Which 2002 biographical film about Frank Abagnale stars Leonardo DiCaprio?

The 2002 biographical film about Frank Abagnale starring Leonardo DiCaprio is Catch Me If You Can.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film follows a young Frank Abagnale as he runs away from home and adopts increasingly elaborate identities, including those of an airline pilot and a doctor. Tom Hanks plays Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent pursuing him, while Christopher Walken portrays Frank’s father.

The story was adapted from Abagnale’s 1980 semi-autobiographical book. The film was marketed as being “inspired by a true story,” an important qualification because many details of Abagnale’s public account have since been disputed by researchers and journalists. The movie therefore blends a real person and historical claims with dramatic invention.

Catch Me If You Can was released on December 25, 2002, and became a major commercial success. It is not the same film as The Aviator, in which DiCaprio plays aviation pioneer Howard Hughes, or The Wolf of Wall Street, where he portrays stockbroker Jordan Belfort.