um, as far as I understand it, when the man from Paris put on the magical helmet, I guess it was -

Dylan Rhodes: Listen to me. If you didn't rob that bank, then you knew about it. Which makes you an accomplice. So if you wanna walk out of here today, I suggest that you start -

Daniel Atlas: Okay, now you listen to me. Unless you think there's a DA in the state of Nevada who'd be willing to make sense of all this to a jury, then we have a show to perform. And you, Agent Rhodes, have a drawing board to get back to.

Dylan Rhodes: You are literally begging to be arrested, you know that?

Daniel Atlas: [to Alma; back to Rhodes] If it means you would actually do it, then yeah, but you won't. Because if you did, it means that you, and the FBI, and your friends at Interpol actually believe - at an institutional level - in magic. The press would have a field day. And we'd be even more famous than we already are. And you guys would look like idiots even more than you already are. Well, not you, but him, right? You have, what we in the business like to call "nothing up your sleeve". And you know it.

Dylan Rhodes: You wanna know who sat in that chair before you? Mob bosses, murderers and thieves. And you know who put em there? The guy who's sitting in this chair. So I warn you, I can maintain my resolve much longer than you can maintain that phony arrogance. And the instant that you even show the slightest crack in that smug façade, I'll be there. I will be all over you like -

Daniel Atlas: Like white on rice? Sorry, that's unfair. Let me warn you. I want you to follow. Because no matter what you think you might know, we will always be one step, three steps, seven steps ahead of you. And just when you think you're catching up, that's when we'll be right behind you. And at no time will you be anywhere other than exactly where I want you to be. So come close, get all over me; because the closer you think you are, the less you'll actually see.

Dylan Rhodes: [lunges towards Atlas] I’m gonna nail you!

Daniel Atlas: Something wrong with that soda, miss?

Daniel Atlas: [grabs Rhodes' phone before the liquid can touch it] Oh, shit. First rule of magic: Always be the smartest guy in the room.

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A Unique Performance Announcement in Las Vegas

Merritt McKinney: Thank you. Tonight we would like to try something that will, well, set us a bit apart.

Henley Reeves: For our final trick, we're gonna do something never before seen on a Las Vegas stage.

Jack Wilder: Or any stage for that matter.

Daniel Atlas: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we are going to rob a bank.

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Questioning Knowledge and Intentions

Arthur Tressler: What is your role with them?

Thaddeus Bradley: Role?

Arthur Tressler: Yes, you seem to know everything about them. What they're gonna do, where they're gonna be.

Thaddeus Bradley: If it makes you feel any better, this wasn't about you.

Arthur Tressler: Please tell me why this was not about me.

Thaddeus Bradley: This is a magic trick, Mr Tressler. Played out on a global scale. You, sir, are the "abracadabra", the distraction, while they set up the real trick.

Arthur Tressler: I was a $140 million distraction?

Thaddeus Bradley: Yes. And that very ego, which got you involved with them in the first place, is what keeps you from seeing that.

Arthur Tressler: You know-

Thaddeus Bradley: I can destroy you", yes, I know. Well, you won't. And you won't destroy them. Whatever this grand trick is, it was designed a long time ago, and I believe that what's about to follow, is really going to amaze. So I suggest you sit back and enjoy your front row seat. You paid quite a lot of good money for it.

Arthur Tressler: Whatever you stand to make...I'll double it, if you expose them now, and destroy them.

Thaddeus Bradley: I stand to make five million.

Arthur Tressler: Am I flinching?

Thaddeus Bradley: No, you're not.

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The Art of Perception and Illusion

Daniel Atlas: [quickly flips through the deck; does it again, slower] Come in close. Closer. Because the more you think you see, the easier it will be to fool you. Because what is seeing? You're looking, but what you're actually doing is filtering, interpreting, searching for meaning. My job? To take that most precious of gifts you give me, your attention, and use it against you. I’m going to flip through this deck and I want you to see one card. Not this one. That’s too obvious. Pay close attention. That was too fast. I’ll do it again. Are you ready? Okay. Now did you see one?

Fan: Yes.

Daniel Atlas: Do you have one in mind?

Fan: Yes.

Daniel Atlas: Now, do you see your card here?

Fan: No.

Daniel Atlas: That’s because you’re looking too closely. And what have I been telling you all night? The closer you look…

Crowd: The less you see.

Introduction to the Eye

Dylan Rhodes: Welcome to the Eye.

The Eye's Influence on Ambition and Revenge

Dylan Rhodes: So here's my new theory: the legend is that the Eye is everywhere, waiting for the truly great magicians to distinguish themselves from the mediocre ones. Maybe that was you. Deep down inside, you wanted nothing more than to be part of the Eye, but you were never invited, so you tried to destroy them, but instead, what happens? You pissed them off.

Staying Ahead in the Game

Dylan Rhodes: As of this instant, we are ahead of them. We need to keep it that way, understand?

The Illusion of Control and Perception

Daniel Atlas: Let me warn you. I want you to follow. Because no matter what you think you might know, we will always be 1 step, 3 steps, 7 steps ahead of you. And just when you think you're catching up, that's when we'll be right behind you. And at no time will you be anywhere other than exactly where I want you to be. So come close, get all over me; because the closer you think you are, the less you'll actually see.

The Smartest Guy in the Room

Daniel Atlas: First rule of magic: always be the smartest guy in the room.

The Legend of the Eye and Justice

Thaddeus Bradley: There is a legend of a secret order born in ancient Egypt called "the Eye". It is said that they perfected sleight of hand to steal food from the Pharaohs and give it to the slaves. Their purpose: using magic and illusion to even the scales of justice. Are the Horsemen the next in a long line of fools to believe this myth? Will they evade the rules of law and logic like they did in Las Vegas? Or will the dark mysticism of this Southern swampland get the better of them?

The Secret Behind the Illusion

Thaddeus Bradley: Want to know how they did it? Just say the magic word.

Anticipation of a Grand Illusion

Thaddeus Bradley: Whatever this grand trick is, it was designed a long time ago, and I believe that what's about to follow, is really going to amaze. So I suggest you sit back and enjoy your front row seat. You paid quite a lot of good money for it.