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IMDbPro

Scanners

  • 19811981
  • RR
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
57K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,602
43
Scanners (1981)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:12
3 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorSci-FiThriller
A scientist trains a man with an advanced telepathic ability called "scanning", to stop a dangerous Scanner with extraordinary psychic powers from waging war against non scanners.A scientist trains a man with an advanced telepathic ability called "scanning", to stop a dangerous Scanner with extraordinary psychic powers from waging war against non scanners.A scientist trains a man with an advanced telepathic ability called "scanning", to stop a dangerous Scanner with extraordinary psychic powers from waging war against non scanners.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
57K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,602
43
    • David Cronenberg
    • David Cronenberg
  • Stars
    • Jennifer O'Neill
    • Stephen Lack
    • Patrick McGoohan
    • David Cronenberg
    • David Cronenberg
  • Stars
    • Jennifer O'Neill
    • Stephen Lack
    • Patrick McGoohan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 228User reviews
    • 150Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Watch Official Trailer
    Is Cronenberg's 'Crimes of the Future' Actually About Filmmaking?
    Clip 4:00
    Watch Is Cronenberg's 'Crimes of the Future' Actually About Filmmaking?
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 18
    Video 28:08
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 18

    Photos112

    Michael Ironside in Scanners (1981)
    Stephen Lack in Scanners (1981)
    Jennifer O'Neill in Scanners (1981)
    Patrick McGoohan and Lawrence Dane in Scanners (1981)
    "Scanners" Michael Ironside 1981 Avco Embassy
    "Scanners" Dir. David Cronenberg 1981 Avco Embassy
    David Cronenberg, Michael Ironside, Patrick McGoohan, Howard Shore, Lawrence Dane, Stephen Lack, and Jennifer O'Neill in Scanners (1981)
    Michael Ironside in Scanners (1981)
    Michael Ironside in Scanners (1981)
    Stephen Lack in Scanners (1981)
    Patrick McGoohan and Lawrence Dane in Scanners (1981)
    Scanners (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jennifer O'Neill
    Jennifer O'Neill
    • Kim Obrist
    Stephen Lack
    Stephen Lack
    • Cameron Vale
    • (as Steven Lack)
    Patrick McGoohan
    Patrick McGoohan
    • Dr. Paul Ruth
    Lawrence Dane
    Lawrence Dane
    • Braedon Keller
    Michael Ironside
    Michael Ironside
    • Darryl Revok
    Robert A. Silverman
    Robert A. Silverman
    • Benjamin Pierce
    • (as Robert Silverman)
    Lee Broker
    Lee Broker
    • Security One
    Mavor Moore
    • Trevellyan
    Adam Ludwig
    • Arno Crostic
    Murray Cruchley
    • Programmer 1
    • (as Lee Murray)
    Fred Doederlein
    Fred Doederlein
    • Dieter Tautz
    Géza Kovács
    Géza Kovács
    • Killer in Record Store
    • (as Geza Kovacs)
    Sonny Forbes
    Sonny Forbes
    • Killer in Attic
    • (as Sony Forbes)
    Jérôme Tiberghien
    • Killer in Attic
    • (as Jerome Tiberghien)
    Denis Lacroix
    • Killer in Barn
    Elizabeth Mudry
    • Killer in Barn
    Victor Désy
    Victor Désy
    • Dr. Gatineau
    • (as Victor Desy)
    Louis Del Grande
    • First Scanner
      • David Cronenberg
      • David Cronenberg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    5.2
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    eXistenZ
    6.8
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    6.4
    Crash
    Scanners III: The Takeover
    4.4
    Scanners III: The Takeover

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      David Cronenberg once called this the most frustrating film he'd ever made. The film was rushed through production - filming had to begin without a finished script and end within roughly two months so the financing would qualify as a tax write-off, forcing Cronenberg to write and shoot at the same time. Cronenberg also cited difficulty with and antagonism between the leads, particularly Patrick McGoohan and Jennifer O'Neill.
    • Goofs
      After the famous "exploding head" scene, there wasn't a drop of blood on Revok or the table.
    • Quotes

      Benjamin Pierce: My art... keeps me sane.

      [gestures at plaster head]

      Benjamin Pierce: Art.

      [taps his temples]

      Benjamin Pierce: Sane.

    • Crazy credits
      As the credits end, the words "Max Security Self Destruct Seconds 1" flash on the screen, then the screen flashes green, as if someone shut the monitor off.
    • Alternate versions
      The death of the first scanner ('Victor Del Grande' ) was filmed in two different ways: the theatrical release has Revok (Michael Ironside) causing his head to explode; an alternate take, featured in television versions, shows him dying of a grotesque heart attack instead. The Sci-Fi Network has shown the scene intact.
    • Connections
      Edited into 365 Days, also Known as a Year (2019)

    User reviews228

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Scanners is one of Cronenberg's early films of worth
    David Cronenberg is one of the most provocative horror directors ever as one of his early films like Scanners proves. Stephen Lack has just been picked by Dr. Patrick McGoohan to infiltrate a sinister organization of scanners-people of telepathic abilities. Lack is one of them who gets administrated a drug to control his more intense urges. Michael Ironside is the one they're looking for. Jennifer O'Neill, Lawrence Dane, and Robert Silverman also lend support. See heads explode and veins pop! There's lots of exposition but more than enough gore and action to satisfy any hard core fans out there. Film actually seemed a little short but there's not a wasted minute here. All Cronenberg and horror fans should definitely seek this one out.
    helpful•18
    6
    • tavm
    • Apr 28, 2007

    FAQ2

    • What is a "scanner"?
    • What is Ephemerol?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 14, 1981 (United States)
      • Canada
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
      • Filmplan International
      • Montreal Trust Company of Canada
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 43 minutes
      • Mono

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