The opening sequence of Now You See Me begins on a street in America late at night. As it cuts through several small scenes, the setting changes to inside an American office during the daytime, then on a boat on the ocean around late afternoon/evening as the sky is just starting to colour, and finishing inside at a magic show. The theme of the opening sequence is magic, as all four short scenes show magicians of some kind.
Icons used in the opening sequence include a pack of cards, a wallet, a tank of water and chains. The story is told of four individuals who use magic as a hobby or a job. The narrative suggests that the characters' stories are likely to intertwine.
At certain points of action, a heavy drum beat fills in pauses between dialogue, dimming down only to hear the speech. This creates a tense, action-filled atmosphere, suggesting the pace of the rest of the movie.
mise en scene: Costume: all main characters dressed in an item of black clothing.
actors: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Isla Fisher
props: pack of cards, spoon, wallet, small billboard, fish tank and water tank, chains and cuffs.