Catch Me If You Can (2002)
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96% of critics liked it
(194 reviews) -
81% of users liked it
(655,725 ratings)
A gifted forger and confidence man attempts to stay one step ahead of the lawman determined to bring him to justice in this comedy-drama from Steven Spielberg, based on a true story. Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a 16-year-old high school student who finds himself emotionally cut… More A gifted forger and confidence man attempts to stay one step ahead of the lawman determined to bring him to justice in this comedy-drama from Steven Spielberg, based on a true story. Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a 16-year-old high school student who finds himself emotionally cut adrift when his mother, Paula (Nathalie Baye), leaves his father, Frank Abagnale Sr. (Christopher Walken), after Frank Sr. falls into arrears with the Internal Revenue Service. One day at school, Frank Jr. attempts to pass himself off as a substitute teacher, and easily makes the subterfuge work. His small-scale success gives Frank some ideas, and he soon discovers bigger and more profitable ways of hoaxing others, passing himself off as an airline pilot, a doctor, and an attorney. Along the way, Frank learns how to become a master forger, and uses his talent and charm to pass over 2.5 million dollars in phony checks. Frank's increasingly audacious work soon attracts the attention of Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), an FBI agent who is determined to put Frank behind bars. Frank seems to enjoy being pursued by Carl, and even goes so far as to call Carl on the phone to chat every once in a while. While posing as a doctor, Frank falls in love with Brenda Strong (Amy Adams), a sweet girl working as a candy striper. When Frank asks Brenda to marry him, he decides to assume a new identity to impress her father, Roger (Martin Sheen) -- who happens to be the District Attorney of New Orleans, LA. Catch Me If You Can was based on the autobiography of the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr., who has a cameo in the film and today works on the side of the law as a top consultant on preventing forgery and designing secure checking systems. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Steven Spielberg
- Written By
- Jeff Nathanson
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure
- In Theaters
- Dec 25, 2002 Wide
- Studio
- DreamWorks SKG
Critic Reviews
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
This is the director's most likeable film in ages, even if it's insubstantial, overlong and, frankly, a touch redundant.
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Stanley Kauffmann, The New Republic
DiCaprio has the breeze and aplomb to keep it all bouncing along.
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Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
Breezily enjoyable but thin.
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David Ansen, Newsweek
A delicious cat-and-mouse game flecked with intriguing Oedipal undertones.
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Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
A gently funny, sweetly adventurous film that makes you feel genuinely good, that is to say, entirely unconned by false sentiment or sharp, overmanipulative Hollywood practices.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Leonardo DiCaprio
as Frank Abagnale Jr.
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Tom Hanks
as Carl Hanratty
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Christopher Walken
as Frank Abagnale Sr.
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Martin Sheen
as Roger Strong
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Nathalie Baye
as Paula Abagnale
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Amy Adams
as Brenda Strong
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James Brolin
as Jack Barnes
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Brian Howe
as Tom Fox
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Frank John Hughes
as Earl Amdursky
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Steve Eastin
as Paul Morgan
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Chris Ellis
as Special Agent Witkins
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John Finn
as Assistant Director Marsh
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Jennifer Garner
as Cheryl Ann
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Frank Abagnale Jr.
as French Policeman
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Jim Antonio
as Victor Griffin
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Candice Azzara
as Darcy
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Lilyan Chauvin
as Mrs. Lavalier
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Alfred Dennis
as Ira Penner
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Joe Garagiola
as Himself
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Dave Hager
as Judge
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Alex Hyde-White
as Mr. Kesner
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Thomas Kopache
as Principal Evans
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Nancy Lenehan
as Carol Strong
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Anthony Powers
as NY Savings Bank Manager
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Sarah Rush
as Secretary
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Robert Ruth
as Hotel Manager
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Jimmie F. Skaggs
as Bartender
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Robert Symonds
as Mr. Rosen
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Guy Thauvette
as Warden Garren
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Malachi Throne
as Abe Penner
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Steve Witting
as Manager
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Wendy Worthington
as Receptionist
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Gerald R. Molen
as FBI Agent
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Kitty Carlisle Hart
as Herself
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Robert Curtis-Brown
as Front Desk Clerk
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Matthew Kimbrough
as Loan Officer
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Ritchie Montgomery
as Young Doctor
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Jan Munroe
as Captain Oliver
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Ana Maria Quintana
as Hotel Maid
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James Morrison
as Pilot
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Fred Datig Jr.
as Co-Pilot
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Guy-Daniel Tremblay
as French Police
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Stephen Dunham
as Pilot
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Kam Heskin
as Candie
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Jessica Collins
as Peggy
- Phil Reeves
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Roger Leger
as Prison Guard
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James DuMont
as FBI Agent
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Jack Wagner
as Kid
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Elizabeth Banks
as Lucy
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Brian Goodman
as Motel Owner
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Margaret Travolta
as Ms. Davenport
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Lauren Cohn
as Female Teller
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Robert Peters
as FBI Agent
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Thomas Crawford
as FBI Agent
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Jane Edith Wilson
as Bar Examiner
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J. Patrick McCormack
as Auctioneer
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Amy Acker
as Miggy
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Ray Proscia
as Salesman
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Kyle Davis
as Kid
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Morgan Rusler
as FBI Agent
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Ellen Pompeo
as Marci
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Sarah Lancaster
as Riverbend Woman
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Alexandre Bisping
as French Police
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Jeremy Howard
as Teen Waiter
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Brandon Keener
as Pilot
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Patrick Thomas O'Brien
as Mr. Hendricks
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Jack Knight
as Man #3
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Jasmine Jessica Anthony
as Little Girl
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Mike Baldridge
as Terry
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Jean-François Blanchard
as French Police Captain
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Stan Bly
as Blind Man
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Jane Bodle
as TWA Ticket Agent
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Dominic Bond
as Choir
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Joshua Boyd
as Football Player
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Jonathan Brent
as Dr. Ashland
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Jean-François Brousseau
as Choir
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Francis Campeau
as Choir
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Raphaël Cardin
as Choir
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Ashley Cohen
as Party Twin
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Kelly Cohen
as Party Twin
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Mercedes Cornett
as Heather
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Marc-Antoine Côté
as Choir
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Jonathan Danker
as Student #1
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Kaitlin Doubleday
as Joanna
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Antoine Drolet-Dumoulin
as Choir
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Celine Du Tertre
as Little Girl on Street
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Patrice Dussault
as French Police
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Léon Dussault-Gagné
as Choir
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Shane Edelman
as Doctor Harris
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Joel Ewing
as Party Guy
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Eugene Fleming
as Ticket Clerk
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Mathieu Gaudreault
as French Police
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Vincent Généreux
as Choir
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Ellis Hall
as Piano Player/Singer
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Simon Houle-Gauthier
as Choir
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Kelly Hutchinson
as Young Female Teller
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Jean Sebastien Bou
as Choir
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Jennifer Kan
as Female Bank Teller
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Deborah Kellner
as Debra Jo
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Max J. Kerstein
as Penner Brother
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Donna Kimball
as TWA Stewardess
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Pascal Larouche
as Choir
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William Lauzon
as Choir
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Florent Legault
as Choir
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Jennifer Manley
as Ashley
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Jill Matson
as Riverbend Woman
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Kelly McNair
as Girl #1
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Jason McNally
as Choir
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Andrew Meeks
as Young Patient
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Steven Meizler
as Piano Player
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Maggie Mellin
as Teacher
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Jamie Moss
as Young Man
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Benita Krista Nall
as Emergency Nurse
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Jaime Ray Newman
as Monica
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Julien Normandeau
as Choir
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David Parent-Laliberté
as Choir
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Alexandre Pepin
as Choir
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Nicolas Radeschi
as Choir
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Jonathan René
as Choir
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Angela Sorensen
as Party Girl
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Samuel St. Amour
as Choir
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Jamie Anderson
as Ailene
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Paul Todd
as Maitre D'







