Demolition Man (1993)

A police officer is brought out of suspended animation in prison to pursue an old ultra-violent nemesis who is loose in a non-violent future society.

Director:

Marco Brambilla

Writers:

Peter M. Lenkov (story), Robert Reneau (story)

Stars:

Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sylvester Stallone	...	John Spartan
Wesley Snipes	...	Simon Phoenix
Sandra Bullock	...	Lenina Huxley
Nigel Hawthorne	...	Dr. Raymond Cocteau
Benjamin Bratt	...	Alfredo Garcia
Bob Gunton	...	Chief George Earle
Glenn Shadix	...	Associate Bob
Denis Leary	...	Edgar Friendly
Grand L. Bush	...	Zachary Lamb - Young
Pat Skipper	...	Helicopter Pilot
Steve Kahan	...	Captain Healy
Paul Bollen	...	T.F.R. Officer
Mark Colson	...	Warden William Smithers - Young
Andre Gregory	...	Warden William Smithers - Aged
John Enos III	...	Prisoner (as John Enos)

Storyline

Frozen in 1996, Simon Phoenix, a convicted crime lord, is revived for a parole hearing well into the 21st century. Revived into a society free from crime, Phoenix resumes his murderous rampage, and no one can stop him. John Spartan, the police officer who captured Phoenix in 1996, has also been cryogenically frozen, this time for a crime he did not commit. In 2032, the former cities of Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Barbara have merged into peaceful, utopian San Angeles. Unable to stop him with their non-violent solutions, the police release Spartan to help recapture Phoenix. Now after 36 years, Spartan has to adapt himself to the future society he has no knowledge about.

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Plot Keywords:

year 2032 | totalitarianism | censorship | cryonics | pilot | 

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Taglines:

In the year 2032, Simon Phoenix escapes from prison, on the verge of bringing crime to San Angeles. One man is called back to duty as a last resort. They call him... THE DEMOLITION MAN.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for non-stop action violence, and for strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

El demoledor

Filming Locations:

Park Place Office Campus - 3345 Michelson Drive, Irvine, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$57,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,973,850, 11 October 1993, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$58,055,768

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$159,055,768

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Silver Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (4 channels)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Fred Dekker did uncredited re-writes on the script. When he was brought on, the script began in the future and Spartan was introduced when he was brought out of suspended animation. Dekker suggested that this movie open with a prologue set in 1996 to showcase Spartan and Phoenix in their natural environment, saying that "If you don't show Kansas, Oz isn't all that special."

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Goofs

In the beginning when Simon finishes using the dagger to puncture the gasoline barrels, he lays it back on the table and it is dry. You can see the gasoline spraying all over as he jabs each plastic barrel. He would also have the gasoline on his hands when lighting the cigarette.

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Quotes

Lenina Huxley: [Spartan encounters a burger grill in the underground world] Just don't ask them where the meat comes from.
John Spartan: Huxley, what's that supposed to mean?
Lenina Huxley: Do you see any cows around here, detective?
John Spartan: Que es este carne?
[What is this meat?]
Hamburger Stand Scrap: Este carne es de rata.
[This meat is from rats]
John Spartan: Rat? This is a rat burger?
[vendor nods]
John Spartan: Not bad! Matter of fact this is the best burger I've had in years!
[...]

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Alternate Versions

At one point in the film, a computer announces the reanimation of Jeffrey Dahmer. This scene was deleted from broadcast versions following Dahmer's death.

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Connections

Referenced in Freezer Burn (2007)

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Soundtracks

Demolition Man
EP by Sting on A&M Records

User Reviews

Not as bad as people say!

This is one of those films that it is popular to think is rubbish. I'm not quite sure why. Don't take it seriously and it's a fun ride.

Wesley Snipes and Sly Stallone play off each other well as the forces of bad and good -- old foes that have come out of chryo-generic storage hundreds of years into the future.

Sandra Bullock as the nostalgia [for Stallone's time, naturally] struck cop isn't even rubbish and annoying -- a first time for everything!

Watch out for a fun performance by Nigel Hawthorne also.