Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Brian Cox, Chris Cooper

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

668,542 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: 40,502 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (40,502)


  • October 10, 2006
    An unconventional spy movie that relies more on thrills, characters, & story. than on gadgets & over-the-top villians.
  • 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 14, 2008
    Jason Bourne is a CIA agent but he doesn't know it as he has all the instincts but has lost his memory of who he is. Good storyline.
  • November 7, 2009
    Matt damon awesome bloody fighter
  • November 5, 2009
    Bourne is so badass. How can you not like it?
  • November 4, 2009
    J'ai vraiment apprécié et en plus tout les acteurs on des accents alors c'est vraiment avantageux (plus encore que d'habitude) de l'écouter en version originale
  • November 4, 2009
    "Bond" is "Bond"

    Bourne" is "One Hell of a Good Time"

    See it, Atleast once.

    One of the Great Action Spy-Thrillers.
  • November 3, 2009
    La trilogia Bourne esta fregona!
    Ademas, me cae muy bien Matt Damon.

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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