Stealing someone’s identity or changing your identity without informing the authorities is not a walk in the park. However, Hollywood movies make us believe the opposite, and most importantly, it makes the whole concept of identity thefts as the coolest thing on the planet.
Yes, I may sound a bit unlawful but admit it that we all wish to change our identity from the original to something else, either for fun or as an undercover agent or something else. Now, it is hard to say if this concept of movies based on identity thefts or mistaken identities was encouraged because of this desire or the desire was born among after we watched these cool movies.
But, that doesn’t matter as the concept is already entertaining us for a while now and considering the new trend of Sci-Fi action flicks, this concept is here to stay for a long time. So, without cutting any more crap, let us go through the list of the best Hollywood movies featuring the concept of mistaken identities or identity thefts.
Best Hollywood Movies on Identity Theft
Face/Off
Talking about mistaken identity, the first film that comes to my attention is Face/Off. Now, most of the identity theft or mistaken identity movies are about documentation and paperwork, while the film Face/Off takes a giant leap when the plot demands a change of identity through plastic surgery. Yes, you heard that right! The main lead of the movie, the characters of John Travolta and Nicholas Cage go through extensive plastic surgery in order to exchange their identity. As far as I know, that’s never done before in the movies, which is why we put Face/Off on top of the list.
The Net
While Face/Off focused around the change of identities, The Net is a 1995 cyber-action thriller about identity theft. Angela Bennett, portrayed by Sandra Bullock, works as a systems analyst from Venice, California. However, she is a very private person and doesn’t interact with anybody in person, but only online or through the phone. One day, when she comes across a disk from her colleague, she encounters a lot of problems endangering her life as well as losing her identity altogether. Now, she must face all her fears by herself and regain what’s hers. The Net is one of the best films on Hacking.
The Great Dictator
One of the best Charlie Chaplin movies of all time and an inspirational one for sure is The Great Dictator. The film tells the story of a common man, who looks exactly like The Dictator, both played by Chaplin. The look of The Dictator in the movie is undoubtedly inspired by Adolf Hitler and hence attracted a lot of controversies from the Nazis. The film gets interesting when the roles get switched and the common man takes the identity of The Dictator. The best part about the movie is the speech delivered by the common man as The Dictator at the end of the film.
The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Identity is the first installment in the Bourne film series based on Robert Ludlum’s Bourne novel series. The film tells the story of a spy named Jason Bourne, who has lost his memory, but is convinced that he is a man with extraordinary skills and many different identities. While uncovering his true identity and his past, he must face other trained assassins like him. Directed by Doug Liman, the film stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne.
The Dictator
The Dictator is a 2012 Hollywood Comedy Film Directed by Larry Charles, starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley. The Dictator is the story of the Great Dictator of Wadiya Aladeen. He is rich and powerful, but his uncle tries to kill him and his identity stolen, now he wants his identity and life back. Film has many funny moments and some great scenes. If you are not good at taking humor then this film might offend you. There are many racial comments in the film.
Shutter Island
Starring Leonardo Dicaprio in the most challenging role ever, Shutter Island is a psychological thriller film that grips you to the storyline and gets you confused all the way and by the time you realize what’s going on, your brain is already exhausted. The film talks about roleplaying and switching identities to an extent, which it is difficult to point out the real and the unreal. Shutter Island is a must watch for all those psychological thriller fans and gets ready to burst your mind while you’re up to it.
Dave
Dave is a 1993 comedy-drama film that takes mistaken identity to a whole new level. A look-alike of the United States President named Dave is asked to fill in for the President until he recovers from the coma. However, the White House Chief of Staff has conspired some evil plans of his own to become the next President of the United States. Now, it’s all up to Dave to undo the wrongdoings of the real President and use his time as the President to help the people of the United States.
Total Recall
Total Recall, as the name suggests, is about a complete recall of the memory of a former secret agent Douglas Quaid, whose memory is wiped clean so the evil plans of the Governor are executed as expected. However, Douglas Quaid is a tough lad, who is not willing to give up just yet and tries to uncover the real truth of his past life and discover the difference between the reality and hallucination. If he succeeds or not, forms the rest of the story.
Also Read : Best Hollywood Movies sets in Future
Catch Me If You Can
If there’s one movie that takes the Oscar, when it comes to the Best Film based on Identity Thefts, then it has to be Catch Me If You Can, starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hanks. Based on the real life of Frank Abagnale, played by Leonardo Dicaprio, who before turning 19 has already performed successful cons earning millions of dollars by stealing the identity as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana parish prosecutor. The cat and mouse game between Leo’s character and Hanks character is thrilling as well as fun to watch throughout the film.
Unknown
Unknown is a psychological thriller action movie starring Liam Neeson, who plays a man whose identity is stolen by an imposter and somehow everyone rejects his pleas but aligns with the imposter as he has proofs as well as approval of the wife. However, things take some brilliant twists and turn that not only shocks Liam’s character, but also the audience and the rest of the plot follow how Martin, played by Liam Neeson, finds his true identity and right the wrongs of his past.
The 6th Day
The 6th Day is an American Sci-Fi action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Adam Gibson and is set around a future time when the world has developed the technology of cloning living species, however, cloning of humans is prohibited whereas cloning animals and human organs have become a routine. Things go awry when Adam Gibson finds that he has been replaced by his clone within his family and now the authorities are chasing him to kill him. The rest of the story is about how he saves himself and proves that he is not a clone but the real Adam Gibson.
Source Code
Source Code is an interesting Hollywood Sci-Fi film on Time Travel starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan in the lead roles and is centered entirely upon a train to Chicago, which is about to explode. The film also features a fictional technology called Source Code that allows linking one person to experience the life of another compatible person within an alternative timeline and the officials are using the technology to find the terrorists who blew up the commuter train with the help of a mutilated comatose Army pilot portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal.
Identity Thief
Identity Thief, as the name suggests, is a film about a con artist, who lives on stolen identities or credit cards of innocent people. Sandy Patterson, played by Jason Bateman is the latest victim of the con artist and he must now find the con artist behind the identity theft scams and also clear his name of the drug charges on him. If he succeeds or not, forms the rest of the story.
Taking Lives
Taking Lives is a suspense thriller starring Angelina Jolie as FBI profiler Illeana Scott, who is in the hunt for the most wanted serial killer named Martin Asher, who has been killing people for years and taking their identities to leave no trail behind while he travels across North America. When Illeana Scott is brought in to investigate his latest victim, Asher knows he must do something to get off the hook. If Illeana Scott succeeds in her effort to catch the killer or Asher outsmarts her as well is what forms the rest of the story.
The Tourist
The Tourist is a romantic comedy thriller film starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie in the lead roles. A tourist’s life gets in danger, when he is mistaken for Alexander Pearce, who owes 744 million pounds in back taxes to the Government and both the police and a mobster gang chase after him to get their money back. Although, a mistaken identity, at first, the film opens up a number of mystery boxes and the rest of the story is how The Tourist escapes and rescues himself from everyone, in the meanwhile winning the love of his life.
Your Turn!
Now, share your favorite Hollywood film based on Identity Theft or Mistake Identity. You can add your list or film name in the comment section of this article.
