“My God, (It’s 10 More Films Like) Jason Bourne!”
The Bourne Identity is a well written and intriguing action thriller with mystery elements interwoven throughout. It also ushered in the infamous “shaky cam action” period too, but it’s an undeniably enjoyable film from start to finish.
If you’ve finished watching this one and are looking for similar picks, we’ve got you covered. We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top picks for alternate viewing. As usual, let us know your thoughts about our picks in the comments below!
Ronin (1998)
Directed by John Frankenheimer, Ronin is about a team of hired ex-special operatives trying to steal a mysterious, heavily guarded suitcase all whilst navigating a myriad of shifting loyalties and alliances.
Both films feature highly skilled operatives involved in international espionage and high-stakes action sequences. The themes of loyalty, trust, and hidden identities make Ronin and The Bourne Identity pretty similar tonally.
Hanna (2011)
Hanna tells the story of a 16-year-old girl who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin. Not to be mistaken by the TV series sporting the same name on Amazon Prime (which is equally endearing). Hanna is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives.
Much like The Bourne Identity, Hanna centers on a main character who’s a highly trained assassin trying to navigate through a dangerous world, with many action-packed sequences. They also share themes of personal identity and government conspiracy.
Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Mission: Impossible III follows IMF agent Ethan Hunt, who comes into conflict with a dangerous and sadistic arms dealer while trying to keep his identity secret in order to protect his girlfriend.
Both movies involve secret agents who are skilled in combat and espionage, trying to unravel a conspiracy while dealing with personal relationships. High-stakes action, international settings, and thrilling espionage are central to both films. This also marks a turning point in the series too, with the overarching narrative starting to take shape, leading to some excellent films later on in the series.
Collateral (2004)
Michael Mann’s Collateral is about a cab driver who finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer as he makes his rounds from hit to hit during one night in Los Angeles.
While the plots are different, both films have intense, high-stakes scenarios and feature skilled assassins. Interestingly though, the movies focus on different perspectives (the assassin vs. a bystander) but do share that same palpable sense of tension, suspense and action.
Minority Report (2002)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Minority Report is a sci-fi thriller about a cop in the future working within a division of the police department that arrests killers before they commit their crimes. Things take a turn for the unexpected though when the cop accused of a future murder happens to be himself .
Both thrillers heavily feature their protagonists on the run, seeking to uncover a hidden truth about themselves while evading a powerful organization. Both movies are packed with action and suspense, exploring themes of identity and morality within a system of control. Oh, and they both have some wicked twists at the end too!
Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale serves as James Bond’s origin story, and the first film featuring Daniel Craig. Here, we witness Bond earning his license to kill and status as a 00 agent. Bond is reckless, brash and bold, something that puts his chances of catching a weapons dealer in a high stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, into question. All is not what it seems though, and Bond soon finds himself in more danger than he could have ever imagined.
Much like The Bourne Identity, Casino Royale is a solid spy thriller featuring a central character involved in high-stakes international espionage. Each protagonist must rely on their skills and intelligence to navigate a dangerous world full of intrigue and betrayal.
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
This 2004 movie is a remake of the 1962 flick sporting the same name. The Manchurian Candidate is about a Gulf War veteran who is suspicious of a political candidate part of his unit when they were captured, and he starts to investigate.
Both films involve main characters who struggle to unravel hidden truths about themselves and their pasts, all whilst acting against a backdrop of political intrigue and conspiracy. The protagonists in both are veterans who are manipulated and used by powerful entities.
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Directed by David Leitch, Atomic Blonde follows MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton who is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent. She’s also there to recover a missing list of double agents.
Both are spy thrillers that feature protagonists who are highly trained operatives trying to uncover conspiracies within their own agencies Intense action, hand-to-hand combat, and complex storylines that involve duplicity and shifting alliances make this a solid watch and a must for fans of the Bourne films.
Blackhat (2015)
Michael Mann’s Blackhat is about a convicted hacker who is released from prison to assist the American and Chinese authorities in tracking down a high-level, dangerous cybercrime network.
Both movies involve characters who are experts in their fields, drawn into international intrigue while being pursued by powerful forces. A race against time to unravel a conspiracy ensues in both films, although the domains are different (physical vs cyber).
Enemy of the State (1998)
Enemy of the State follows a lawyer who becomes a target of a corrupt politician and his NSA goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a serious politically motivated crime.
Much like The Bourne Identity, Enemy of the State involves an innocent man being pursued by a powerful government organization, leading to high-stakes chases and action sequences. They both explore themes of government surveillance and struggle against a corrupt system.
There we have it, our list of best movies that are similar to The Bourne Identity. What do you think about our picks? Did one of your favourites make the list? Let us know in the comments below!
You are spot on. I have watched all the movies mentioned.