Catch Me If You Can
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
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  1. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    100
    Part of Spielberg's skill as a filmmaker comes in choosing the right collaborators. Janusz Kaminski's gorgeous cinematography, Michael Kahn's graceful editing, Jeff Nathanson's clever script, and John Williams' score all work well in unison, but the film's masterstroke is the casting of Walken as DiCaprio's utterly decent father.
  2. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    100
    It's brilliantly acted. But best of all, it's brilliantly made.
  3. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Shawn Levy
    91
    It's the most charming and buoyant film Spielberg's ever made.
  4. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    90
    Supremely entertaining.
  5. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: David Ansen
    90
    Never less than engaging; all that’s missing is a proper crescendo. The picture moves along briskly, even at two and a half hours, but it seems to be running on cruise control.
  6. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Schickel
    90
    Results in about the nicest movie you could ask for at the holidays: 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.
  7. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    89
    Everything about this swift and gorgeous and tremendously enjoyable film is played out in a rush of staccato edits, crisp performances, and charmingly giddy subplots that coalesce into Spielberg's most purely entertaining movie in years.
  8. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    88
    Nothing if not a celebration of our willingness to be gulled by life's charming strangers.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 171 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 60
  3. Negative: 5 out of 60
  1. BenYaniw
    8
    A very entertaining and emotionally stimulating watch. Wouldn't say the film was unmissable but definitely a good use of some spare time. An interesting study of the sly and cunning of a legendary con artist , also on how simply appearance and sincerity on the exterior can affect human behaviour and confidence in the most powerful ways.… Full Review »
  2. AlexP
    10
    This movie marked a turn for Di Caprio as a pretty face in terrible movies to a great actor in great movies. This movie is funny, smart, and moving and the acting does not disappoint either.… Full Review »
  3. Movie1997
    8
    This one is a Steven Spielberg biographic classic. The story of a con-man in the 1960s who conned millions of checks and took the role of becoming a Pan Am Pilot, a doctor and a legal prosecuter is very interesting to watch. To me, it was interesting to see Frank basically just go all over the place. The movie has some very talented actors like Christopher Walken, Tom Hanks and especially Leonardo DiCaprio. This is easily one DiCaprio's top 5 films of all time. He really plays the role perfectly and has that kid like sense in him that we haven't seen since "What's Eating Gilbert Grape". Plus, Tom Hanks was a great supporting actor. I've never seen him as one of those "side characters". However, he manages to give a great performance as Carl Handratty. As far as storyline goes, it's all over the place. There's just so much to keep up with, but with Steven Spielberg, you're on a great journey with this likeable character. The movie does slow down at the end once Frank gets thrown in prison and eventually starts to work with the FBI, but other than that, the movie sets a good pace. Overall, it's an interesting biography on one of the biggest con-artist's in America.… Full Review »
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