The Bourne Identity

Name: The Bourne Identity
Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller
Released: June 14, 2002
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Franka Potente, Matt Damon

2002

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 457 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 457 Ratings

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The Bourne Identity

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: June 14, 2002 | PG-13

Starring: Franka Potente, Matt Damon

Summary: Robert Ludlum's international thriller gets an edgy 21st century spin from director Doug Liman.

Director: Doug Liman

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 119 min

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Metascore

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Negative:

Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy

A first-rate thriller with grit and intrigue to spare. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

This is an entertainment that really entertains because any number of interesting and unexpected choices were made, starting with the selection of Doug Liman as the director. Read full review

Hank Sartin

The full-throttle approach of director Doug Liman (Swingers, Go) is impressive. Read full review

Roger Ebert

A skillful action movie about a plot that exists only to support a skillful action movie. The entire story is a set-up for the martial arts and chases. Because they are done well, because the movie is well-crafted and acted, we give it a pass. Too bad it's not about something. Read full review

Peter Travers

Director Doug Liman -- the hip skipper of "Swingers" and "Go" -- makes all the familiar dirty business seem fun and almost human. In these dog days, Bourne earns what passes as high praise: It doesn't suck. Read full review

Scott Tobias

May be a bloodless piece of thriller craftsmanship, but at a time when craft has become negligible, its efficiency and whipcrack timing are increasingly uncommon virtues. Read full review

Renee Graham

The best audiences can hope for is that they, too, get amnesia and forget they ever saw this movie. Read full review

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User Reviews

shamusolarry

Sep 7, 2011

From start to finish, this is a great movie. It's got just the right amount of suspense, just the right amount of action, just the right amount of character development. I don't have a single complaint about this movie.

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

abduction

Oct 6, 2011

Oh my god. Love it. Espesiall since it is Taylor Lautners favorite movie. I heart Taylor Lautner. Must watch again. Gotta go because I am going to watch the movie again. Thankyou for reading my review. Goodbye.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Nathonas

Sep 6, 2016

Near perfection action/drama film. The action is not overblown and focuses on intelligent aspects instead of lots of explosions/gunfire, with the winter scene in the countryside being a prime example.

Great dialogue, intricate plot, great pacing, great character dynamics (like theNear perfection action/drama film. The action is not overblown and focuses on intelligent aspects instead of lots of explosions/gunfire, with the winter scene in the countryside being a prime example.

Great dialogue, intricate plot, great pacing, great character dynamics (like the changing relationship between the two main antagonist characters).

And the film does a great job of showing how Bourne completely outsmarts his opponents instead of using brute force.

It has some small flaws but is otherwise one of my favorite action films.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RayzorMoose

Nov 12, 2013

A brilliant novel forged into an equally mesmerizing film.
The Bourne Identity cruises with ease as Matt Damon plays a humble but skilled agent in search of his own name.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mahmus

Oct 1, 2020

Before Paul Greengrass showed the world how to correctly use shaky cam, Doug Liman was introducing the world to Jason Bourne in equally stylish, albeit more dated fashion.

Unlike the next two movies, this one doesn't feel as timeless (the technology and editing style is very early 2000's),Before Paul Greengrass showed the world how to correctly use shaky cam, Doug Liman was introducing the world to Jason Bourne in equally stylish, albeit more dated fashion.

Unlike the next two movies, this one doesn't feel as timeless (the technology and editing style is very early 2000's), but it is the one Bourne film that focuses more on the humanity of Bourne, his relationship with Marie being its main focus.

This was a great start for a great trilogy.
And two other movies.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Oct 10, 2015

The Bourne Identity is in many ways your classic spy thriller and in many ways not your classic spy thriller. The ways in which it subverts it genre largely rest in the blending of mystery with the action spy thriller genre. The mysterious nature of the film and its protagonist really helpThe Bourne Identity is in many ways your classic spy thriller and in many ways not your classic spy thriller. The ways in which it subverts it genre largely rest in the blending of mystery with the action spy thriller genre. The mysterious nature of the film and its protagonist really help it to become different than your classic spy movie. However, it still is a spy movie, right down to the over-the-top European location. This does not mean it is not a good spy movie, however. Endlessly entertaining with brilliant action set pieces, added in with the twists and turns of every good spy movie, The Bourne Identity really does it job well. Mat t Damon, Franka Potente, and Chris Cooper, are all very good in their roles and it is no surprise as to why this one exploded the way it did. Overall, very satisfied.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

ukrScorpion

Apr 17, 2018

Fairy tale about glamorous boy for little girls....
All very primitive and predictable
If you want spy history try "24 hours" series.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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11	#11 Most Discussed Movie of 2002
39	#39 Most Shared Movie of 2002