21 May 2020
The Jason Bourne movies
People were bemused when guy-next-door Matt was cast as amnesic spy Jason in 2002 movie The Bourne Identity, but he proved them wrong. Sharp, strong, deadly, brutal, efficient. And that was before Bourne remembers that he’s a trained CIA operative.
The films follow a timeline (except for #4 The Bourne Legacy, which is a stand-alone with Jeremy Renner in the lead) and the more you watch, the more you realise that just about everyone wants Bourne dead because he has too much knowledge in his head – they don’t know that he’s got amnesia either.
The cast around Matt is rock solid – Julia Stiles is a mainstay as his CIA contact Nicky Parsons. The action is frantic. And what makes the franchise – which has grossed over $2 billion – better is that the stunt work is 95% real… no CGI.
It’s so successful that there’s a 2019 series spin-off called Treadstone – the same Black Ops program that Bourne was part of.
The Bourne Identity (2002): Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne, who wakes up in a fishing boat with bullet wounds and no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As he pieces together his past, he realises he is highly skilled.
The Bourne Supremacy (2004): Jason Bourne’s plans to lay low are thwarted when he is framed for a CIA operation gone wrong. He has no choice but to return to his life as a trained assassin.
The Bourne Legacy (2012): Taking the story beyond the trilogy penned by Robert Ludlum, this film introduces fans of the franchise to a new character, Aaron Cross. Aaron’s life-or-death stakes were triggered by the events of the first three films.
Jason Bourne (2016): The CIA’s most dangerous former operative comes out of hiding to uncover more explosive truths about his past.
The Mommy Club NBO now streaming
The Chocolate Empire, now streaming
The best movies to stream
Elphaba and Glinda’s Wicked little guide
Find out what Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have to say about Wicked, pick up 10 magical behind-the-scenes facts, and explore 7 more schools of witchcraft and wizardry.
Push play on Father’s Day: Dads just want to have fun
If you’re trying to figure out what the mystery man known as dad really wants this Father’s Day, promise him one-on-one time with our Dads Just Wanna Have Fun collection.
James McAvoy and James Watkins on Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil director James Watkins and star James McAvoy explain “host” Paddy’s creepy charisma, and we check out 6 more roles that prove you never know what to expect with James McAvoy.
Celebrate World Oceans Day with My Penguin Friend
My Penguin Friend director David Schurmann and actor Jean Reno explain how you shoot a penguin. Plus, explore our World Oceans Day watchlist of 25 wet and wild movies and series.