Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Brian Cox, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Franka Potente ...( see more  see more... ) , Gabriel Mann , Julia Stiles , Matt Damon , Orso Maria Guerrini

The spy thriller opens as an amnesiac is rescued at sea by the crew of an Italian fishing boat. Nearly dead, he carries nothing but the bullets in his back and the bank account number embedded in his ...( read more  read more... )hip. Although completely without identity or background, he possesses an array of extraordinary talents in fighting, linguistics and self-defense that speaks of a dangerous past. In the present he is disoriented and wary as he is propelled into an urgent search to discover who he is and why his life has taken a perilous turn. A Zurich safe deposit box yields an assortment of passports, a hefty load of cash, an automatic weapon and a name--Jason Bourne--with a Paris address. What it means remains a mystery, but Bourne quickly realizes that although he knows no one, there are people who recognize him--and do not wish him well. When he meets Marie Kreutz, a hard-luck German-born wanderer, he makes a desperate pitch--$10,000 for a ride to Paris. Despite her reservations, Marie takes the cash and begins a journey with Bourne that changes her life forever. The trail of Jason Bourne's past snakes from Europe to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, where Treadstone, a clandestine operation is based. As Bourne and Marie struggle to stay below the radar in France, all of the stealthy muscle of Treadstone is focused on tracking them and neutralizing Bourne as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Flixster Users

91% liked it

875,869 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

178 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 58 min.

Directed by: Doug Liman

Release Date: June 14, 2002

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DVD Release Date: January 21, 2003

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Stats: 40,595 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (40,595)


  • October 10, 2006
    An unconventional spy movie that relies more on thrills, characters, & story. than on gadgets & over-the-top villians.
  • November 30, 2009
    The Bourne Identity spawned a whole wave of super-realistic, gritty action movies, and the last few years of cinema have benefitted greatly from following in its footsteps. Even the lofty 007 franchise had to make a few changes to better fit into the successful mold that the firs...( read more)t Bourne movie created.

    Matt Damon will always be Jason Bourne to me, this is the role that he was born to play. He makes the entire movie work, from Jason's desperation to find out who he really is, to the brutal fight scenes. The Bourne Identity is thrilling and captivating to a degree that few other movies have reached.
  • September 21, 2009
    I?ll be honest, I found it all a bit dull. Two stars for Franka Potente though, she?s luuurvly!
  • July 11, 2009
    Really well done, Matt Damon is the perfect man for the role of Jason Bourne, highly recommend this one!
  • June 16, 2009
    "He was the perfect weapon until he became the target."

    A man is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and without memory, then races to elude assassins and recover from amnesia.

    REVIEW
    ...( read more)r>
    I enjoyed this. It had been one of those movies I had heard about but had never gotten around to. There are times when it seems that Matt Damon is such a cold fish, that one has trouble getting connected to him. In this film he is really believable as a man who has all the training of a killing machine, but a soft side that bears exploring. The character is put into situations he can't understand but can only react to. He has compassion but little understanding. What an interesting role. If there's a shortcoming, it's that the motivations of the bad folks aren't all that clear. It's still a delight to watch his relationship with his I-only- need-a-ride partner develop. There is a level of subtlety that most films of this type don't have. The car chases are spectacular but, for once, they backed down on the pyrotechnics. I appreciated this.
  • December 11, 2009
    Even though i havent seen it yet,i know for sure this is still a movie you must watch for.
  • December 9, 2009
    Really good. And unusually, the sequels were good, too!
  • December 8, 2009
    Identidad desconocida
  • December 8, 2009
    You heard me.I want Bourne in a body bag by sundown-Conklin

    ...( read more)ize:10px;">Flixster - Share Movies

    Director:Doug Liman
    Cast:Matt Damon,Franka Potente,Chris Copper,Brian Cox
    Genre:Action,Thriller
    Year of release:2002
    Running Time:117 minutes

    Plot:
    The spy thriller opens as an amnesiac is rescued at sea by the crew of an Italian fishing boat. Nearly dead, he carries nothing but the bullets in his back and the bank account number embedded in his hip. Although completely without identity or background, he possesses an array of extraordinary talents in fighting, linguistics and self-defense that speaks of a dangerous past. In the present he is disoriented and wary as he is propelled into an urgent search to discover who he is and why his life has taken a perilous turn. A Zurich safe deposit box yields an assortment of passports, a hefty load of cash, an automatic weapon and a name--Jason Bourne--with a Paris address. What it means remains a mystery, but Bourne quickly realizes that although he knows no one, there are people who recognize him--and do not wish him well. When he meets Marie Kreutz, a hard-luck German-born wanderer, he makes a desperate pitch--$10,000 for a ride to Paris. Despite her reservations, Marie takes the cash and begins a journey with Bourne that changes her life forever. The trail of Jason Bourne's past snakes from Europe to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, where Treadstone, a clandestine operation is based. As Bourne and Marie struggle to stay below the radar in France, all of the stealthy muscle of Treadstone is focused on tracking them and neutralizing Bourne as quickly and efficiently as possible.

    Review:
    The Bourne trilogy sets a new standard in action-spy films.I already am a fan of the series thanks to The Bourne Supremacy and the excellent The Bourne Ultimatum but i decided to see the beggining of a manīs odissey to discover his true identity.The Bourne Identity is a great start of the series and thereīs no doubt of a mind a spectacular action experience.

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    Matt Damon gives a fantastic perfomance as Jason Bourne.I was suprised to see Damon in a action movie and i was never a huge fan of him but he really nailed the part perfectly.Damon makes Bourne a tortured and a very realistic character and i love how Bourne reacts in very situations he is in.I canīt imagine a Bourne film without Damon and he will be always be associated to this amazing character.Franka Potente was great as Marie,Jasonīs love interest,Chris Cooper was spectacular as Conkiln,Brian Cox was fantastic as usual and we see Clive Owen for the first time.

    I m not a fan of Doug Liman but he did a great job in Bourne.His direction was good but Paul Greengrass is a better director in my opinion.Anyway,this is Limanīs best movie along Mr.e Mrs.Smith.

    The Bourne Identity is a pumping-adrenaline rush and one of the best spy movies ever made that puts James Bond into a shame.Probably one of the best movies of 2002.
  • December 6, 2009
    i love it
    i love it
    i love it

Critic Reviews


May 19, 2004
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Liman can uncork leap-out-of-your-seat shocks, draw out suspense scenes with malicious finesse and even ease a touch of romance and droll humor into the yarn. full review

June 18, 2002
David Edelstein, Slate

It moves quickly, adroitly, and without fuss; it doesn't give you time to reflect on the inanity -- and the Cold War datedness -- of its premise. full review

June 14, 2002
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Bourne aspires only to be a fun popcorn movie -- and, for the most part, it is. full review

June 14, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

There are moments that feel just on the edge of silly, but that's the idea. full review

June 14, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Liman adds some brash, and occasionally subtle, touches to the spy-on-the-run formula, without ever quite managing to transcend the cliches. full review

June 14, 2002
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Free from the encumbrances of history and of Ludlum's cloddish prose, The Bourne Identity, like its hero, triumphs through sheer unreflective professionalism. full review

June 14, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Doug Liman, the director of Bourne, directs the traffic well, gets a nice wintry look from his locations, absorbs us with the movie's spycraft and uses Damon's ability to be focused and sincere. full review

June 10, 2002
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

In these dog days, Bourne earns what passes as high praise: It doesn't suck. full review

View more The Bourne Identity reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • pavacri23
    May 31, 2008
    these movies of bourne are being the new james bond movies of 2000
  • cheekybratmary012
    August 10, 2007
    i watched it last yr an it was the best but this yr it was totally different:'( SADDENED
  • husker54
    July 31, 2007
    Awesome flick
  • millystar
    July 17, 2007
    I loved it it was great!!!!! i had never heard of Matt Damon til now but i like him he did a really good job acting
  • grandmahootie
    July 8, 2007
    Just finished watching Bourne Identity TV was going to show Bourne Supermacy so decided to view my DVD n started with his first show. I have the DVD that has an alternate beginning and ending. Matt Damon was outstanding storyline was great. Can't get tired watching over and over. 5 stars
  • pullupyourshirt
    June 17, 2007
    rad!
  • tangomika
    May 29, 2006
    great movie..keeps people guessing what's gonna happen next.. totally recommend.

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The Bourne Identity Trivia


  • What was Matt Damons characters name in The Bourne Identity?  Answer »
  • Name That Movie From These Three Details: amnesiac rescued at sea. running from CIA. embeded bank account number in the main character's hip.  Answer »
  • The characters in this movie include Ward Abbott, The Professor, Nicky, Danny Zorn and Matt Damon is the main character!  Answer »
  • In The Bourne Identity, what does Marie say about her car?  Answer »

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