Nearly a decade after the release of the second film, the beloved franchise reappears in theaters for “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.” With this new act, fans receive the nostalgia of the original two films but not necessarily their riveting twists and turns.

The third installment of the “Now You See Me” franchise features familiar faces such as J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and Marritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson). Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) also returns to the screen after her character was noticeably absent from the second movie.

The story follows the now-separated Horsemen, who enlist the help of amateur magicians — Charlie (Justice Smith), Bosco (Dominic Sessa) and June (Ariana Greenblatt) — when the secret magic society, the Eye, sends each of the original members tarot cards, which reveal a map when the four are reunited and their cards put together.

They are tasked with stealing “The Heart,” the largest diamond in the world, which Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike), head of a South African mining diamond company that launders money for wealthy criminals, owns. The Horsemen must take down Veronika, who inherited the company from her former Nazi father, and stop her illegal activities.

The film’s famous line, “The closer you look, the less you see,” can similarly be applied to an examination of its quality. Although the storyline introduces new characters and implausible acts, upon further inspection, the movie is predictable and nostalgia-reliant.

Immediately, it becomes obvious that Smith, Sessa and Greenblatt are poised to be the Horsemen’s successors and the face of magic for a new generation. Although the concept is an interesting start to revamping the franchise, the execution is too predictable.

Compared to the emotional performances from Sessa and Smith in “The Holdovers” (2023) and “I Saw the TV Glow” (2024), respectively, the pair’s acting in this film is comparable to cringey Disney Channel delivery. The younger actors’ dialogue is made up of quips and sarcasm that make one question whether or not the writer has ever heard a teenager speak.

The trio repeatedly mentions that they are big fans of the Horsemen, yet they constantly question every decision they make and argue in favor of their naivete. When June is taken by the authorities, Bosco claims he is going to rescue her and argues with Henley and Atlas when they try to talk him down. It is only after Atlas tells him that he will also be arrested if he tries to save her that he concedes, even though that’s extremely obvious.

Each Horseman is also assigned a mentee who perfectly aligns with their respective talents a little too well. Pickpocket June is paired up with pickpocket Jack; cocky Bosco meets his match with cocky Atlas; and secret mastermind Charlie hides from the spotlight, similar to Henley in the first movie. Instead of having both parties teach each other, the younger crew essentially learns nothing from supposed professionals.

For example, in one scene, the group must enter a French chateau with a complicated handleless door made of complex shapes. Jack and June are challenged to see who can open it first. According to the scene, a talented pickpocket, who once faked his own death, cannot figure out that there is no lock to be picked and that the door is obviously a puzzle. Instead, an amateur shows him up, solving a “mind-boggling” puzzle by simply shape matching.

However, the pairings made for entertaining scenes depicting magic tricks. Another scene had every character showcasing their respective magical acts, competing by using different ways to conceal the diamond and illustrating how to use the art of illusion to their advantage. This is one of the few magic scenes on par with the fantastical nature of the first two films. It’s also one of the few unpredictable moments that properly highlight each character’s strengths and weaknesses.

The set design of “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” is by far the best of the series. Aside from its unique door, the French chateau is full of rooms that display a classic magical illusion. From a slanted, perspective-warping piano room to a hallway of paintings that literally flip upside down, each room’s uncanny features made for great fight scenes between the magicians and law enforcement.

The magic itself is still as implausible and impossible as ever, but in all honesty, that ridiculousness is what makes the franchise so memorable. Marritt utilizes his classically impressive hypnosis to incapacitate a handful of security guards, and Lula May (Lizzy Caplan) returns with her delightfully gory tricks, making her arm fall off, although the two are severely underutilized in this film compared to their predecessors.

Uncommonly for a sequel, when the movie took advantage of nostalgia, it genuinely made the plot more enjoyable. Whether that be through suspenseful callbacks, such as a glass box filling with water or a fake room reveal, “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” illustrates that an old dog really doesn’t need to learn new tricks.

That’s also not to say all the new implementations were unnecessary. Pike’s performance as Veronika stood out brilliantly, and her villainess was a refreshing addition to the complicated heist. The Gen Z Horsemen made for an exciting plot twist and potential for the franchise’s future if the dialogue improves and their characters continue to develop with the series.

The film closes with a surprise cameo from a familiar character, hinting at another potential sequel. Whether or not audiences care about bad dialogue and recycled gimmicks, the “Now You See Me” franchise continues to be a magical hit that is ridiculous in the best way.