Catch Me If You Can (2002):The Biographical Drama That Examines Identity Through Impersonation and a Father's Influence

Catch Me If You Can introduces students to the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a teenager who convinced banks, hospitals, and airlines that he was an adult professional while forging millions of dollars in checks. Students are introduced to questions about identity, deception, and what drives someone to become a different person depending on who they need to convince.

The story follows Frank as he runs away from a fractured home after his parents' divorce, using charm and an eye for detail learned from his con artist father to pass himself off as an airline pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer. FBI agent Carl Hanratty spends years pursuing him, and the cat and mouse chase between them drives the story forward even as Frank's choices grow more elaborate and risky.

Based on Frank Abagnale Jr.'s own account of these events, the movie gives classrooms a way into discussing narrative built from a true story, the ethics of deception, and the impact of family breakdown on a young person's choices. Its real world basis and the moral questions it raises about admiration for cleverness versus accountability for harm give students plenty to engage with beyond the surface level chase.

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🎭 A true story built on identity and impersonation. Frank convincingly poses as a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer despite having no training in any of those fields, relying on charm, confidence, and attention to detail. Students get a real case study in how identity can be constructed and performed.

👨‍👦 A father's influence shaping a son's choices. Frank's father draws him into small scams from a young age, and that influence shapes the larger cons Frank later runs on his own. The movie gives students a way into discussing how family example shapes behavior, for better or worse.

🕵️ A sustained cat and mouse pursuit. FBI agent Carl Hanratty spends years tracking Frank, and the relationship between them grows more complicated as the chase continues. Their dynamic adds tension and depth beyond a simple chase narrative.

⚖️ A real moral question about admiration and accountability. The movie invites students to consider whether Frank's cleverness deserves admiration even as his actions defraud real people and institutions. It does not offer an easy answer, leaving room for genuine discussion.

💔 A family breakdown that shapes the story. Frank's parents' divorce and his father's financial troubles set his choices in motion, giving the story an emotional foundation beneath its more glamorous moments. His repeated attempts to win back his father's approval and rebuild his family run through the entire movie.

⚠️ Things to be aware of:

• A scene implying sex between two characters in a hotel room, with no nudity shown.
• A scene where a prostitute propositions Frank and they agree on payment for the night.
• A brief, strongly implied affair and a reference to a character's out of wedlock pregnancy and abortion.
• One use of strong language, along with some milder swearing throughout.
• Social drinking and smoking appear regularly, including a scene with visibly drunk partygoers.
• A brief, bloody injury to a young boy is shown while Frank is posing as a doctor.

📚 English Language Arts Teachers. Catch Me If You Can fits naturally into upper grade ELA units on narrative based on true events and character motivation, since Frank's choices raise genuine questions about how a story can be both entertaining and morally complicated. The guide supports a range of writing, from two differentiated sets of comprehension questions through to a storyboard, synopsis, and extension writing task on Frank's impersonations.

🗣️ ESL and ELL Teachers. The movie's clear narrative structure and visual storytelling make it accessible for ESL and ELL students, and the guide's multiple choice question set is specifically suited to supporting language learners through the content.

🎬 Substitute Teachers and Cover Lessons. The structured comprehension questions and clear movie progression make this guide easy to hand to a substitute teacher with minimal setup. Students can work through the questions independently while watching, with little need for additional instruction.

🏠 Homeschool Parents. The guide's mix of comprehension, creative writing, and extension questions works well for homeschool settings, giving a single student or small group a complete unit built around one movie.

💙 SEL Teachers. Themes of family breakdown, identity, and seeking approval run throughout Frank's story. The guide has no dedicated SEL activities, but the comprehension questions and extension writing task keep students engaged with these emotional stakes as the story unfolds.

🌟 Supporting All Learners Movie guides can be a wonderfully calm fit for students with autism, learning difficulties, and mild to severe disabilities. The structured format gives every student a clear purpose during viewing, easing uncertainty and allowing them to engage at their own pace. If you teach in a special education or learning support setting, you may find this guide a gentle and practical resource. Find out more about why movies work for diverse learners.

Part 1: Comprehension Questions
Two differentiated sets of questions in chronological order: 22 full-sentence questions and 22 multiple choice questions with three answer options. Answer keys are included for both sets.

Part 2: Storyboard and Synopsis
Students illustrate and summarize key events from the movie in a 9-scene storyboard, then use it as a guide to write a structured plot summary that reinforces narrative organization and clear written expression.

Part 3: Extension Questions and Writing
Students write about how Frank was able to successfully pull off impersonating a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, followed by 4 short answer questions with example answers provided.