The film stars Eileen Atkins, Colin Firth, Marcia Gay Harden, Hamish Linklater, Emma Stone, Simon McBurney, and Jacki Weaver.

A candle floats up from the table and Howard grabs it to try to discern what trickery is at play, but is astounded to find no apparent subterfuge.

The next day, Stanley holds a press conference to tell the world that he, who spent his life debunking charlatan mystics, has finally come to find one who is the real deal.

Stanley rushes to the hospital, and considers turning to prayer for solace; he begins to pray for a miracle to save his aunt, but is unable to go through with it as the rationality that has been his whole life comes back.

Using a trick seen earlier in his stage act, Stanley appears to leave the room but stays to overhear Sophie and Howard discuss their collusion in what has been an elaborate ruse.

[10] Filming locations included the Opéra de Nice (the exterior of the Berlin theater where Stanley performs as Wei Ling Soo), Studios Riviera in Nice (the interior and the backstage area of the Berlin theater), the Hotel Negresco bar in Nice (the Berlin cabaret), the Villa Eilenroc [fr] in Antibes (the Catledge estate and the ball scene), the Villa La Renardière in Mouans-Sartoux (the Catledge estate), the Château du Rouët in Le Muy (Aunt Vanessa's house), the Nice Observatory (where Stanley and Sophie take refuge from the rainstorm), and the bar and restaurant at the Hôtel Belles Rives in Juan-les-Pins.

[19] The film opened in theaters in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago on July 25, 2014,[20] followed by a wide release in the United States on August 15.

The website's critics consensus reads, "While far from a failure, Magic in the Moonlight is too slight to stand with Woody Allen's finest work.

[26] Rex Reed, writing for The New York Observer, gave the film a largely positive review, calling it "a masterstroke of enchantment" and praising Colin Firth's performance.

[27] Jordan Hoffman of MTV News also enjoyed the film, stating, "This picture isn't as showy or obvious as one of his (many) masterpieces, but it is quite good and deserves your time and respect.

"[29] In The Wall Street Journal, Joe Morgenstern complimented Emma Stone and concluded, "Think of it as a 97-minute séance that draws you in, spins you around, subverts your suppositions, levitates your spirits and leaves you giddy with delight".

[30] However, in Vanity Fair, Richard Lawson criticized Stone's acting, arguing that "her line delivery is too modern to really work convincingly in the period, and like many other nonetheless talented actors, she has trouble with Allen's stilted, formal cadence."

[31] Alan Scherstuhl of The Village Voice disliked the film, criticizing its familiarity from Allen's previous work and believing the writing was uninspired.