Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 100 min · English
Starring
Jim Carrey, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, James Gandolfini, Alan Arkin, Steve Carell
Budget
$30M

In Las Vegas, legendary magicians Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton find their dominance threatened by a young, innovative street magician. Their once-unbreakable partnership begins to crumble as they struggle to regain their popularity and relevance. Facing obsolescence, Burt and Anton must find a way to reconnect and rediscover the magic that made them famous, or risk losing everything.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)

Where can you watch The Incredible Burt Wonderstone? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

3 main characters · contains spoilers

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Burt Wonderstone (Jim Carrey)

    Burt Wonderstone is a flamboyant magician whose showmanship is initially overshadowed by his ego and lavish lifestyle. As the story unfolds, he confronts personal and professional challenges that lead him to rediscover his love for magic and his need for genuine collaboration. Burt's character arc illustrates the perils of ambition and the importance of humility.

    • 🪄 Magician
    • 🎉 Performer
    • 🌟 Ego
  • Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi)

    Anton Marvelton is Burt's longtime partner, often caught in the crossfire of Burt's ambitions and self-centeredness. Despite his loyalty, he struggles with Burt's ego and the toll their partnership takes on him. Throughout the film, Anton's character reflects the fragility of collaboration and the pain of being sidelined.

    • 🎭 Magician
    • 🤝 Loyalty
    • 💔 Conflict
  • Jane (Olivia Wilde)

    Jane is a production assistant who becomes instrumental to the story, representing both love and frustration in Burt's journey. Her aspirations in magic and her growing disillusionment with Burt's antics highlight the complexities of professional relationships. Jane's character embodies strength and ambition, pushing for a deeper connection to magic.

    • 🎩 Aspiring Magician
    • 💪 Ambition
    • 💓 Love Interest

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:37

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Take Place?

The setting of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1982, Present Day

The movie opens in 1982, marking the beginnings of Burt and Anton's magical career with a significant birthday gift that sparks their passion. The narrative weaves through various periods, echoing changes in the magic industry, especially as Burt faces challenges in the modern-day world of entertainment.

Location

Las Vegas, Cambodia

Las Vegas is known for its vibrant nightlife and opulent casinos, serving as a backdrop for the ambitious performances of magicians like Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton. The breathtaking sights of the Las Vegas Strip are filled with entertainment and allure. Cambodia is referenced nostalgically, bringing memories of past adventures that shaped the duo's partnership.

  • 🎰 Las Vegas
  • 🇰🇭 Cambodia

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:37

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Revival

    The theme of revival encapsulates Burt's journey from a fall from grace to a resurgence in the magic scene. Struggling with ego and competition, Burt discovers the essence of his craft and rekindles lost partnerships that pave the way for a new spectacle. This theme reflects the broader messages of resilience and reinvention in the pursuit of success.

  • Illusion

    Illusion plays a vital role in both magic and life, permeating the storyline through the performances and personal transformations of the characters. The film sheds light on how appearances can be deceiving, highlighting Burt's struggle to navigate fame’s pressures while uncovering the true essence of entertainment.

  • Friendship

    The evolution of friendship underscores the narrative, spotlighting Burt's troubled relationship with Anton and Jane. Their journey reflects the complexities of camaraderie, featuring themes of betrayal, forgiveness, and ultimately the rekindling of lost connections that bring them back together in times of need.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:37

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Incredible Burt Wonderstone set?

The movie is primarily set in Las Vegas, Nevada, with its vibrant nightlife, opulent casinos, and the iconic Las Vegas Strip serving as the backdrop for Burt and Anton's magical performances. Cambodia is also referenced nostalgically, representing past adventures that shaped the duo's partnership earlier in their careers.

  • las vegas setting
  • casino
  • magic show
  • vegas strip
Q2

When does The Incredible Burt Wonderstone take place?

The film opens in 1982, showing the origin of Burt and Anton's partnership when Burt receives a magic kit as a birthday gift. The story then progresses to present day, depicting their struggle to remain relevant in the modern entertainment industry.

  • 1982
  • present day
  • timeline
  • origins
Q3

What are the main themes in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone?

The film explores three key themes: revival, as Burt must reinvent himself after losing everything; illusion, examining how appearances deceive both on stage and in life; and friendship, focusing on the complex dynamics between Burt, Anton, and Jane, including betrayal, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

  • revival
  • illusion
  • friendship
  • themes
  • reinvention
Q4

Who is Burt Wonderstone in the movie?

Burt Wonderstone is a flamboyant Las Vegas magician played by Jim Carrey who experiences a dramatic fall from grace. Originally known for his ego and lavish lifestyle, he must confront his own arrogance and rediscover his love for magic and genuine collaboration with his partner Anton.

  • burt wonderstone
  • jim carrey
  • magician
  • ego
  • character
Q5

Who is Anton Marvelton in the movie?

Anton Marvelton is Burt Wonderstone's longtime magic partner, played by Steve Buscemi. He has been loyal to Burt throughout their career but struggles with being sidelined by Burt's growing ego and self-centeredness, leading to tension in their partnership.

  • anton marvelton
  • steve buscemi
  • partner
  • magician
  • collaboration
Q6

Who is Jane in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone?

Jane is a production assistant played by Olivia Wilde who becomes instrumental to the story. She represents both love and frustration in Burt's journey, highlighting the complexities of professional relationships while embodying strength and ambition in the magic industry.

  • jane
  • olivia wilde
  • production assistant
  • magic
  • character
Q7

What does the revival theme mean in the movie?

The revival theme follows Burt's personal and professional transformation from a fallen magician to someone who rediscovers the true essence of his craft. It explores resilience and reinvention, showing how Burt must lose everything before he can rebuild his career and reconnect with lost partnerships.

  • revival theme
  • redemption
  • comeback
  • reinvention
  • career
Q8

How does the movie explore illusion as a theme?

Illusion permeates the film both literally in magic performances and figuratively in the characters' lives. The movie examines how appearances can be deceiving, particularly through Burt's struggle to navigate the pressures of fame while discovering what true entertainment really means beyond the spectacle.

  • illusion theme
  • magic
  • appearances
  • deception
  • entertainment
Q9

What does the friendship theme portray in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone?

The friendship theme highlights the complexities of Burt's relationships with Anton and Jane, featuring moments of betrayal, growing resentment, and eventual forgiveness. Their journey demonstrates how partnerships can be damaged by ego and neglect, but also how they can be rekindled in times of need.

  • friendship theme
  • partnership
  • betrayal
  • forgiveness
  • relationships
Q10

Why is Las Vegas important to the story?

Las Vegas serves as both the setting and a symbol of the characters' ambitions. The city's association with spectacle, entertainment, and high-stakes performance creates the perfect environment for Burt and Anton's rise and fall, while its competitive entertainment industry drives the film's central conflict.

  • las vegas importance
  • entertainment industry
  • vegas casinos
  • spectacle

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Incredible Burt Wonderstone tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about eccentric rivalries and redemption like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Comedic clashes between established pros and unconventional upstarts leading to personal growth. Discover comedies similar to The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, where seasoned veterans clash with outrageous newcomers. These movies feature a feel-good journey from arrogance to humility, absurd competitive antics, and a triumphant return to form that celebrates friendship and rediscovered passion.

  • comedic
  • rivalry
  • redemption
  • absurd
  • eccentric
  • feel-good
  • Tone: light, comedic, uplifting
  • Pacing: steady, building to a climax
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically follow a successful but complacent individual or duo whose dominance is challenged by an unconventional and flashy competitor. Their initial downfall, brought on by ego, leads to a period of humbling failure. The narrative culminates in a redemption arc where the protagonist reconnects with their core values, often reconciling with a partner, to creatively triumph over the rival.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their central comedic conflict—an absurd rivalry that serves as a catalyst for personal redemption. They share a light tone, a steady pacing that builds to a climactic showdown, and a focus on the humorous yet meaningful journey from self-importance to grounded success.

Feel-good partnership comedies like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Lighthearted stories about friends rediscovering the magic of working together. If you liked the dynamic between Burt and Anton in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, you'll enjoy these movies about creative duos. They explore themes of friendship, legacy, and innovation with a light, comedic touch, featuring steady pacing, a happy ending, and a nostalgic celebration of teamwork.

  • feel-good
  • friendship
  • nostalgic
  • comedic
  • uplifting
  • teamwork
  • Tone: light, uplifting, nostalgic
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a once-great duo facing a crisis—often professional irrelevance or internal conflict—that fractures their partnership. The story follows their separate, often comedic, struggles before a catalyst forces them to reunite. The climax revolves around them combining their strengths in a new way, reaffirming their bond and achieving success through collaboration.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific vibe: the warmth of reconciled friendship within a creative context. They are united by a light emotional weight, a feel-good tone, a steady pace that allows for character-focused humor, and an ultimate message about the power of working together.

If you liked this

Movies Like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Similar movies to The Incredible Burt Wonderstone: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Incredible Burt Wonderstone in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app