*The Bourne Ultimatum*

*The Bourne Ultimatum*
Name	The Bourne Ultimatum
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Paul Greengrass
Producer	Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley, Paul L. Sandberg
Screenplay	Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns, George Nolfi
Based on	The Bourne Ultimatum, Robert Ludlum
Starring	Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramírez, Albert Finney, Joan Allen
Music	John Powell
Cinematography	Oliver Wood
Editing	Christopher Rouse
Studio	The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Ludlum Entertainment
Distributor	Universal Pictures
Released	2007, 07, 25, Paris, 2007, 08, 03, United States
Runtime	115 minutes
Country	United States, Germany
Language	English, Russian, French, Spanish, Arabic, Italian
Budget	$110–130 million
Gross	$444.1 million

*The Bourne Ultimatum* is a 2007 action-thriller film directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Matt Damon as the amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne. The third installment in the *Bourne* film series, it concludes the narrative arc begun in *The Bourne Identity* and *The Bourne Supremacy*, following Bourne as he uncovers the origins of the CIA's clandestine Operation Treadstone and its successor, Operation Blackbriar. Praised for its intense action sequences and kinetic direction, the film was a major critical and commercial success, winning three Academy Awards and solidifying its influence on the espionage genre.

Plot

The narrative picks up immediately after the events in Moscow depicted in *The Bourne Supremacy*, with Bourne evading authorities while wounded. After a Waterloo station encounter with journalist Simon Ross, Bourne learns of Operation Blackbriar and travels to Madrid, Paris, London, and Tangier to uncover his past. His pursuit leads him to confront former Operation Treadstone director Albert Hirsch at the CIA's clandestine training facility in New York City, where he finally recovers his memories of volunteering for the program. The film's climax involves a dramatic car chase through Manhattan and a confrontation that exposes the illegal programs to the public via *The Guardian*.

Cast

Matt Damon reprises his role as Jason Bourne, with Julia Stiles returning as Nicky Parsons. The film introduces several key antagonists, including David Strathairn as Deputy Director Noah Vosen, Scott Glenn as CIA Director Ezra Kramer, and Albert Finney as Dr. Albert Hirsch. Joan Allen returns as CIA officer Pamela Landy, while Paddy Considine portrays journalist Simon Ross. Supporting roles include Edgar Ramírez as assassin Paz, Corey Johnson as Wills, and Daniel Brühl as Martin Kreutz.

Production

Principal photography, under the working title *The Bourne Sanction*, began in 2006 with locations including Berlin, Madrid, Paris, London, Tangier, and New York City. Director Paul Greengrass employed his signature handheld, cinéma vérité style, with cinematographer Oliver Wood and a second unit that staged complex stunts like the Waterloo station chase. The screenplay, written by Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns, and George Nolfi, diverges significantly from Robert Ludlum's original novel, focusing on Bourne's search for his origins rather than preventing an international crisis. The score was composed by John Powell.

Release

The film had its world premiere on July 25, 2007, in Paris before opening wide in North America on August 3, 2007, by Universal Pictures. Its release strategy capitalized on the strong critical reception of the previous films and included advanced screenings and a significant marketing campaign. It premiered in other international markets throughout August and September 2007, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for Paul Greengrass's direction, the intense action sequences, and Matt Damon's performance. It holds a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 85/100 score on Metacritic. It was a major box office success, grossing over $444 million worldwide against a $110–130 million budget. At the 80th Academy Awards, it won all three categories for which it was nominated: Best Film Editing (Christopher Rouse), Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing. It also received nominations from BAFTA and the Motion Picture Sound Editors.

Home media

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in North America on December 11, 2007, by Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The releases included multiple special features such as deleted scenes, director and producer commentary, and featurettes on the film's stunts and production. It was later included in various box sets of *The Bourne Trilogy* and the *Bourne Ultimate Collection*. Subsequent 4K UHD releases have been issued to coincide with later installments in the franchise.

Category:2007 films Category:American action thriller films Category:Films directed by Paul Greengrass Category:Universal Pictures films