An analysis of flouting of maxim used by main characters in the Now You See Me: now you don’t movie (2025)

This study investigates the types and functions of flouting of maxim used by the main characters in the "Now You See Me; Now You Don't." movie. Based on Grice’s cooperative principles, this research aims to identify the types and functions of deliberately flouted maxims used by main characters to convey implicit meaning. Flouting of maxim occurs when a speaker deliberately and openly flouting Grice's Cooperative Principle, to prompt the addressee to recognize the flouting and then seek out the hidden meaning or behind the literal statement. This flouting maxim consists of the flouting maxim of quality, flouting maxim of quantity, flouting maxim of relation, and the flouting maxim of manner. This study employs a descriptive qualitative method, with data collected through the documentation of dialogue transcripts. The data were analyzed by classifying utterances into flouting of maxim. There are four types of flouting maxim which are flouting maxim of quality, flouting maxim of quantity, flouting maxim of relation, and the flouting maxim of manner. The data consists of sentences containing flouting maxim taken from conversations used by the main characters in the "Now You See Me; Now You Don't." movie, with 3 main characters there are June, Bosco and Charlie. The findings reveal that 40 instances of flouting maxim were identified, with the flouting maxim of quality being the most dominant with 17 utterances, followed by 7 flouting maxim of quantity, 6 flouting maxim of relevance, and 10 flouting maxim of manner. The findings indicate that main characters frequently employ flouting maxim of quality to hide the truth, create humor, and strategic communication. Meanwhile, the function of flouting maxim of quantity is to avoid the hearer and overstatement, flouting maxim of relevance is to divert the conversation and convey implied meaning, and flouting maxim of manner is to create riddles and conceal information. The results of this study indicate that flouting of maxim in films are not communication errors but rather intentional communication tactics aimed at creating illusions and conveying the story.