Identity Thief
Performance & Direction: Identity Thief Review
Last updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Identity Thief (2013) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.9/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Identity Thief features a noteworthy lineup led by Jason Bateman . Supported by the likes of Melissa McCarthy and Jon Favreau , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Identity Thief (2013) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.9/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Identity Thief
Quick Plot Summary: Identity Thief is a Comedy, Crime film that brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. When a mild-mannered businessman learns his identity has been stolen, he hits the road in an attempt to foil the thief -- a trip that puts him in the path of a deceptively harmless-looking woman. The film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Ending Explained: Identity Thief
Ending Breakdown: Identity Thief attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Identity Thief reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Identity Thief Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Identity Thief incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a comedy, crime film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: Identity Thief adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch Identity Thief?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Comedy films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: Identity Thief
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $35.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $174.0M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Identity Thief Budget
The estimated production budget for Identity Thief is $35.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Identity Thief
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Identity Thief Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Netflix🎟️ Rent on
Hungama Play
Amazon VideoIdentity Thief Parents Guide & Age Rating
2013 AdvisoryWondering about Identity Thief age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Identity Thief is 111 minutes (1h 51m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.9/10, and global collection metrics, Identity Thief stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2013 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Identity Thief worth watching?
Identity Thief is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 5.9/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Identity Thief parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Identity Thief identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Identity Thief?
The total duration of Identity Thief is 111 minutes, which is approximately 1h 51m long.
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How Identity Thief Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Identity Thief
Friends don't steal friends' identities, do they? While not quite the abomination that some critics have suggested it is, Identity Thief is a hard film to recommend to film fans looking for a comedy to cheer them up. Too long at just under two hours length, the makers appear to have dropped Melissa McCarthy in the middle of a film, built a load of questionable on going gags around her, and then thrown Jason Bateman in for the charm offensive. Then as the film runs out of steam at the mid-point, it gets caught in a vortex of contrivances and pseudo serious statements. It's a real hodge-podge of a script that does the actors no favours at all. A great premise is not fulfilled, sadly. Identity Thief only escapes bottom of the ladder status because fans of the two leads will find a modicum of enjoyment in their respective efforts. 5/10
Good watch, probably won't watch again, and can recommend. This actually reminds me a lot of "Bounty Hunter", but with distinct elements of "Guest House" and "The Hustle". It's honestly disturbing to me to see the anatomy of a sociopath laid out in a movie like this, but it does thoroughly example both what it is like to have your identity stolen and the kind of monsters that do that sort of thing. Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy are both top notch comedic actors, but some of the scenes were a little hammy, even for them. A lot of the movie sort of feels like a VERY long SNL sketch where people are going, "Wouldn't this be funny?" and someone always went, "Yeah, put that in, why not?". It's not that it's not good, but it could have been great.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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