Our identity is a vital part of our lives. Here’s a list of the best identity theft movies in which characters go above and beyond to get their identity back or to steal someone’s identity.
15. The Passenger (1975)
David Locke, an American journalist, is sent to cover a conflict in North Africa. He makes little progress with his investigations. During his journey to cover the story he finds the body of a dead man who looks like him, Locke assumes the dead man’s identity.
He is chased by the police and criminals soon after he finds out that the dead man is an arms dealer. With the help of Maria, Locke tries to dodge the criminals and the police.
14. The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)
After the death of a political leader a con artist with a similar name enters politics, he fools people to make a fortune for himself.
How far will he go before the truth comes out?
13. The Stand-In (2020)
A washed-up movie star is charged with tax evasion. She hires her former stand-in to attend rehab in her place. She realizes that her “stand-in” can take away all the bad from her life and make her life perfect. But is there even anything perfect?
12. Nobody From Nowhere (2014)
A realtor with zero personality and a dull routine wishes to be someone else. But he finds it difficult to reinvent himself. So, he starts impersonating his clients. In the thrill of this wicked game, he finds himself tangled in the life of a pianist.
11. True Story (2015)
A New York Times journalist gets heat for lying on a cover article. On top of that, his identity is stolen and the person responsible for that is in jail. The journalist goes to jail to find out the story behind the identity thief’s case.
Will the journalist be able to convince the world about his side of the story or will his life fall deeper into a pit?
This one’s worth a watch, especially for James Franco fans.
10. Taking Lives (2004)
A serial killer takes on the identity of his victims after killing them. A series of murders in Montreal leads FBI agent Illeana Scott (Angelina Jolie) to northern Canada.
Scott’s unorthodox methods grab the attention of the local police but also bring her close to an eyewitness of the latest in the string of murders. The two develop a fondness for each other as they narrow in on the killer.
9. The Bourne Identity (2002)
Image Source: IMDb
The Bourne series is one of the most famous series in the spy action genre. The 2002 installment, The Bourne Identity is the first movie of the renowned franchise.
It follows the story of a man who wakes up on an Italian fishing boat without any clue of his identity. He suffers from total amnesia but when he recovers from his nearly fatal condition, he finds out he has extraordinary combat and linguistic talents. He sets out on a desperate search for his identity with the help of Marie. In the pursuit of his identity, he faces assassins who are out to kill him at any cost.
8. Taking Care of Business (1990)
A prisoner wins a ticket to the World Series but he can’t make it there. So he manages to get out of jail. While at an airport he finds the wallet of an advertising executive.
At first, he thinks of returning it for a reward but the wallet full of credit cards is too tempting. He decides to assume the identity of the advertising executive.
7. The Age of Adaline (2015)
Adaline Bowman is no ordinary woman, she has been 29 for nearly 80 decades. She keeps her distance from people to avoid the discovery of her odd secret.
An encounter with a charismatic philanthropist makes her fall for him. When she visits his parents, her secret is threatened. She has to choose whether to face the truth and fully accept it or keep her secret and suffocate silently.
6. The Net 2.0 (2006)
To start a promising new job as a computer systems analyst a woman moves to Istanbul. She goes into shock when she finds out that her identity is stolen and all her bank balance is gone.
5. Disconnect (2012)
The internet connects us to the world, but it comes with its problems. This movie makes one wonder whether we’re truly connected or whether the internet is creating a disconnect in society.
The movie follows a student who is bullied online, a woman who seeks comfort via an internet forum, and a man who works for a webcam adult entertainment service.
A movie that shakes social dilemmas and forces us to think beyond our narratives.
4. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Mr. Ripley is an iconic character who has been portrayed in many books, movies, and documentaries.
The 1999 movie shows Tom Ripley on a mission to convince Dickie, a wealthy heir, to return to his home in the US. Once Tom sees the lavish lifestyle that Dickie enjoys, he gets obsessed with him and goes to extreme measures to impersonate him and steal his identity.
3. Unknown (2011)
Liam Neeson’s action movies are fast-paced and slow at the same time. A phenomenon that is exclusive to the veteran actor.
When Dr. Martin Harris awakens after a car accident in Berlin, he finds his life in utter chaos. A man has stolen his identity, his wife does not recognize him and amidst all this, he is hunted by assassins. No one is willing to believe him, not even the authorities. He has only one unlikely ally by his side. All this chaos forces Harris to go to any extent to find out the truth.
2. Identity Thief (2013)
This identity theft story comes with a twist. A man’s identity is stolen by a female con artist. The police tell him it will take about a year to solve the problem. But who has time to wait for the police to take slow action in a matter as severe as identity theft?
The man goes on a cross-country road trip to find the woman and clear his name.
It’s an entertaining light comedy movie to add flavor to the list.
1. Face/Off (1997)
Sean Archer, an FBI agent obsessed with capturing a terrorist named Castor Troy finds his opportunity to get information about a bomb when Troy is presumed dead in a plane crash. Archer undergoes surgery to replace his face with Troy’s so he can get information about a bomb from Troy’s brother.
Troy awakens from a coma and threatens the plastic surgeon to give him Archer’s face. This is where the true face/off starts in the film.
It is highly recommended for Nicolas Cage fans.
Honorable Mentions
- Cam (2018)
- Parasite (2019)
- The Chameleon (2010)
We hope you like our recommendations. Keep your identity safe!
