The Perfect Replacement For The Ocean’s Franchise Premiered 10 Years Ago & Is Finally Continuing

One heist movie sequel is primed to cement a blockbuster franchise as the perfect Ocean’s Eleven trilogy successor. It’s been 22 years since the star-studded Ocean’s franchise kicked off with Ocean’s Eleven. The film, a remake of the 1960 Frank Sinatra movie of the same name, was a runaway success, grossing $450 million on an $85 million budget (via The Numbers). The franchise has remained a reliable moneymaker with the subsequent two films in the Ocean’s trilogy grossing more than $300 million each and the female-led spinoff, Ocean’s 8, taking in $297 million.

The Ocean’s Eleven franchise is still alive and kicking, with a 1960s Ocean’s Eleven prequel movie starring Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie confirmed to be in development. Nevertheless, it was a shame to say goodbye to the uniquely talented cast of the Ocean’s trilogy, which saw a satisfying send-off with 2007’s Ocean’s Thirteen. Since then, Ocean’s 8 in 2018 was the only time the series has been revisited. However, one movie franchise has successfully captured the slick charm and rich atmosphere of the Ocean’s Eleven series.

Now You See Me Is The Perfect Spiritual Successor To Ocean’s Eleven

With Ocean’s Eleven, director Steven Soderbergh delivered one of the best heist movies of all time. The slick direction, charmingly convoluted plot, and absurdly stacked cast set the gold standard for heist movies, although it’s a standard that not even the ensuing Ocean’s movies have been able to meet. While movies like Inception, 2003’s The Italian Job, and Logan Lucky are great examples of 21st-century heist flicks, Now You See Me is the film that seems to understand the spirit of Ocean’s Eleven best.

Like Ocean’s Eleven, Now You See Me benefits massively from the charms of its A-list cast. While both films are packed with twists and turns that don’t necessarily play fair with the audience, the easy chemistry between the stars delivers a “cool” factor that helps to smooth out these narrative wrinkles. In an age where superhero movies have mostly killed the movie star as a concept, it’s increasingly rare for a film to rely on the pleasures of watching a high-profile ensemble simply bounce off one another. The two heist movies, which both prominently feature Las Vegas set pieces, successfully deliver a satisfying ride by balancing plot and chemistry.

The Now You See Me Movies Are The Modern Ocean’s Franchise

The comparison between Now You See Me and the Ocean’s movies doesn’t end with the first installments. The confirmation of Now You See Me 3 means that the magician heist franchise will soon have its very own trilogy to match the original Ocean’s Eleven movies. Like Ocean’s Twelve, Now You See Me 2 adds even more stars to its cast, with Daniel Radcliffe and Lizzy Caplan joining the mix. If Now You See Me 3 continues to expand the ensemble while maintaining a focus on misdirection-fueled heists, the franchise will solidify its identity as the modern-day Ocean’s Eleven trilogy.