Film

Dealt

Name: Dealt
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2017
Cast: Richard Turner, Max Maven, Armando Lucero, Bob Gebert, Ivan McCormick

Biopic

Dealt is a portrait of Richard Turner, a world-class card magician who has been blind since birth. It's an intimate documentary about mastery, sensory adaptation, and the quietly extraordinary lives of people who excel at the impossible. For anyone fascinated by skill, disability, or the hidden architecture of magic.

TMDb rating

3.8

If you liked this

Whip It2009

Drew Barrymore's directorial debut celebrates outsider communities and hard-won skill. Like Dealt, it finds profound humanity in niche worlds most people never see.

But A sports comedy that leans heavily into indie quirkiness. If you're allergic to twee, this might feel overstretched.

The Toys That Made Us2017

Netflix series exploring obsessive craftsmanship and the people who dedicate lives to their art. Same meditative quality as Dealt, exploring mastery through intimate access.

But Episodic format means some entries land harder than others. The nostalgia hook won't resonate equally for everyone.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi2011

Hushed, respectful profile of an 85-year-old perfecting his craft. Shares Dealt's quiet reverence for someone's lifetime pursuit of excellence.

But Very slow. If you need narrative momentum or conflict, this meditative approach will feel static.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Dealt

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Sleight2017

Both understand that card magic is a form of problem-solving under pressure. Sleight makes literal what Dealt implies: the technique is also survival.

Low-budget sci-fi thriller where a street magician uses sleight of hand to survive danger. Genre film that thinks seriously about what magic technique actually means physically and mentally.

But Darkly violent and set in a crime-ridden world. The tonal shift from wonder to survival might feel jarring if you're looking for pure celebration of craft.

Man on Wire2008

Documentary about an impossibly skilled tightrope walker. Combines technical fascination, personal obsession, and the ethics of risk in ways that echo Dealt's complexity.

But Uses dramatization and archival footage unevenly. The recreation scenes can feel manipulative compared to pure documentary access.

Pumping Iron1977

Bodybuilding documentary that treats its subjects with genuine dignity. Captures obsessive dedication and how mastery looks from the inside, like Dealt does for card magic.

But Dated filming style and some uncomfortable attitudes about bodies. The machismo can feel dated in ways that distract.

The Dawn Wall2017

Two climbers spending weeks on a near-vertical rock face. Explores what drives people to master the near-impossible, with stunning visual documentation.

But Existential climbing philosophy might feel oblique if you're after clearer narrative payoff. Also quite tense in ways that aren't for everyone.

Wordplay2006

Documentary about competitive crossword solvers. Gentle, funny portrait of people devoted to something specific and difficult. Similar warmth to Dealt's approach.

But Deliberately lightweight. If you need deeper psychological stakes, this breezy approach won't satisfy.

The Prestige2006

Both take magicians seriously as people—complex, driven, willing to sacrifice. Nolan finds darkness where Dealt finds grace, but they're asking the same questions.

Nolan's dual-magician thriller builds obsession into its structure. Captures the same sense that magic practitioners live by different logic than everyone else, and the personal cost matters more than the illusion.

But Twisty plot requires concentration and rewards repeat watching. The spectacle might overshadow the character study some viewers want.