This Leonardo DiCaprio movie has the actor's highest Rotten Tomato score — here's how you can stream it for free

Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can — (Image credit: DreamWorks Pictures)

We didn't need further proof that Leonardo DiCaprio is arguably the biggest movie star of his generation. A decades-spanning filmography that includes "Titanic," "Inception," "Django Unchained," "The Wolf of Wall Street," "The Revenant" and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," among others, more than proves that point.

But DiCaprio clearly isn't resting on those Oscar-winning, box office-breaking laurels, what with his new Paul Thomas Anderson-directed epic "One Battle After Another" soaring to the top of the theater charts last weekend and marking the director's biggest ever global opening. In the new action-packed dark comedy, the actor plays an ex-revolutionary who assumes a false identity to protect himself and his young daughter after his violent political activism paints a target on his back.

The flick paired DiCaprio up with another iconic filmmaker — the one and only Steven Spielberg — to similarly celebrated returns: In terms of Rotten Tomatoes approval ratings, both "Catch Me If You Can" and "One Battle After Another" boast an excellent 96% critical score, the highest of the actor's career. Need more convincing? Here's why you should add "Catch Me If You Can" to your watchlist.

What is 'Catch Me If You Can' about?

Catch Me if You Can (2002) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers - YouTube

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In "Catch Me If You Can," a Golden Globe-nominated Leo DiCaprio stars as Frank Abagnale, Jr., a teenage runaway turned cunning con artist who skillfully uses deception, forgery and his own clean-cut good looks to pose as a Pan Am pilot, a pediatric doctor and an attorney, among other scams, all the while cashing millions of dollars in bad checks in one of America's most successful financial heists. Did we mention this is all before his 19th birthday?

On the hunt for Frank is FBI agent Carl Hanratty (a particularly squirrely Tom Hanks), who has become obsessed with capturing the boyish crook and bringing him to justice. As their cat-and-mouse game crosses not only state lines but international borders, DiCaprio's character must also deal with the familial troubles and emotional woes that have been nipping at his heels, too.

Why you should stream 'Catch Me If You Can'

Slickly directed by Spielberg and strongly acted by not only DiCaprio and Hanks, but also Christopher Walken (who earned an Oscar nomination for his role as Frank Abagnale, Sr.) and Amy Adams (as a besotted young nurse wrapped up in one of Frank Jr.'s schemes), "Catch Me If You Can" is "stylish, breezily entertaining, and surprisingly sweet," praises the critical consensus over on Rotten Tomatoes.

The crime comedy not only played into DiCaprio's strengths but also flexed new ones. He segues seamlessly between marquee-star charisma and boyish vulnerability and also gets to show off the hilarious franticness and physical comedy chops that he'd display in later films like "The Wolf of Wall Street" and "One Battle After Another." After teen-dream parts in "Romeo + Juliet," "Titanic" and the like, "Catch Me If You Can" helped usher DiCaprio into the commanding leading-man roles that would dominate his adulthood.

Though "Catch Me If You Can" is available to rent or buy on several VOD platforms including Amazon and Apple TV, you can also stream it for free through Hoopla if you have a library card. The title will be available on that free streaming service until Dec. 30.

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Christina Izzo is a writer-editor covering culture, food and drink, travel and general lifestyle in New York City. She was previously the Deputy Editor at My Imperfect Life, the Features Editor at Rachael Ray In Season and Reveal, as well as the Food & Drink Editor and chief restaurant critic at Time Out New York.

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