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Total Recall

  • 1990
  • R
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
369K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
858
59
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Total Recall (1990)
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CyberpunkOne-Person Army ActionSpace Sci-FiActionAdventureSci-Fi

When a man goes in to have virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars implanted in his mind, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real - or is he... Read allWhen a man goes in to have virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars implanted in his mind, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real - or is he?When a man goes in to have virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars implanted in his mind, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real - or is he?

  • Director
    • Paul Verhoeven
  • Writers
    • Philip K. Dick
    • Ronald Shusett
    • Dan O'Bannon
  • Stars
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Sharon Stone
    • Michael Ironside
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    369K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    858
    59
    • Director
      • Paul Verhoeven
    • Writers
      • Philip K. Dick
      • Ronald Shusett
      • Dan O'Bannon
    • Stars
      • Arnold Schwarzenegger
      • Sharon Stone
      • Michael Ironside
    • 596User reviews
    • 228Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 7 wins & 16 nominations total

    Videos7

    Total Recall (1990)
    Trailer 1:00
    Total Recall (1990)
    Total Recall (1990)
    Trailer 2:08
    Total Recall (1990)
    Total Recall (1990)
    Trailer 2:08
    Total Recall (1990)
    Total Recall (1990)
    Trailer 0:57
    Total Recall (1990)
    What Roles Has Colin Farrell Been Considered For?
    Clip 3:40
    What Roles Has Colin Farrell Been Considered For?
    Total Recall: Make-Up And Special Effects (German)
    Featurette 1:53
    Total Recall: Make-Up And Special Effects (German)
    Total Recall: Writing The Script (German)
    Featurette 0:42
    Total Recall: Writing The Script (German)

    Photos856

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    Top cast67

    Edit
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Quaid
    Sharon Stone
    Sharon Stone
    • Lori
    Michael Ironside
    Michael Ironside
    • Richter
    Rachel Ticotin
    Rachel Ticotin
    • Melina
    Ronny Cox
    Ronny Cox
    • Cohaagen
    Marshall Bell
    Marshall Bell
    • George…
    Mel Johnson Jr.
    Mel Johnson Jr.
    • Benny
    Michael Champion
    Michael Champion
    • Helm
    Roy Brocksmith
    Roy Brocksmith
    • Dr. Edgemar
    Ray Baker
    Ray Baker
    • McClane
    Rosemary Dunsmore
    Rosemary Dunsmore
    • Dr. Lull
    David Knell
    David Knell
    • Ernie
    Alexia Robinson
    Alexia Robinson
    • Tiffany
    Dean Norris
    Dean Norris
    • Tony
    Mark Carlton
    • Bartender
    Debbie Lee Carrington
    Debbie Lee Carrington
    • Thumbelina
    Lycia Naff
    Lycia Naff
    • Mary
    Robert Costanzo
    Robert Costanzo
    • Harry
    • (as Bobby Costanzo)
    • Director
      • Paul Verhoeven
    • Writers
      • Philip K. Dick
      • Ronald Shusett
      • Dan O'Bannon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews596

    7.5369.1K
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    Featured reviews

    9dragon-capri

    Before Matrix and Inception....

    The red pill and how's a dream comes reality.... I rewatched this movie after almost 30 years and definitely is a classic. The script and action is so much better than today's full CGI movies.
    8Pjtaylor-96-138044

    See you at the party.

    'Total Recall (1990)' is both an interesting, layered, concept-driven science-fiction film and a squishy, one-liner-filled, Arnold Schwarzenegger action romp, essentially, in equal measure. It's concerned just as much with its special effects and filled-to-the-brim squibs as it is with its twisty narrative and heady ideas. This contrast is, in practice, cohesion. It's what sets the piece apart from almost all others in its genre. It's enjoyable on all levels. It provides breathless, balls-to-the-wall action and an intriguing, ultimately fulfilling narrative filled with well-rounded characters and genuinely clever concepts. The world is incredibly creative and the tone is spot on, in typical Verhoeven fashion. The characters are also great, though, and the way they interact with the central conceit is brilliant. I won't spoil the main twist of the piece but it really is fantastic, something that you'll still be pondering - as a concept - long after the credits have rolled. On the whole, this is a really great film. It's tangible, exciting, inventive and, generally, just entertaining. 8/10
    8gavin6942

    The Trilogy Needs Total Recall

    When a man (Arnold Schwarzenegger) goes for virtual vacation memories of the planet Mars, an unexpected and harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for real, or does he?

    One could consider "Total Recall" part of a Philip K. Dick trilogy: Blade Runner, Total Recall and Minority Report. With A Scanner Darkly and Paycheck (among others) creating an extended trilogy (you know, like Douglas Adams did). Total Recall is easily worthy of standing beside Blade Runner. And even as a stand-alone sci-fi film, it ranks as one of the better ones of the 1990s, if not all time.

    One of the great things about Total Recall is the ambiguous nature of the story. Is it a dream? A brain embolism? Reality? Any of these has evidence to support it and also to contradict it. And this is a strength for the movie.

    There is a certain absurdity with the special effects -- eyes bulging and whatnot when the people lose oxygen. In real life you would simply die in space, not explode. But at the same time this was somewhat amusing and a bit comical so it can be overlooked. Besides, coming from Rob Bottin ("The Thing"), the focus should be on the strengths of the makeup and effects and not the possible shortfalls.

    The casting was great. Arnold was a great choice, and no one else could be Quaid. Kurt Russell, Stallone, Swayze... these guys are great but not right for this part. And Sharon Stone was looking her best for this movie, and since her role seemed to be the sexpot wife who does little more than exercise and seduce her husband, that is a big endorsement.

    Clearly the best character was Benny the Cab Driver, played by Mel Johnson, Jr in his only notable role. He stole the scenes he was in with great comic timing and an interesting back-story. I was quite interested by how he went from being what could have been a minor background role to a primary figure in the overall plot. Exquisite.

    I guess I simply must recommend you see this movie. If you have not seen Blade Runner, watch that first. If you have not seen Minority Report, watch this first. But either way, be sure that you put this movie somewhere high on your to-do list.
    8Fella_shibby

    A true science fiction action extravaganza.

    I first saw this in 1990 on a vhs i used to own. Revisited it recently. The three boobs n the comedic bulging eyes stayed with me from a tender young age. The film has lots of action, some violent scenes, good one liners n Arnie's fine acting at display. Surprisingly, this time he doesn't get to go shirtless or in a vest. The mutants mayb disturbing for some viewers. This was one of the earliest one to deal with a secret agent losing memory and all. Way before Bourne Identity and Jackie Chan's Who am I.
    8Quinoa1984

    one of the most enjoyable of the Arnold action vehicles

    Total Recall has little, if any,by way of passing itself as being 'art'. It is, but more in the sense of it being pop-art, of the director Paul Verhoven paying tribute in visuals to the story by Phillip K. Dick. And it's also one of the more exciting and quotable of those shameless examples of how to do an action film. In this case, however, because it is a P.K. Dick-based story there are some good social bits made in the process. If it isn't as astute or consistent as Blade Runner or Minority Report, it's probably more due to it having to be a vehicle for Arnold Schwarzenegger than it being a full-on thought-provoking work of science fiction on film. But this does rank up high with the other works of the star, as he is in a complex situation in the film- his mind is scrambled, at first, and everything he thought was right as dickens is not. So he's told by 'himself' on a screen he happened to save for himself that he has to get to mars to find out the truth.

    There is plenty of good action sequences, but it is more about Verhoven's knack at getting this popularized view of Mars just a little subverted, a little stranger. Some of my favorite scenes involved Scwarzenegger's mishaps and turns of fate as the story and his character took turns. For example, in the scene when Arnold's character wants to get his memory wiped off to Mars and then he flips out in the chair, this is a very entertaining scene in being very ridiculous (try to listen to what he says, or don't as its near unintelligible) as well as following a darker trek in the story. In fact, much of the film works on the strengths of both director and star by having it not too over the top to have some belief in what is going on, but that expectations aren't limited to what might happen as Arnold's character in on Mars uncovering the conspiracy around his messed-up memory.

    Featuring a sultry Sharon Stone in a great supporting role (another memorable scene comes with her demise, as usual quotable to the bone), as well as a memorable climax involving the arid Mars air and a certain outrageous reaction to it, I recommend Total Recall for genre fans and even those who might be wary of it being a 'Hollywood' take on Dick. It's not great, and per usual PKD fans might scoff at the faithfulness to the source, but it's better than some of the lesser adaptations of the author. Just go in for a good time and it stands up over time (err, 16 years).

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Ronald Shusett and Dan O'Bannon first started working on the screenplay for this movie back in the 1970s, they realized that the movie would probably be too expensive and difficult to make by the standards of special effects and budget at the time. They delayed working on the story and instead worked on an idea O'Bannon had about a space monster terrorizing a spaceship crew. This became Alien (1979).
    • Goofs
      Quaid touches walls, switches on lights, and grabs Lori's arms to explain that he is being hunted by spies, then shows his blood-covered hands to her, yet there is no blood on her arms or the walls.
    • Quotes

      Lori: Doug, honey... you wouldn't hurt me, would you, sweetheart? Sweetheart, be reasonable. After all, we're married!

      [Lori goes for her gun, Quaid shoots her in the head, killing her]

      Douglas Quaid: Consider that a divorce!

    • Crazy credits
      Play the Total Recall (1990) video game by Acclaim.
    • Alternate versions
      The Finnish theatrical release (1990) was rated K/F-18 but still cut by 23 seconds. The VHS release (1991) was rated K/F-16 and cut by 68 seconds. The DVD release of 2001 is rated K/F-18 and is listed as uncut.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Total Recall/Strapless/Fire Birds/Class of 1999/Jesus of Montreal (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Mutant Dancing
      Written and Performed by Bruno Louchouarn

      Produced by Joe La Mont

      Published by Lygon St. Music and Barney Sue Music

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    FAQ28

    • How long is Total Recall?Powered by Alexa
    • What was Richter's relationship with Lori? Was he her boyfriend? Was he her husband?
    • How is "Minority Report" a sequel to Total Recall if Arnold is not in there?
    • What is 'Total Recall' about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 1, 1990 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Mexico
    • Official site
      • Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El vengador del futuro
    • Filming locations
      • Estudios Churubusco - C. Atletas 2, Country Club Churubusco, Coyoacán, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico(Studio, Mars Federal Colony and Pyramid mines)
    • Production companies
      • Carolco Pictures
      • Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $65,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $119,412,921
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $25,533,700
      • Jun 3, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $261,317,921
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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