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Code 46

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Code 46

R

Released Sep 2, 2003

1h 32m

Sci-Fi

Romance

Mystery & Thriller

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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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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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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Disappointing sci-fi that's too intense for kids.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 22, 2010

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

A luxurious sight to behold.

Rated: C+

May 3, 2005

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Michael Winterbottom

Director

Tim Robbins

William Geld

Samantha Morton

Maria Gonzales

Jeanne Balibar

Sylvie

Om Puri

Bahkland

Essie Davis

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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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