A production method for a cyclic olefin copolymer which is capable of efficiently producing a cyclic olefin copolymer by copolymerizing monomers including a norbornene monomer and ethylene while suppressing the formation of a polyethylene-like impurity, and a catalyst composition for the copolymerization of a norbornene monomer and ethylene. Monomers including a norbornene monomer and ethylene are polymerized in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst, and the metal-containing catalyst has a structure in which a nitrogen atom is bonded to a transition metal of Group 4 of the periodic table and an atom of Group 15 of the periodic table.