If you’re a movie buff, you are no doubt familiar with the landmark film, “Catch Me If You Can,” starring a then very young Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. Even twenty years after its release, fans still can’t get enough of the cat-and-mouse film with unpredictable twists and dry humor. To this day, you can find dedicated Redditt posts about Catch Me If You Can, and films that measure up. Speaking about measuring, this article highlights the top films like Catch Me If You Can that will have you laughing, crying, and sitting on the edge of your seat, begging for more.
Exploring Movies Like Catch Me If You Can
Movies like “Catch Me If You Can” inspire movie buffs because it combines drama with heavy dozes of comedic timing, with a dash of suspense. Also, movies like Catch Me If You Can have a way of humanizing the antagonist, soon having the audience rooting for the thief or the one up to mischief to get away with it. Without spoiling “Catch Me If You Can,” the movie continues to endure because Tom Hank’s Character, Carl Hanratty, grew a begrudging respect for Leonardo DiCaprio’s character as Frank Abagnale Jr., who was the thief and the fraudster.
What Makes Catch Me If You Can Stand Out?
- It is based on a real life story: The premise for Catch Me If You Can stands out in that the main storyline is based on semi-actual events about Frank Abagnale Jr. By the time he was 19 in the 1960s, which the film is set in, Frank was already an accomplished con artist.
- Critical performances: Both Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio received rave reviews and several nominations for their performances in Catch Me If You Can. The onscreen chemistry continues to have new legions of fans falling in love with the film.
- The amazing direction: Even with the amazing onscreen chemistry between Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg’s expert direction, perfect timing, and subtle plot twists help push Catch Me If You Can into legendary status.
- The time period: To stay faithful to the tale of the real-life Frank Abagnale, Catch Me If You Can, is set in the 1960s. For fans of retro or old Hollywood, watching the vintage cars, clothes and set design was almost as good as the drama unfolding on the screen.
- Rooting for the bad guy: Even though it is clearly established from the beginning of the film that Frank is the villain, as Catch Me If You Can unfolds, you can’t help but to find yourself rooting for Leonardo DiCaprio to get away with it in the end.
Movies Like Catch Me If You Can
Movies like “Catch Me If You Can” continue to endure because, on many levels, the viewers are already emotionally engaged with them, like they were with the cat-and-mouse chase between Hanratty and Abagnale.
- The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) – The 1999 version starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo, is a remake of the iconic 1967 film starring the late Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway.. Brosnan stars as Thomas Crown as, a billionaire with nothing better to do with his time than steal precious art. This draws the attention of Rene Russo as Catherine Banning, an attractive insurance investigator, determined to bring Thomas Crown to justice. But, just like the original film, the romance between the two characters gets in the way of business and justice for an unpredictable outcome.
- Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – The 2001 version is the remake of the landmark 1960s film starring Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. This time, George Clooney stars as the charismatic Frank Ocean, who has other motivations for robbing a local casino besides money and jewels. The “Ocean’s Eleven” remake combines many elements of Catch Me If You Can, with suspense, comedic timing, and a strong brotherhood.
- The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) – There’s no question that Leonardo DiCaprio, starring as Jordan Belfort, a real-life Wall Street magnate who gamed the system to build a fortune, made the film a hit even before it hit movie theaters. Much like “Catch Me If You Can,” as the film progresses, movie viewers find themselves rooting for the villain, Belfort, to get away with it.
The Impact of Catch Me If You Can on Modern Cinema
More than twenty years since its theater debut, “Catch Me If You Can” continues to have a major cultural impact on filmmaking.
Today, “Catch Me If You Can” has grossed over $350 million, and it is still in demand for streaming services like Hulu and Netflix. In addition to the film’s success, a mini docuseries about “Catch Me If You Can” was released and was almost just as a massive success as the film itself.