Catch Me If You Can
The true story of a real fake.
2002 • 141 min • Drama · Crime
Synopsis
A true story about Frank Abagnale Jr. who, before his 19th birthday, successfully conned millions of dollars worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor. An FBI agent makes it his mission to put him behind bars. But Frank not only eludes capture, he revels in the pursuit.
Our family guide
Best from age 13- 100 Reviewers · 5 · 65%
- 80 Audience · 17336 · 35%
Based on a true story, a charismatic teenager successfully cons millions of dollars by impersonating various professionals before his 19th birthday. An FBI agent becomes determined to catch him, leading to a long and complex pursuit across the country. The film explores themes of identity, family, and the consequences of one's choices.
- Violence & peril
- 2/10
- Language
- 3/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 3/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 3/10
- Scary moments
- 1/10
Heads up
- Some suggestive content and brief partial nudity
- Depicts underage drinking and smoking
- Deception and fraud are central to the plot
What it models well
- Ingenuity and resourcefulness
- Importance of family
- Redemption and second chances
Talk about it after
- The real-life consequences of dishonesty and fraud
- Why Frank sought to impress people
- The complexity of right and wrong choices
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Catch Me If You Can. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
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Top billed cast
Director: Steven Spielberg • Crew: Jeff Nathanson
Trailers & clips
Frank Forges Checks as a Pilot
Trailer
Reviewer notes
Recommended**_Life on the run from the FBI_** From 1964-1969, a teen from New York (Leonardo DiCaprio) turns to confidence scams to survive, including posing as a Pan Am copilot, a doctor and a lawyer while raking in huge amounts of money via check fraud. Tom Hanks plays the FBI agent intent on nabbing the con artist. "Catch Me If You Can" (2002) was inspired by Frank Abagnale Jr’s tales about his life.…
RecommendedFor me, this is one of Leonardo DiCaprio's most natural performances. He is Frank Abagnale, a hugely intuitive seventeen year old youth with a boundless imagination and a criminal mind that might have made "Moriarty" blush. He quickly realises that most of society is based on the eggshell principle. We take things trustingly, on face value, and never explore what we don't think to ask.…
RecommendedJust as great as expected. I'm not quite sure how I've never got around to watching this, for two reasons: Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. Literally two of my favourite actors. Well, at least I have now and I can only add to the general vibe around <em>'Catch Me If You Can'</em>. It's very good!…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewers**Catch Me If You Can is an entertaining and amusing film full of Spielberg, Hanks, and DiCaprio charm.** With Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio as leads and Steven Spielberg directing, I don't think it's possible not to enjoy this movie. Everyone loves Hanks and young Leo. Every Spielberg film drips with nostalgia and enthusiasm. Catch Me If You Can is precisely what you would expect from this talented crew.…
RecommendedThis was an entertaining and fun piece of film making from the ever-reliable Steven Spielberg. It is a bit of a depart from his usual full-blown and hugely epic pictures, yet this does not detract at all from the fascinating story of Frank Abagnale Jr. I was interested in this man before I'd seen the movie, and it only served to increase my interest.…
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Details
- TMDB audience
- 8.0/10 (17,336)
- Age rating
- PG-13
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $52,000,000
- Box office
- $352,114,312
- IMDb
- tt0264464
