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Changeling

  • 20082008
  • RR
  • 2h 21m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
253K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,580
375
Angelina Jolie and Gattlin Griffith in Changeling (2008)
Clint Eastwood directs Angelina Jolie in The Changeling, a drama in which a mother's prayer for her kidnapped son to return home is answered, though it doesn't take long for her to suspect the boy who comes back is not hers.
Play trailer2:16
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Crime
  • Drama
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
253K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,580
375
  • Director
    • Clint Eastwood
  • Writer
    • J. Michael Straczynski
  • Stars
    • Angelina Jolie
    • Colm Feore
    • Amy Ryan
Top credits
  • Director
    • Clint Eastwood
  • Writer
    • J. Michael Straczynski
  • Stars
    • Angelina Jolie
    • Colm Feore
    • Amy Ryan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 495User reviews
    • 270Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 14 wins & 55 nominations total

    Videos1

    Changeling: Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:16
    Changeling: Trailer #1

    Photos180

    Angelina Jolie and Devon Conti in Changeling (2008)
    Clint Eastwood, Brian Grazer, and Robert Lorenz in Changeling (2008)
    Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie in Changeling (2008)
    Angelina Jolie and Devon Conti in Changeling (2008)
    Angelina Jolie in Changeling (2008)
    Angelina Jolie and Jeffrey Donovan in Changeling (2008)
    Angelina Jolie and Gattlin Griffith in Changeling (2008)
    John Malkovich, Angelina Jolie, and Geoff Pierson in Changeling (2008)
    Angelina Jolie in Changeling (2008)
    Michael Kelly in Changeling (2008)
    Jason Butler Harner in Changeling (2008)
    John Malkovich in Changeling (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Angelina Jolie
    Angelina Jolie
    • Christine Collinsas Christine Collins
    Colm Feore
    Colm Feore
    • Chief James E. Davisas Chief James E. Davis
    Amy Ryan
    Amy Ryan
    • Carol Dexteras Carol Dexter
    Gattlin Griffith
    Gattlin Griffith
    • Walter Collinsas Walter Collins
    Michelle Gunn
    Michelle Gunn
    • Sandyas Sandy
    Jan Devereaux
    Jan Devereaux
    • Operatoras Operator
    Erica Grant
    • Operatoras Operator
    Antonia Bennett
    • Operatoras Operator
    Kerri Randles
    Kerri Randles
    • Operatoras Operator
    Frank Wood
    Frank Wood
    • Ben Harrisas Ben Harris
    Morgan Eastwood
    Morgan Eastwood
    • Girl on Tricycleas Girl on Tricycle
    Madison Hodges
    • Neighborhood Girlas Neighborhood Girl
    John Malkovich
    John Malkovich
    • Rev. Gustav Brieglebas Rev. Gustav Briegleb
    Devon Conti
    • Arthur Hutchinsas Arthur Hutchins
    Ric Sarabia
    Ric Sarabia
    • Man at Dineras Man at Diner
    J.P. Bumstead
    • Cookas Cook
    Jeffrey Donovan
    Jeffrey Donovan
    • Captain J.J. Jonesas Captain J.J. Jones
    Debra Christofferson
    Debra Christofferson
    • Police Matron at Trainas Police Matron at Train
    • Director
      • Clint Eastwood
    • Writer
      • J. Michael Straczynski
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Screenwriter J. Michael Straczynski first learned of the story of Christine Collins from an unnamed source at Los Angeles City Hall. The source had stumbled across case files regarding the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders amongst other discarded documents scheduled for destruction. Straczynski took the files and became obsessed with the case, doing extensive research over the course of a year. He tried to make it into a television project, but never found a solid way to do that. Virtually every event depicted in this movie appears as cited in legal documents, with dialogue often taken verbatim from court transcripts. Straczynski wrote his first draft of the screenplay in only eleven days.
    • Goofs
      Detective Ybarra uses the term "serial killer," coined by FBI Special Agent Robert K. Ressler in the 1970s.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Christine Collins: Three boys made a run for it that night, detective, and if one got out, then maybe either or both of the other two did too. Maybe Walter's out there having the same fears that he did. Afraid to come home and identify himself, or afraid to get in trouble. But either way, it gives me something I didn't have before today.

      Detective Lester Ybarra: What's that?

      Christine Collins: Hope.

    • Crazy credits
      The black-and-white Universal logo used in the 1940s opens the film.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2009)

    User reviews495

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Wow, Talk About A Film That Hooks You In!
    Wow, is this an involving story. It hooks you in fast and really grabs hold. It's very good in that aspect because it really makes you care about what happens. The story involves a parent's worst nightmare, so I would expect moms and dads to be particularly horrified. The movie manipulates, no doubt being overdone here and there, but it's generally effective.

    Angelina Jolie does a superb job of portraying a Los Angeles woman ("Christine Collins") in the late 1920s whose boy is kidnapped. Five months later, the "proud" police department brings her kid back, making it a good PR session. Unfortunately, it's not her kid and stupidly, although she's naturally upset about, she poses with the kid and takes him home. (Would that really happen?).

    Then she begins her quest of finding her real "Walter." Further twists and turns make the story increasingly horrifying. In all, you won't be able to keep your eyes off the screen wondering if justice will ever prevail in the end and who exactly is involved in what. It's not particularly a fun ride - you'll have a frown on your face for quite some time - but it sure is interesting and an excellent two hour-plus of entertainment. By the end, you'll be emotionally exhausted.

    Kudos to all the actors in here for riveting performances and to the production and design team for a great period piece. Where else can you feel you're back 75-80 years in time with the boxy cars and flapper hats than in movies?
    helpful•60
    9
    • ccthemovieman-1
    • Jul 26, 2009

    FAQ7

    • Is "Changeling" based on a book?
    • Upon which events is this film based?
    • What is a "changeling"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 31, 2008 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Universal (Germany)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El sustituto
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Fe Railroad Depot - 1170 W. 3rd Street, San Bernardino, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Imagine Entertainment
      • Malpaso Productions
      • Relativity Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $55,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $35,739,802
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $489,015
      • Oct 26, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $113,398,237
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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