The Bourne Identity (2002)

All Critics (184) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (162) | Rotten (31) | DVD (46)

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

June 12, 2008 Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Top Critic

Efficient set pieces come neatly spaced every ten to 15 minutes -- just often enough to keep you credulous -- and the trans-European settings lend a classy backdrop.

February 9, 2006 Full Review

Time Out

Top Critic

Liman can uncork leap-out-of-your-seat shocks, draw out suspense scenes with malicious finesse and even ease a touch of romance and droll humor into the yarn.

May 19, 2004 Full Review

Colin Covert

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Top Critic

A rollicking adventure yarn.

July 25, 2002 Full Review

Andrew Sarris

New York Observer

Top Critic

The Bourne Identity is no mere summer amusement park ride. It's as gray as Go was colorful and a cool contrast to its source material.

July 20, 2002 Full Review

Mark Caro

Chicago Tribune

Top Critic

Great fights. You wouldn't think of Damon as a tough guy, but he's worked really hard on the physical stuff here and it shows.

June 26, 2002 Full Review

Stephen Hunter

Washington Post

Top Critic

Violent but thrilling first of the Bourne action trilogy.

January 1, 2011 Full Review

Sierra Filucci

Common Sense Media

"The Bourne Identity" is a well-written action spy film that stays true to its espionage thriller genre while inflicting flinch-inducing moments of pure cinematic action.

February 28, 2010 Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

A suspenseful thriller that showcases stunning visuals, great acting and a story that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

September 8, 2009 Full Review

Guylaine Cadorette

Hollywood.com

This is a long sweet breath of fresh air in the action genre, a genre I'm admittedly very tired of, and I welcomed this change of pace with an action film that has an actual plot.

April 29, 2009 Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Farfetched plotting nearly capsizes this globe-trotting thriller but director Doug Liman certainly keeps the international intrigue and testosterone flowing at an entertaining clip.

August 7, 2008 Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

You may be surprised by the fact that this formula spy thriller has been delivered with a matter-of-fact efficiency that proves highly entertaining.

August 3, 2007

Beth Accomando

KPBS.org

A sleek espionage thriller that reduces the world to the size of a postage stamp. Matt Damon is terrific.

July 26, 2007 Full Review

Christopher Smith

Bangor Daily News (Maine)

The movie is about muscular speed and skill, and that's all it's about. Like its hero, it's blank by design.

July 23, 2007 Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

For once, a sequel would be welcome.

December 30, 2006 Full Review

Emma Cochrane

Empire Magazine

An action movie that's as much about character as it is about saving the day.

September 1, 2006

Betsy Bozdech

Reel.com

...Liman is also clever enough to make the real action start when the motor stops.

March 3, 2005

Stuart Klawans

The Nation

Plenty of very cool fight scenes, edited such that although they are fast-paced, you can actually see what's happening.

January 15, 2005 Full Review

Vic Holtreman

ScreenRant

The Bourne Identity is an intense, violent, bite-your-nails-to-the-quick thriller.

December 6, 2004

Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking Closer

One of the many problems, other than Damon's lack of emotion, is the fact that there's no suspense.

October 7, 2004 Full Review | Comments (12)

Tony Medley

tonymedley.com

I'd advise you to grab the ["Collector's Edition"] for the commentary and rent [the "Extended Edition"] for the few featurettes that are worth watching.

July 29, 2004 Full Review

Widgett Walls

Needcoffee.com

...puts the snap, crackle and pop back into the spy thriller.

July 23, 2004 Full Review

Thomas Delapa

Boulder Weekly

A smart, taut little spy film, different from the rest of its genre mainly because of its simplicity.

July 20, 2004 Full Review

Joshua Tyler

CinemaBlend.com

• 1. Ted Conklin: What is the French word for "stakeout"?
  – Submitted by Ann A (3 months ago)
• 1. Marie Kreutz: Do you have ID?
  2. Jason Bourne: Not really.
  – Submitted by Nandu J (9 months ago)
• 1. Marie Kreutz: Do you have ID?
  2. Jason Bourne: Not really.
  – Submitted by Lucas M (11 months ago)
• 1. Jason Bourne: [talking to Conklin] I told you to come alone, but I guess that was too hard. So try this- I'm gone. [hangs up cell phone]
  – Submitted by Lucas M (11 months ago)
• 1. Jason Bourne: I swear to God, if I so much as feel someone behind me; there is no measure to how fast and how hard I will bring this fight to your doorstep.
  – Submitted by Thomas M (13 months ago)
• 1. Jason Bourne: Everything I found out, I want to forget.
  – Submitted by rob g (2 years ago)

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