Changeling

Christine Collins, a single mother in late 1920s Los Angeles, returns from work to a missing child. Months later the police bring a boy back and claim he is her son, but Christine feels a dissonance in the boy’s manner and remembers details only she would know. Refusing to accept a convenient lie, she presses for answers, enduring disbelief and public shaming as she questions the authorities. Her pursuit draws in a determined preacher, Rev. Gustav Briegleb, who uses his platform to challenge a city eager to keep a faulty case quiet. The investigation widens to reveal a troubling code of corruption. Its tone stays restrained and humane throughout.

Directed by Clint Eastwood and written by J Michael Straczynski, Changeling arrived in 2008. It draws on the real life Christine Collins case from 1928 Los Angeles, with a historically grounded production and a strong ensemble including Jolie, Malkovich, Donovan, Kelly and Feore.

With a production budget of 55 million, it grossed roughly 113.4 million worldwide, signaling solid but reserved profitability for a heavy drama based on true events. It found particular traction with adult audiences drawn to real world crime stories.

Critics praised Jolie's restrained, intense portrayal and Eastwood's measured direction that foregrounds character and the social cost of corruption. The film probes motherhood under pressure, the limits of police power, and the moral weight of truth against a system driven by convenience. Several reviews applauded the period detail, production design, and its steady tempo.

Changeling is often cited for its unflinching look at municipal corruption and its effect on ordinary families. Jolie's performance helped renew public interest in the Christine Collins case and the ruthless history of the era, contributing to conversations about accountability in law enforcement. The film also sparked renewed debates about media influence and the role of social reformers in shaping policy.