AceShowbiz - While Jon M. Chu's musical spectacle Wicked: For Good dominated the recent box office conversation, conjuring an impressive $226 million globally in just a few days despite a mixed critical reception, another film quietly achieved a significant milestone. Finishing a strong second in the domestic ranks this past weekend was Now You See Me: Now You Don't, the highly anticipated third installment in the popular magical heist franchise. The film, which saw Chu direct the previous sequel, added a further $9.1 million from theaters nationwide, pushing its worldwide cumulative gross to a notable $78 million.

This global total marks a significant achievement for Now You See Me: Now You Don't, as it has now officially surpassed the 2007 critically acclaimed Western remake, 3:10 to Yuma. Directed by James Mangold and starring Academy Award winner Russell Crowe alongside Christian Bale, 3:10 to Yuma garnered $71 million in global revenue during its theatrical run. Both films notably share the same distributor, Lionsgate, making the comparison even more direct. The original 1957 version of 3:10 to Yuma is considered a classic, and Mangold's update was widely praised for its gritty realism and compelling performances, making Now You See Me: Now You Don't's box office triumph particularly noteworthy.

Under the direction of Ruben Fleischer, Now You See Me: Now You Don't brings back fan-favorite illusionists like Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Dave Franco, with Isla Fisher also returning. They are joined by a fresh wave of talent including rising stars Ariana Greenblatt and Dominic Sessa, who recently broke out in The Holdovers. The synopsis promises that "The Four Horsemen return along with a new generation of illusionists performing mind-melding twists, turns, surprises, and magic unlike anything ever captured on film," ensuring audiences are in for another round of dazzling deception and thrilling heists.

Beyond the top two, the weekend box office offered a diverse cinematic landscape. Dan Trachtenberg's thrilling prequel Predator: Badlands secured third place with $6.25 million, while the latest adaptation of Stephen King's classic novel, The Running Man, finished fourth, earning $5.8 million. Rounding out the top five was the debut of Rental Family, bringing in $3.3 million. Other notable films currently captivating audiences include Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone's intriguing Bugonia, the latest Colleen Hoover adaptation Regretting You, the action-packed SISU: Road to Revenge, and the spine-chilling sequel Black Phone 2. With its continued strong performance, Now You See Me: Now You Don't proves that a bit of magic can still draw crowds.