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Grief-stricken mother Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) takes on the L.A.P.D. to her own detriment when it tries to pass off an obvious impostor as her missing child.

Director:

Clint Eastwood
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Popularity
3,170 ( 101)
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 51 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Angelina Jolie ... Christine Collins
Gattlin Griffith ... Walter Collins
Michelle Gunn ... Sandy
Jan Devereaux ... Operator
Erica Grant Erica Grant ... Operator
Antonia Bennett Antonia Bennett ... Operator
Kerri Randles ... Operator
Frank Wood ... Ben Harris
Morgan Eastwood ... Girl on Tricycle
Madison Hodges Madison Hodges ... Neighborhood Girl
John Malkovich ... Rev. Gustav Briegleb
Colm Feore ... Chief James E. Davis
Devon Conti Devon Conti ... Arthur Hutchins
Ric Sarabia ... Man at Diner
J.P. Bumstead J.P. Bumstead ... Cook
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Storyline

Los Angeles, 1928. Single mother Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) returns from work to find her nine-year-old son Walter (Gattlin Griffith) gone. She calls the L.A.P.D. to initiate a search. Five months later, a boy is found in Illinois who fits the description, and he says he's her son. To fanfare and photos, the L.A.P.D. reunite mother and son, but she insists he's not her boy. The cops dismiss her as either a liar or hysterical. When she joins a minister in his public criticism of the Police, they in turn use government power to silence and intimidate her. Meanwhile, a cop goes to a dilapidated ranch to find a Canadian lad who's without legal status; the youth tells a grisly tale. There's redress for murder; is there redress for abuse of power? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

To find her son, she did what no one else dared.


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violent and disturbing content, and language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Shipped to some theaters under the name "Nomad", an in-joke based on Star Trek: The Original Series: The Changeling (1967), which is about a space probe named Nomad. See more »

Goofs

When the police car pulls up to the Collins house to take down the missing child report, the first policeman steps onto the tree lawn and starts talking to Christine Collins. When the camera angle changes to a view from across the street, the policeman is suddenly standing on concrete. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Christine Collins: Walter, honey. Time to wake up.
Walter Collins: Just ten more minutes...
Christine Collins: Sorry, sport. You can sleep in tomorrow, that's what Saturdays are for.
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Crazy Credits

The black-and-white Universal logo used in the 1940s opens the film. See more »

Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Episode #6.1 (2009) See more »

User Reviews

 
And the Oscar goes to...
16 January 2009 | by Luca_ToniSee all my reviews

Angelina Jolie, for outstanding performance in Changeling.

Wow, I think I need to calm down a bit. I was skeptic at first to see this movie but I don't regret spending 900 króna's (I'm from Iceland so that's very expensive) on a movie ticket to see the best movie I've seen in a long time. And I encourage everyone to do the same, go see Changeling.

This movie has everything; a terrific story based on true events, outstanding acting from everyone of the cast, excitement, tears, blood and it holds you tight until the end. And I won't forget the magic behind the camera provided by the genius Clint Eastwood.

Angelina's character is terrific and she fights, what seems to be at first a lost fight, for her son in a world controlled by men. You learn to hate some characters in the movie and love others. You learn to feel for Angelina's character and hope the movie ends well. Changeling will make you cry and when you walk out of the theater after this fantastic film you feel both good and satisfied.

Angelina was so good and convincing in this movie that I could not believe my own eyes and ears. And John Malkovich was very good too but Angelina is the rock of this movie. She carries it on her shoulders and Clint Eastwood directs her like...like...I don't know what to write anymore, I'm still calming down. I'm going to stop now and finish the review with these two sentences: If Angelina Jolie gets an Oscar nomination for her acting she deserves to win. Just go see Changeling and Angelina's acting will blow your mind.


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Official Sites:

Universal [Germany]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 2008 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Changeling See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$489,015, 26 October 2008

Gross USA:

$35,739,802

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$113,398,237
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Color:

Color | Black and White (opening and end sequence)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1
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