What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCatch Me If You Can
Steven Spielberg · Film · 2002
If you loved Catch Me If You Can, start with White Collar (Jeff Eastin, 2009) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Catch Me If You Can across media.
You are drawn to the exhilarating tension of a brilliant con artist constantly outmaneuvering their pursuer while reinventing their own identity.
Books on the same thread
Catch-22
Joseph Heller · Book · 1961
Explores: Bureaucratic absurdity, Existential dread, The insanity of war.
If Catch Me If You Can thrilled you with its clever subversion of institutional authority, you will appreciate this satirical take on navigating the absurdity of bureaucratic logic traps.
Emil and the Detectives
Erich Kästner · Book · 1930
Explores: Justice, Resourcefulness, Friendship.
The resourceful nature of the young protagonist in Catch Me If You Can mirrors the clever determination found here, as a young boy tracks his thief across the city.
CATCH THE DEVIL
Pamela Colloff · Book
Explores: deception, financial fraud, victim impact.
While Catch Me If You Can presents a stylized look at fraud, this investigative account provides a grounded, sobering perspective on the real-world impact of a career con man.
The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger · Book · 1951
Explores: Alienation, Loss of Innocence, Teenage Angst.
Holden Caulfield’s search for identity in this classic echoes the youthful restlessness and alienation that drove the protagonist to reinvent himself throughout Catch Me If You Can.
Series on the same thread
White Collar
Jeff Eastin · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with Catch Me If You Can: Cat and Mouse.
This series captures the dynamic cat and mouse partnership seen in Catch Me If You Can, showing how a charismatic con artist can become an asset for the FBI.
RIPLEY
Steven Zaillian · Series · 2024
Shares 2 threads with Catch Me If You Can: Identity Theft, Cat and Mouse.
Fans of the identity theft and high-stakes fraud in Catch Me If You Can will be gripped by this dark, psychological exploration of a grifter’s life of deceit.
Sneaky Pete
David Shore · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with Catch Me If You Can: Identity Theft.
Much like the protagonist of Catch Me If You Can, the lead character here constantly assumes new personas to escape his past while maintaining a fragile, deceptive life.
MINDHUNTER
Joe Penhall · Series · 2017
Explores: Serial Killers, FBI Investigation, Criminal Profiling.
If the meticulous FBI pursuit in Catch Me If You Can kept you hooked, you will enjoy this deep dive into the development of criminal profiling and investigative techniques.
Podcasts on the same thread
Scam Junkie
Podcast
Shares a thread with Catch Me If You Can: fraud.
Since Catch Me If You Can highlights the inner workings of a legendary con artist, you will find this firsthand account of scamming methods to be equally fascinating.
Unravelling Amy
Podcast
Shares 2 threads with Catch Me If You Can: fraud, identity theft.
The elaborate deception and identity theft that made Catch Me If You Can so compelling are mirrored in this true story of a prolific fraudster’s decade-long criminal career.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Catch Me If You Can based on a true story?
Yes, Catch Me If You Can is a true story about Frank Abagnale Jr. The film depicts his life as a young con artist who successfully posed as a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and a legal prosecutor before his 19th birthday.
Does the FBI catch Frank in Catch Me If You Can?
The plot of Catch Me If You Can follows an FBI agent who makes it his mission to put Frank behind bars. While the agent pursues him, Frank eludes capture for a significant period and enjoys the thrill of the chase throughout the film.
What roles does Frank impersonate in Catch Me If You Can?
In Catch Me If You Can, the protagonist Frank Abagnale Jr. impersonates three distinct professionals. Before turning 19, he successfully cons millions of dollars by posing as a Pan Am pilot, a medical doctor, and a legal prosecutor.
How old is Frank in Catch Me If You Can?
The events depicted in Catch Me If You Can occur before Frank Abagnale Jr. reaches his 19th birthday. During this time, he manages to commit various cons while being pursued by an FBI agent determined to stop his illegal activities.