Catch Me If You Can

Catch Me If You Can
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySteven Spielberg
Screenplay byJeff Nathanson
Based onCatch Me If You Can
by Frank Abagnale Jr.
Stan Redding
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJanusz Kamiński
Edited byMichael Kahn
Music byJohn Williams
Production
companies
Distributed byDreamWorks Pictures
Release dates
  • December 18, 2002 (2002-12-18) (Westwood)
  • December 25, 2002 (2002-12-25) (United States)
Running time
141 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$52 million[2]
Box office$352.1 million[2]

Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 American biographical crime comedy-drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks with Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Nathalie Baye, Amy Adams, and James Brolin in supporting roles.[3] The screenplay by Jeff Nathanson is based on the semi-autobiographical book of the same name by Frank Abagnale Jr., who claims that prior to his 19th birthday, he successfully performed cons worth millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana parish prosecutor. The truth of his story is heavily disputed.[4][5][6]

A movie version of Abagnale's book of the same name was contemplated soon after it was published in 1980 but began in earnest in 1997 when Spielberg's DreamWorks bought the film rights. David Fincher, Gore Verbinski, Lasse Hallström, Miloš Forman, and Cameron Crowe were all considered to direct the film before Spielberg decided to direct it himself. Filming took place from February to May 2002.

The film opened on December 25, 2002, to positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, grossing $352 million worldwide. At the 75th Academy Awards, Christopher Walken and John Williams were nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Score, respectively.[7][8]

  1. ^ "Catch Me If You Can". British Board of Film Classification. December 13, 2002. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BoxOfficeMojo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Catch Me if You Can, retrieved July 12, 2022
  4. ^ Lopez, Xavier (April 23, 2021). "Could this famous con man be lying about his story? A new book suggests he is". WHYY. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  5. ^ "New book further debunks myth of scam artist Frank Abagnale Jr. of 'Catch Me if You Can' book and movie". Louisiana Voice. April 27, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "WHRO Radio & TV Programs, Podcasts, Episodes". mediaplayer.whro.org. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "74th Academy Awards". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2008.
  8. ^ "Winners: Big upsets". Detroit Free Press. March 24, 2003. p. 21. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon