There’s unfortunately not necessarily reason to think that my own amalgam for the last two Bourne films — “arction,” a halved blend of art and action — will catch on.
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:224
Fresh:208
Rotten:16
Average Rating:7.9/10
Consensus: The Bourne Ultimatum is an intelligent, finely tuned non-stop thrill ride. Another strong performance from Matt Damon and sharp camerawork from Paul Greengrass make this the finest installment of the Bourne trilogy.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for violence and intense sequences of action.
Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release:16-08-2007
Synopsis: The government's most wanted amnesiac super-spy returns in this thrilling third installment in the Jason Bourne franchise. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM picks up where the THE BOURNE SUPREMACY left off,... The government's most wanted amnesiac super-spy returns in this thrilling third installment in the Jason Bourne franchise. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM picks up where the THE BOURNE SUPREMACY left off, with Bourne once again racing around the globe, desperate to uncover the secrets of his identity. Having just lost his girlfriend and only companion, his search for answers is now fuelled by much more than his own self-preservation. The film kicks off with Bourne tracking down a British journalist (Paddy Considine) who he believes has valuable information about his past. He quickly discovers that the government conspiracy runs far deeper than he realized, and so begins a riveting, action-packed game of cat and mouse with the CIA. Bourne plows through the bad guys like a mini-tornado, and after some breathtaking fight sequences and several nail-biting car chases, he closes in on the truth in a climactic stand-off on the streets (and rooftops) of New York City. Joan Allen and David Strathairn are excellent as two battling CIA directors, and Julia Styles pops up for a small but important turn as Bourne's former government contact. Matt Damon continues to give Bourne the perfect mix of tough guy determination and sad-eyed desperation, and despite his physics-defying fists, he never comes off as the invincible super hero. Rather, the appeal of Bourne remains in his humanness--he feels pain, bloodies his knuckles, and mourns the loss of his lover. It's this emotional and physical vulnerability that keeps you on the edge of the seat, holding your breath for him. Well, that and the totally awesome fight scenes, of course. [More]
Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, Edgar Ramirez
Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, Edgar Ramirez, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Albert Finney
Director: Paul Greengrass
Director: Paul Greengrass
Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy, George Nolfi
Producer: Frank Marshall, Paul Sandberg, Patrick Crowley
Composer: John Powell
Studio: Universal Pictures
Reviews for The Bourne Ultimatum
The Bourne Ultimatum is one of 2007's best action movies and more than lives up to expectations.
Greengrass brings his documentarian's eye and handheld camera to give authenticity to chase scenes that are as exciting as anything John Frankenheimer or William Friedkin ever made.
Matt Damon gets his Bourne on again in this relentlessly smart and thrilling action masterpiece.
The action starts almost from the opening frame, with a rare breath of air in its lean 111 minutes for audiences to hit the restrooms without missing a good part.
In many ways, it's no less stylish and no more substantive than Transformers. The only difference is that it assumes the audience is clever enough to keep up with it.
Jason Bourne, like the action-thriller movie franchise he fronts, has grown weary of the chase.
It's a pure-hearted action-packed frenetic chase film from reel to reel.
Greengrass gives audiences a contact high from his visual flair alone and proves that he's one of the more interesting and entertaining directors working today, no matter what the genre.
Jason Bourne is a no-nonsense, calculating, thinking man's action hero and Matt Damon was born to play this part.
It's the rare action picture whose adrenaline-driven thrills neither overshadow the characters nor degenerate into cartoonish preposterousness.
While Ultimatum may be the lesser of the three Jason Bourne movies, it is only so because the bar set by its predecessors was so uncommonly high.
Ultimatum tries to stir sympathy for its indestructible hero. But Jason Bourne has all the charm of a howitzer. He needs some time with the Harry Potter bunch.
Tense yet invigorating, The Bourne Ultimatum presents a terrific argument for the nonstop-action summer movie. Even those rare moments when it slows down offer more excitement than other films' full-bore action scenes.
Director Paul Greengrass depicts this constant hustle and bustle with great urgency, and the movie has such a caffeine-frenzy feel to it that it's possible not to notice that the plot has as many holes as Bourne's amnesia-stricken memory.
"The Bourne Ultimatum" might have brought this saga to a classy and gratifying conclusion. It's hard to imagine how any further sequel could improve upon it.
The action never flags, but the story and the characters are shallow. This is glossy entertainment and nothing more.
A minor miracle in a summer full of weak, perfunctory or downright lousy 'threequels'. It's a relentless finale to the Bourne movie trilogy that raises the stakes, pumps up the action and develops old characters while introducing new villains.
Bursts with so much amped-up energy, you may need to rest once it's finally done.
If you do go to see this thinly scripted and very repetitive action film, bring your seasickness pills [because of the heavy use of the "shakycam"].
Latest News for The Bourne Ultimatum
December 07, 2009:
Matt Damon Expects Greengrass to Return for Fourth Bourne ![]()
As expected, don't count on Matt Damon returning to the "Bourne" franchise without Paul Greengrass -- but on the good side, Damon expects Greengrass to return. More...
November 30, 2009:
Paul Greengrass Quits Fourth Bourne ![]()
According to sources close to the project, Paul Greengrass has walked away from the fourth "Bourne" movie, throwing the future of the sequel in doubt -- at least for now. More...
February 04, 2009:
Exclusive: Inside Pinewood/Shepperton - A Photo Tour
Every year, the BAFTA film awards present a trophy for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. Introduced in 1978, the award recognises an organisation or a person's career... More...
December 09, 2008:
Frank Marshall Preps Fourth Bourne Movie ![]()
Thanks to a new deal with the Robert Ludlum estate, Universal has access to the late author's entire library -- and according to producer Frank Marshall, one of those books may... More...
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 67% 67% | Public Enemies |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 95% 95% | The Cove |
| 85% 85% | World's Greatest Dad |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- The Bourne Ultimatum at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Bourne Ultimatum at IGN
- The Bourne Ultimatum at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.





