The 15 Greatest Magic Tricks Ever Performed

A Legendary Countdown of the Most Iconic Illusions in History

Magic has always captivated the imagination - defying logic, dazzling the senses and leaving audiences in complete disbelief. From stage illusions that made global headlines to sleight-of-hand stunts performed inches from your face, some tricks have truly stood the test of time.

In this countdown, we're celebrating the 15 greatest magic tricks ever performed. While the list is subjective, each entry represents a milestone in the history of magic that either shocked the world, redefined the art form, or became instantly legendary.

15. The Zig-Zag Lady – Robert Harbin

Invented in the 1960s, this illusion saw a woman seemingly cut into three separate pieces - with her middle section visibly moved out of alignment - yet emerge completely unharmed. It became a staple in stage illusion shows and has inspired countless variations.

14. The Vanishing Elephant – Harry Houdini

In 1918, Houdini made a live elephant disappear in front of a full theatre audience at the Hippodrome in New York. Without advanced tech or digital tricks, this illusion was a feat of pure stagecraft and misdirection.

13. The Floating Lightbulb – Harry Blackstone Sr.

This trick involved a lightbulb that glowed without wires and floated through the air - even over the heads of the audience. For its time, it was a stunning combination of elegance and technical brilliance.

12. Water Torture Cell – Harry Houdini

Another Houdini classic: he was suspended upside down, locked in a glass tank filled with water, and had to escape before drowning. This trick pushed the boundaries between illusion, stunt work and death-defying risk.

11. Bullet Catch – Various Magicians

The bullet catch is one of the deadliest illusions ever performed, involving a magician catching a bullet fired from a real gun - sometimes in their teeth. Many have attempted it; few have mastered it without consequence.

10. Card Through Window – David Blaine

David Blaine stunned spectators by having a selected playing card appear stuck on the outside of a glass window - seemingly from the inside. This modern street magic trick became a viral sensation and cemented Blaine’s minimalist style.

9. The Mask Levitation – Masked Magician / Classic Illusion

Levitation has always mesmerised audiences. In this famous illusion, the magician floats above the ground - sometimes over a stage, sometimes outdoors - without any visible support. Variations of this trick date back centuries, but the modern renditions are truly jaw-dropping.

8. Head Twister – Stage Classic

The magician appears to twist a person’s head 360 degrees around their shoulders - while they’re still alive and smiling. This classic piece of stage comedy and horror never fails to make jaws drop and audiences wince (in the best way).

7. Sands of the Desert – Various Performers

Three different coloured sands are poured into water, stirred, and mixed. Then, the magician magically removes them - completely dry and separated by colour. A beautiful and poetic illusion still used in modern parlour magic.

6. Walking Through a Wall – David Copperfield

David Copperfield stunned audiences when he appeared to walk through the Great Wall of China. Combining camera angles, live performance, and stagecraft, it was one of his most technically ambitious illusions.

5. The Disappearing Statue of Liberty – David Copperfield

In 1983, Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty vanish on live television. With a live audience, helicopters overhead, and minimal room for error, this trick became one of the most iconic illusions of all time.

4. Teller’s Shadows

In one of the most artistic illusions ever performed, Teller (of Penn & Teller) cuts the shadow of a flower... and the real flower falls apart. It’s a haunting, poetic, and perfectly executed piece of theatre that fuses magic with art.

3. Sawing a Person in Half – P.T. Selbit

First performed in 1921, this trick set the gold standard for stage illusions. Since then, it's been updated with transparent boxes, moving blades, and wild variations - but the impact remains the same: pure astonishment.

2. David Blaine’s Ice Block Stunt

In 2000, Blaine encased himself in a block of ice for over 60 hours in Times Square. Though more endurance than traditional illusion, it redefined what magic could be - pushing the limits of body, mind and spectacle.

1. Penn & Teller’s Bullet Catch (Live on Stage)

No trick combines risk, timing, and theatrical drama like Penn & Teller’s live bullet catch. Each fires a gun at the other, then shows a signed bullet caught in their teeth. Audiences are left gasping, even after dozens of performances.

Honourable Mentions

• Dynamo walking on the River Thames

• Derren Brown’s Russian Roulette

• The levitating broomstick from The Prestige (inspired by real-life illusions)

Experience Magic Up Close with Slightly Unusual

Whether it’s making objects vanish, reading minds, or bending reality, magic has always had the power to captivate. At Slightly Unusual, we bring the same level of wonder, humour, and impact to your private events - without needing to disappear a monument!

From weddings and birthdays to large-scale corporate events, our magicians perform miracles you have to see to believe.