Synopsis

After a curator is murdered inside the Louvre, symbologist Robert Langdon is drawn into a coded trail hidden in Leonardo da Vinci's art. Working with cryptologist Sophie Neveu, he races across France and England while police, a secretive religious group, and other determined pursuers close in. Their investigation points toward a religious secret guarded for centuries.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was adapted from Dan Brown's 2003 bestseller, whose worldwide popularity made the movie one of the most anticipated releases of 2006.

• Westminster Abbey declined permission for filming, reportedly objecting to the book's theological ideas. Lincoln Cathedral was used instead for scenes representing the abbey.

• Louvre filming took place at night because the production could not bring equipment into the museum during public hours. A replica of the Mona Lisa was used because lighting could not be directed at Leonardo's original painting.

• Some Louvre scenes involving blood and writing on the floor were recreated at Pinewood Studios, since those alterations were not permitted inside the museum.

• Winchester Cathedral used its location fee to fund an exhibition and lecture program that challenged historical claims popularized by the novel.

• The film opened the 59th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2006, two days before its US theatrical release. Its premiere drew notably harsh critical reactions, despite the movie becoming a major commercial success.

• The success of The Da Vinci Code led to two further Robert Langdon films: Angels & Demons in 2009 and Inferno in 2016.