6 Best Mistaken Identity and Imposter Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 8, 2026

Cinema has always loved the promise and peril of pretending to be someone else, and these films use that premise for both comedy and dread. In The Great Dictator (1940): A Jewish barber mistaken for a tyrannical dictator must impersonate him to stop a devastating war. Equally memorable is Catch Me If You Can (2002): A young con artist successfully impersonates a pilot, doctor, and lawyer while evading a determined FBI agent.

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 96% Metacritic 75

A young con artist successfully impersonates a pilot, doctor, and lawyer while evading a determined FBI agent.

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's obsession with a wealthy acquaintance's life leads him to assume the man's identity.

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

Dave (1993)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A kind-hearted look-alike is recruited to secretly impersonate the incapacitated President of the United States.

Directed by Ivan Reitman · 1h 50m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Return of Martin Guerre (1982)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A French village's presumed-dead soldier returns years later, though some suspect he is an imposter.

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

The Great Dictator (1940)

IMDb ★ 8.4 RT 92%

A Jewish barber mistaken for a tyrannical dictator must impersonate him to stop a devastating war.

Directed by Charlie Chaplin · 2h 05m · Rated NR

Nominated for 5 Oscars7 wins & 6 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, TCM, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)

TMDB ★ 7.6

An English tourist is recruited to impersonate a kidnapped king who happens to be his exact double.

Directed by John Cromwell · 1h 41m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Mistaken Identity and Imposter Movies

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Dave (1993)

The Return of Martin Guerre (1982)

The Great Dictator (1940)

The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)

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