6 Best Impostor Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 8, 2026

Pretending to be someone else takes nerve, and these films mix the thrill with the fallout. Catch Me If You Can follows a young con artist posing as a pilot, doctor and lawyer, The Talented Mr. Ripley has a grifter assuming a rich acquaintance’s identity, and Six Degrees of Separation has a charming con man infiltrating a wealthy family. Sommersby, The Return of Martin Guerre and The Great Impostor round out the six.

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 96% Metacritic 75

A brilliant young con artist forges cheques and impersonates professionals while an FBI agent doggedly pursues him.

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2h 21m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 2 Oscars16 wins & 46 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A con man assumes a wealthy friend's identity after killing him abroad.

Directed by Anthony Minghella · 2h 20m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Six Degrees of Separation (1993)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A charming young con man infiltrates a wealthy family by claiming to be a friend's son.

Directed by Fred Schepisi · 1h 52m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sommersby (1993)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A man returning from the Civil War is welcomed home by his wife, though she begins to suspect he is not who he claims.

Directed by Jon Amiel · 1h 49m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Great Impostor (1960)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A restless con man successfully poses as a surgeon, a monk and a prison warden on nothing but nerve.

Directed by Robert Mulligan · 1h 52m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Return of Martin Guerre (1982)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A man claiming to be a missing villager returns after years away, but his wife begins to doubt him.

Directed by Daniel Vigne · 1h 47m

Where to watch

Stream: Cohen Media Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Impostor Movies

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Six Degrees of Separation (1993)

Sommersby (1993)

The Great Impostor (1960)

The Return of Martin Guerre (1982)

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