Changeling

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Changeling

R

2008

2h 21m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

206 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1928 Los Angeles, single mother Christine Collins arrives home to find her son, Walter, gone. Five months later her prayers are answered when Walter is found in Illinois. But to Christine's horror, the boy who steps off the train is not her son. Authorities vehemently dispute Christine's claim, and her one ally is a clergyman who sees the case as his chance to expose corruption in the Los Angeles Police Department and government.

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Critics Consensus

Beautifully shot and well-acted, Changeling is a compelling story that unfortunately gives in to convention too often.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Aug 23, 2018

It feels empty, monotonous, bloated... This is old-fashioned story-telling that often feels unsophisticated and familiar.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 12, 2017

A+

Angelina's performance was powerful and at times agonizing.

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Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

Feb 13, 2009

3.5/5

There are moments when it seems as if it wants to be an inspirational story about a person who refuses to be beaten by a corrupt system -- but it doesn't, in the end, settle for the uplifting narrative.

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Josh Parham

Next Best Picture

May 22, 2026

7/10

It may not be in the upper echelon of Eastwood’s filmography, but it’s an endearing representation of his varied tastes, which have always been appreciated.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 9, 2024

3/4

An expertly made human drama featuring a stirring combination of Eastwood’s signature low-key tone and some surprising shocks.

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Jason Best

What's On TV

Nov 15, 2020

We don't only feel outrage at Christine's treatment, but outrage at the treatment of women in general in 1920s America.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 8, 2026

Changeling is a *4* star Movie!

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Per S

@RT83737705 Jul 23, 2026

True event based, with Jolie in one of her better and quite different performances, where she and Malkovich have to challenge an old style and corrupt LAPD. Director Eastwood makes it too long, and it loses tension.

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M A

@RT25218740 May 9, 2026

Jolie was superb in this tense thriller. Amidst intense and emotional moments, her acting broke every barrier. I was hooked from start to finish. 5 stars!!!

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martins a

@Martins390 Feb 3, 2026

The plot of the movie was boring, the movie was long and felt too dragged. Excellent acting firm Abgelina Jolyne and the kid that was ab accomplice to the killings. Other than that couldn't really feel anything towards the movie. It was bad

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Brian F.

@FedUpDVDCollector Feb 2, 2026

Jolie is acting her bum off but the dialogue is just ridiculous. The gaslighting from the police captain from the start was laughable. Jumping to far-fetched conclusions and confidently accepting them as truth for no reason other than it just crossed his mind, you would think it was Walter from the Big Lebowski. The doctors and nurses later added to this unwarranted gas lighting. As if a mother wouldn’t know her own son. How about asking the kid basic questions he should know besides just his name and address. How do you have such giant plot holes in something based on true events?

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Pedro Henrique C

@Pedro2005 Oct 4, 2025

Changeling (2008) is a film that starts very fast but then the story unfolds very slowly. The mother desperate to find her missing son is a highlight of this story, Angelina Jolie's character manages to convey a lot of pain and suffering, it is a 2h 21m film that managed arrest me.

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Clint Eastwood

Director

Angelina Jolie

Christine Collins

John Malkovich

Rev. Gustav Briegleb

Jeffrey Donovan

Capt. J.J. Jones

Michael Kelly

Det. Lester Ybarra

Colm Feore

Chief James E. Davis

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Synopsis

In 1928 Los Angeles, single mother Christine Collins arrives home to find her son, Walter, gone. Five months later her prayers are answered when Walter is found in Illinois. But to Christine's horror, the boy who steps off the train is not her son. Authorities vehemently dispute Christine's claim, and her one ally is a clergyman who sees the case as his chance to expose corruption in the Los Angeles Police Department and government.

Director: Clint Eastwood
Producer: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Robert Lorenz
Screenwriter: J. Michael Straczynski
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Malpaso Company
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Content|Violent Content)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 31, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $35.7M
Runtime: 2h 21m

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