In the 1960s, Frank Abagnale Jr. is a teenager who, after his parents' divorce, runs away from home. Facing the need to survive with no financial support, he turns to confidence tricks and forges checks to maintain his lifestyle. His ingenuity leads him to impersonate various professions, including a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and a legal prosecutor. With each false identity, he successfully cashes millions of dollars worth of fraudulent checks across 26 countries. His skill in evading capture, coupled with his youthful appearance, makes his cons all the more audacious and difficult for law enforcement to believe and tackle.

Meanwhile, FBI agent Carl Hanratty becomes obsessed with catching the young con artist. The chase becomes a game of cat and mouse, with Hanratty gradually closing in on Abagnale’s trail through a combination of investigative work and understanding of the psychological motivations behind Frank's actions. Their interactions, laced with mutual respect and a complex dynamic, add depth to the pursuit. While Frank continues to outsmart authorities with his clever disguises and quick thinking, the constant moving, lying, and the stress of evading capture begin to take their toll on his sense of identity and purpose, hinting at the deeper emotional undercurrents driving his escapades.