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Code 46

Play trailer Poster for Code 46 R Released Sep 2, 2003 1h 32m Sci-Fi Romance Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
51% Tomatometer 103 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In a dystopian future, insurance fraud investigator William Gold (Tim Robbins) arrives in Shanghai to investigate a forgery ring for "papelles," futuristic passports that record people's identities and genetics. Gold falls for Maria Gonzalez (Samantha Morton), the woman in charge of the forgeries. After a passionate affair, Gold returns home, having named a coworker as the culprit. But when one of Gonzalez's customers is found dead, Gold is sent back to Shanghai to complete the investigation.
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Code 46

Code 46

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Critics Consensus

Code 46 crafts an intriguing hypothetical future and populates it with characters who never engage, producing a slick sci-fi package without any humanity to power it.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Disappointing sci-fi that's too intense for kids. Rated: 2/5 Dec 22, 2010 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness A luxurious sight to behold. Rated: C+ May 3, 2005 Full Review Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Amid the white walls and slick surfaces of this film, the characters seem more like lab rats than human beings. Rated: 2/5 Oct 8, 2004 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand It’s less science fiction that speculative social commentary.... You don’t have to dig deep to find echoes of Gattaca, 1984, and Brave New World sounding through the dispassionate study in alienation, social regimentation, and economic disparity. Mar 8, 2024 Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) High on atmosphere and big on ideas, but quietly goes about its business otherwise. Rated: 3/5 Jul 15, 2020 Full Review James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk a visually striking, but emotionally flat mash-up of romantic drama, film noir, and science fiction that sounds much more interesting than it turns out to be Rated: 2/4 Feb 16, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Felipe M Underrated film, beautiful music score and coldplay's warning signs at the end wraps the movie in a special blanket for you to take with you. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/25 Full Review Andrew L A really underrated film in my view. Great cast, epic soundtrack. Sure, it’s a noir, dystopian film, but a good one. Worth a watch Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/25 Full Review ronald h This is such an unengaging movie. The couple (Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton) not only have no screen chemistry between them, we also can't connect with them as individuals. Neither is particularly likeable or even interesting. The Orwellian scenario of the not-too-distant future is somewhat interesting, but the lame romantic aspect of the story is just outright boring. There's a typical scene at the end with insipid pop music playing, some no talent singer whining about lost love, like some big tragedy happened. Problem is, I didn't give a damn. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Although an interesting premise, the movie is way too slow. Endless sequences of walking, driving, riding the subway, eating, small talk, yechh. Could have been a 30 minute movie. Some reviewers praise the cinematography, but there are random sepia tones overlayed throughout for no reason. Just distracting. Tim Robbins' acting is compelling as always but the female lead is flat. The ending, as in so many modern movies, made no sense. Probably because the actions of the characters throughout the movie, particularly the overlords, made no sense. Waste of time. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Perhaps the clearest characteristic of an authoritarian dystopia is how all character has been drained from the flat human subjects, transferred instead to the inventive technocratic regimes. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member If you dream of hearing Tim Robbins mumble the word papelle over and over until you wish for death, this is the one for you! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Code 46

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Movie Info

Synopsis In a dystopian future, insurance fraud investigator William Gold (Tim Robbins) arrives in Shanghai to investigate a forgery ring for "papelles," futuristic passports that record people's identities and genetics. Gold falls for Maria Gonzalez (Samantha Morton), the woman in charge of the forgeries. After a passionate affair, Gold returns home, having named a coworker as the culprit. But when one of Gonzalez's customers is found dead, Gold is sent back to Shanghai to complete the investigation.
Director
Michael Winterbottom
Producer
Andrew Eaton
Screenwriter
Frank Cottrell Boyce
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
BBC, Revolution Films
Rating
R (Scene of Sexuality|Brief Graphic Nudity)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Romance, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 2, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$197.1K
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
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