The Bourne Identity (2002)

Yes. 89% of real audiences liked it based on 9,940 votes. Critics gave it 76%.

Wounded to the brink of death and suffering from amnesia, Jason Bourne is rescued at sea by a fisherman. With nothing to go on but a Swiss bank account number, he starts to reconstruct his life, but finds that many people he encounters want him dead. However, Bourne realizes that he has the combat and mental skills of a world-class spy—but who does he work for? Wikipedia ↗

The Bourne Identity is a 2002 American action thriller directed by Doug Liman, based on Robert Ludlum's 1980 novel. Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne, a man pulled from the Mediterranean Sea with two bullet wounds and no memory of who he is, who gradually discovers he possesses extraordinary combat skills, fluency in multiple languages, and the instincts of a trained killer. As Bourne investigates his own identity with the help of Marie, a German woman played by Franka Potente, he uncovers a CIA black operations program called Treadstone that trained him as an assassin — and that now wants him dead.

The Bourne Identity was a turning point in action cinema, establishing a grittier, more realistic alternative to the increasingly fantastical James Bond and Mission: Impossible franchises. Matt Damon's casting was controversial — he was known primarily as a dramatic actor — but his physical commitment and everyman quality made Bourne a uniquely grounded action hero whose vulnerability made the danger feel real. Doug Liman's handheld, documentary-influenced shooting style, combined with tight, realistic fight choreography, created an aesthetic that would directly influence the next decade of action filmmaking, including the Daniel Craig Bond films.

The Mini Cooper chase through the streets of Paris became one of the most celebrated car chases of its era. The Bourne Identity earned $214 million worldwide on a $60 million budget and launched a franchise that redefined the spy thriller genre.