As the summer blockbuster season ends, the fall and holiday releases take over, and the movie market remains as busy as ever.
However, both Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers failed to meet expectations.
They weren't outright failures, but audiences had hoped these films would explode at the box office just like Spider-Man. When they didn't, disappointment was inevitable.
Thus, a question arose: Could Anson continue the box office miracle of Spider-Man?
Or was Spider-Man's success solely due to the appeal of the superhero genre, having little to do with Anson as an actor? Could it be that, like Leonardo DiCaprio's films, Anson wouldn't stand out beyond his iconic role as Peter Parker?
Now, the answer was starting to take shape.
Whether audiences were buying tickets or not was still up for debate, but at least the film critics and media were captivated by Catch Me If You Can.
"If I had to list three reasons to go see Catch Me If You Can, let me think... Anson Wood. Anson Wood. Anson Wood."
No one, not even LA Weekly itself, expected that this simple statement would take off, becoming the talk of the town.
For one, Anson was already a focal point. But saying something like this when both Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks were involved? It was audacious.
The buzz spread like wildfire.
There was also a third reason for the buzz: critical reviews.
When Catch Me If You Can premiered, forty major media outlets immediately gave it scores. Compared to the summer blockbusters, it wasn't as hot, but in the holiday market, its buzz was nearly on par with Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings.
Let's compare:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets faced a barrage of criticism, ending up with a disappointing score of 63, which wasn't a good sign.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, on the other hand, was praised across the board, receiving a solid 87, making it one of the best-reviewed films of the year.
Yet, despite both praise and criticism, neither movie lived up to its box office expectations. This showed that in 2002, without the overwhelming presence of the internet, media reviews had a limited impact on whether the general public decided to buy tickets.
Still, good reviews are better than bad ones, as they could affect long-term box office performance. Plus, cast members appreciated the accolades.
So, how did Catch Me If You Can fare?
It scored an impressive 83.
A pleasant surprise!
The film garnered widespread acclaim.
For Anson, this was undoubtedly great news.
Following Spider-Man, this was his second consecutive film to receive critical praise, proving that his summer breakout wasn't just a fluke—at least not this year.
In fact, it was even more than that. With the help of Spielberg and Hanks, Anson's career took another step forward.
Edgar, Anson's manager, breathed a long sigh of relief.
Media reviews were even more important than box office numbers because they showed that Anson wasn't just seen as a pretty face, but a serious actor.
Not only was he not pigeonholed, but he managed to impress even the most critical of film reviewers.
If Catch Me If You Can performed well at the box office, all the better. But even if it didn't, Edgar wasn't worried. At the very least, Anson had cemented his place in the media's good graces, dispelling any notion that his sudden rise to fame was just a bubble waiting to burst.
It was a reason to celebrate.
To be honest, even Edgar hadn't anticipated such rave reviews for the film, nor had he expected Anson to become the focal point of the entire movie.
Immediately, Edgar contacted Anson's publicist, Eve, to take advantage of the situation.
Now that momentum was in their favor, they couldn't let it go to waste!
For Spielberg, though, there wasn't much to celebrate. His other film, Minority Report, had also earned decent reviews, scoring 78. It was still within acceptable range and on par with Catch Me If You Can, but Minority Report's box office performance had been far below expectations.
Media outlets had their own take:
"A strong comeback!"
"Proving himself once again."
"He's pulled off a stunning comeback."
Their statements suggested that Minority Report was seen as a failure, with the media framing it as Spielberg's redemption.
Of course, they had their reasons.
While Minority Report had a solid score, it was a deeper, more philosophical sci-fi film. In some ways, the score reflected its lack of broader appeal.
Catch Me If You Can, by contrast, was a simple, heartwarming story—a classic holiday film. Its success came from striking a balance between entertainment and artistry.
So, even though their scores were similar, the media treated the two films very differently.
The media's reaction to Catch Me If You Can was overwhelming. Headlines like "A must-see!" and "The best Christmas movie of the year" spread everywhere, creating a buzz that was hard to ignore.
And the effect was immediate.
Sure, 83 might not seem extraordinary for an art-house or Oscar contender, but for a popcorn movie, it was enough to label it a "must-see," instantly catching the public's attention.
By the next day, Christmas, Catch Me If You Can was the talk of the town.
"Anson's done it again. It's a hit!"
"I can't wait to see what kind of magic Anson and Spielberg create together."
"Hey, did you hear? Tom Hanks had nothing but praise for Anson."
One rumor after another spread through the streets. Whether people were interested in the movie or not, Catch Me If You Can became the central topic of every conversation.
Some even compared Catch Me If You Can to the classic holiday film Home Alone, calling it the best Christmas movie in a decade.
Families couldn't wait to see it.
Elaine Cole sat quietly in her seat at the cinema, even as the movie ended and the credits rolled. She was so moved that she couldn't bring herself to leave.
The ending of Catch Me If You Can wasn't overly emotional or the typical heartwarming family reunion you'd expect from a holiday movie. It was just Frank and Carl working together in an office.
But for Elaine, this simple scene made her eyes well up with tears.
To her, this was the perfect ending.
As the lights came up in the theater, a figure appeared in front of the screen.
"Hey, Merry Christmas."
The entire audience froze in place.