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IMDbPro

The Lawnmower Man

  • 19921992
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
36K
YOUR RATING
The Lawnmower Man (1992)
Home Video Trailer from New Line Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:03
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
A simple man is turned into a genius through the application of computer science.A simple man is turned into a genius through the application of computer science.A simple man is turned into a genius through the application of computer science.
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
36K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Brett Leonard
  • Writers
    • Stephen King(title only)
    • Brett Leonard(screenplay)
    • Gimel Everett(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jeff Fahey
    • Pierce Brosnan
    • Jenny Wright
Top credits
  • Director
    • Brett Leonard
  • Writers
    • Stephen King(title only)
    • Brett Leonard(screenplay)
    • Gimel Everett(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jeff Fahey
    • Pierce Brosnan
    • Jenny Wright
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 139User reviews
    • 71Critic reviews
    • 42Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos2

    Lawnmower Man
    Trailer 2:03
    Lawnmower Man
    The Lawnmower man
    Trailer 0:31
    The Lawnmower man

    Photos121

    The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    Jeff Fahey in The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    Pierce Brosnan and Jeff Fahey in The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    Jeff Fahey in The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    The Lawnmower Man (1992)
    The Lawnmower Man (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeff Fahey
    Jeff Fahey
    • Jobe Smithas Jobe Smith
    Pierce Brosnan
    Pierce Brosnan
    • Dr. Lawrence Angeloas Dr. Lawrence Angelo
    Jenny Wright
    Jenny Wright
    • Marnie Burkeas Marnie Burke
    Mark Bringelson
    Mark Bringelson
    • Sebastian Timmsas Sebastian Timms
    Geoffrey Lewis
    Geoffrey Lewis
    • Terry McKeenas Terry McKeen
    Jeremy Slate
    Jeremy Slate
    • Father Francis McKeenas Father Francis McKeen
    Dean Norris
    Dean Norris
    • The Directoras The Director
    Colleen Coffey
    Colleen Coffey
    • Caroline Angeloas Caroline Angelo
    Jim Landis
    • Ed Waltsas Ed Walts
    Troy Evans
    Troy Evans
    • Lieutenant Goodwinas Lieutenant Goodwin
    Rosalee Mayeux
    Rosalee Mayeux
    • Carla Parketteas Carla Parkette
    Austin O'Brien
    Austin O'Brien
    • Peter Parketteas Peter Parkette
    Michael Gregory
    Michael Gregory
    • Security Chiefas Security Chief
    Joe Hart
    Joe Hart
    • Patrolman Cooleyas Patrolman Cooley
    John Laughlin
    John Laughlin
    • Jake Simpsonas Jake Simpson
    Ray Lykins
    Ray Lykins
    • Harold Parketteas Harold Parkette
    Michael Valverde
    • Day Gate Guardas Day Gate Guard
    • (as Mike Valverde)
    Dale Raoul
    Dale Raoul
    • Dollyas Dolly
    • Director
      • Brett Leonard
    • Writers
      • Stephen King(title only) (credit removed following lawsuit)
      • Brett Leonard(screenplay)
      • Gimel Everett(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      New Line Cinema had obtained the rights to the Stephen King short story "The Lawnmower Man", and the producers also had an unrelated script called "Cyber God". For economical reasons, they simply placed King's title on the production of "Cyber God", and early promotional material with that claim even went public. King was furious at this abuse of his name, and he sued the studio to have his name and title removed from the film and promotion. The studio refused, but was eventually ordered to pay ten thousand dollars and full profits to King.
    • Goofs
      At the start of the film text appears explaining virtual reality; one of the very first words printed is 'Millenium' which should have been spelled 'Millennium'.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Lawrence Angelo: This is all so new.

      Jobe Smith: It's not new. I realized that nothing we've been doing is new. We haven't been tapping into new areas of the brain - we've just been awakening the most ancient. This technology is simply a route to powers that conjurers and alchemists used centuries ago. The human race lost that knowledge and now I'm reclaiming it through virtual reality.

      Dr. Lawrence Angelo: You're moving too fast. Even with all these new abilities, there are dangers. Man may be able to evolve a thousand-fold through this technology, but the rush must be tempered with wisdom.

    • Crazy credits
      At the start of the movie, just after the New Line Cinema logo, the following Virtual Reality 'statement' is given (the director stated that this was rewritten many times): By the turn of the millenium a technology known as VIRTUAL REALITY will be in widespread use. It will allow you to enter computer generated artificial worlds as unlimited as the imagination itself. Its creators foresee millions of positive uses - while others fear it as a new from of mind control...
    • Alternate versions
      A director's cut was released with 39 minutes of additional footage which included the following material:
      • When Rosco 1138 was shot in the theatrical version he died, but in the directors cut he survived
      • A scene when Jobe Smith is attacked by Rosco 1138, but Rosco looks at his pupils and sees he is not a threat
      • Dr. Angelo gives some soldiers a briefing on capturing Rosco
      • Jobe speaks to Rosco thinking he is a comic book super hero called Cyboman
      • Father McKeen finds Rosco with Jobe and calls V.S.I., Dr. Angelo's place of work
      • The soldiers go to Jobe's house and Dr. Angelo wants to get Rosco alive, but the soldiers kill Rosco and Jobe starts to cry
      • Father McKeen talks to Jobe and tells him how he endangered the church by letting Rosco in his house
      • Jobe and Terry McKeen are at the gas station and Jobe tells Terry and Jake about Cyboman and Jake makes fun of him
      • Dr. Angelo talks into his audio journal and wonders why Rosco bonded with the retarded man Jobe
      • In the theatrical version Dr. Angelo's wife leaves him, but in the director's cut she goes out with her friends. Dr. Angelo follows her to her car and she leaves; then he talks to Peter's mom [Carla Parkett] and they talk about how Peter reminds him of himself at that age
      • Terry McKeen and Jobe are in a diner and Jake starts harassing him about Cyboman
      • Father McKeen sees Jobe reading and yells at him and Terry defends him and tells Father McKeen to let Jobe be a man. Then Father McKeen leaves and tells Jobe he'll teach him to drive, but he learnt how already with the V.R. treatments he has been getting from Dr. Angelo
      • Jobe is with Dr. Angelo on the way to V.S.I. and asks if he is going to do to him what he did with Rosco
      • Jobe is scared because he can read minds; he asks Mrs. Angelo where Dr. Angelo is and he reads her mind
      • Dr. Angelo asks his wife where Jobe is and she does not respond because she is under Jobe's control
      • Dr. Angelo is tied up and his wife asks if he and Jobe need anything, still being under his control
      • The agents are going to pick up Jobe and Dr. Angelo when Jobe tells Dr. Angelo "Now you will witness the impossible" and makes Dr. Angelo watch his wife kill an agent and then is killed by the other two while he watches through V.R.
    • Connections
      Edited into Beyond the Mind's Eye (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Jobe's Fury
      Written and Performed by Sterling

    User reviews139

    Review
    Top review
    Not Enough Suspense to Work or Hold Your Attention
    The Lawnmower Man (1992)

    ** (out of 4)

    Lawrence Angelo (Pierce Brosnan) is a scientist who is experimenting with virtual reality. He decides to try his experiment on a mentally challenged man named Jobe (Jeff Fahey) and before long he turns into a genius. Of course, being from Stephen King, Jobe eventually begins to suffer a breakdown and soon chaos breaks out.

    When I first watched this movie in theaters I honestly didn't care too much about it. For some reason I ended up watching it a second time and cared for it even less. Then it hit DVD and I tried the film again and still, you guessed it, I didn't like it. The film has now been released on a Special Edition Blu-ray so for some reason I checked it out again and believe it or not I actually think it has aged somewhat well.

    It's funny but at the time the film was released the only thing people were talking about were the special effects. The CGI effects on display here were quite new for the era but I think it's safe to say they haven't held up as well as some other famous "CGI" movies out there. With that said, the effects are still somewhat creative and I think the virtual reality sequences are rather good for what they are. The direction of the effects were at least good and these images at least keep you somewhat entertained.

    The problem with the film is that you're basically watching a rather cheap horror movie that doesn't have too much to say. I'm not sure if the much longer Director's Cut is better or not but the theatrical version seems very long at its 106-minute running time. The film really drags at times and there's no suspense to be had and there's really not too much of a connection to the character. It's cool seeing Brosnan before his James Bond days but he's rather bland here. Fahey actually does a good job with the role of the slow Jobe and he's believable in this aspect of the character as well as when he becomes smarter.

    THE LAWNMOWER MAN isn't an awful movie but it's a rather boring mess that just never really comes together.
    helpful•6
    3
    • Michael_Elliott
    • Jul 5, 2017

    FAQ3

    • What's the story behind the lawsuit of King vs. New Line Cinema?
    • What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Director's Cut?
    • Is the film based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 6, 1992 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Japan
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Stephen King's The Lawnmower Man
    • Filming locations
      • Brandeis-Bardin Institute - 1101 Pepper Tree Lane, Simi Valley, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Allied Vision
      • Fuji Eight Company Ltd.
      • Lane Pringle Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $32,100,816
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,751,971
      • Mar 8, 1992
    • Gross worldwide
      • $32,100,816
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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