The Amazing Johnathan Documentary

THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY begins as a profile on a uniquely deranged magician who built a career out of shock and deception in the 1980s. It changes, however, into the bizarre story about the unraveling of his documentarian.

The Amazing Johnathan and his irreverent magic act rose, to popularity landing one of the longest residencies in Las Vegas. However in 2014 Johnathan was diagnosed with a terminal heart condition and given only one year to live, forcing him to retire his act. Fast forward to three years later, Johnathan is still alive and chooses to return to the stage. Filmmaker Ben Berman sets out to capture The Amazing Johnathan’s comeback tour while peeling back the curtain on his unique, meth-fueled life.

But the seemingly straightforward profile of this eccentric illusionist starts careening off the rails as Johnathan drops a bombshell that sends the film spiraling into uncertainty. As we delve deeper to determine what’s real and what’s illusion, hard questions are raised, uncovering deeper truths about the ethics of filmmaking and human nature.