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It\u2019s no magic trick: The third installment in the thieving magician \u201cNow You See Me\u201d series beat the high-profile action pic \u201cThe Running Man\u201d<\/a> at the North American box office this weekend. Lionsgate\u2019s \u201cNow You See Me: Now You Don\u2019t\u201d<\/a> pulled in $21.3 million, while Paramount\u2019s \u201cThe Running Man\u201d made $17 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cNow You See Me: Now You Don\u2019t,\u201d which cost a reported $90 million to produce, comes almost 10 years after the second film. Including ticket sales from 64 international territories, its worldwide opening is estimated to be around $75.5 million. Going into the weekend, it was expected to be a closer race between the two newcomers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The first two movies in the \u201cNow You See Me\u201d series, released in 2013 and 2016, earned over $686 million worldwide. This installment, directed by Ruben Fleischer, sees the return of the original \u201cFour Horsemen,\u201d Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco, and introduces three younger magicians into the mix: Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt and Justice Smith. A fourth film is already in the works.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Reviews were mixed on Rotten Tomatoes, coming in at 59%. According to PostTrak polling, audiences were a bit more positive, with 63% saying they would definitely recommend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Audience scores were slightly less for \u201cThe Running Man,\u201d which had a 58% \u201cdefinitely recommend.\u201d Both earned a B+ CinemaScore, but more people chose the franchise. One key difference is that women made up more of the \u201cNow You See Me\u201d audience (54%). They only accounted for 37% of \u201cThe Running Man\u201d ticket buyers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Edgar Wright directed and co-wrote \u201cThe Running Man,\u201d the second adaptation of Stephen King\u2019s novel, first published in 1982. The first film starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and was released in 1987 to mixed reviews and a tepid box office, earning only $38 million against a $27 million budget. The new version stars Glen Powell<\/a>, who has had a good track record starring in box office hits, from the romantic comedy \u201cAnyone But You\u201d to \u201cTwisters.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Paramount Pictures released \u201cThe Running Man\u201d in 3,400 domestic locations and 58 international markets. Worldwide, it earned $28.2 million against a reported $110 million budget.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The weekend\u2019s other new opener, \u201cKeeper,\u201d the third feature from \u201cLonglegs\u201d filmmaker Oz Perkins<\/a>, cratered with $2.6 million and a D+ CinemaScore. But as an acquisition title for Neon, it\u2019s also not a disaster.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Third place went to \u201cPredator: Badlands\u201d<\/a> with $13 million in its second weekend, followed by \u201cRegretting You\u201d<\/a> in fourth with $4 million. \u201cBlack Phone 2\u201d rounded out the top five with $2.7 million, bringing its domestic total to $74.7 million after five weeks in theaters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In anticipation of the big budget musical \u201cWicked: For Good,\u201d which opens next week<\/a>, Universal Pictures put \u201cWicked\u201d<\/a> back in 2,195 theaters, where it made $1.2 million \u2014 barely missing a spot in the top 10. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n