Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Basic Instinct
Basic Instinct Image
See the trailer
Metascore
34 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Starring: Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone
  • Summary: A brutal murder. A brilliant killer. A cop who can't resist the danger. Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone co-star in this thriller about a man who finds within himself an instinct more basic than survival. [Artisan]

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 20
  3. Negative: 8 out of 20
  1. Variety
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    90
    Grade-A pulp fiction. This erotically charged thriller about the search for an ice-pick murderer in San Francisco rivets attention through its sleek style, attractive cast doing and thinking kinky things, and story, which is as weirdly implausible as it is intensely visceral.
  2. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    50
    The film is like a crossword puzzle. It keeps your interest until you solve it. Then it's just a worthless scrap with the spaces filled in.
  3. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    38
    Verhoeven's lurid thriller has moments of welcome self-parody, but most of the action manages to be sensationalistic, homophobic, and tedious at the same time. [20 Mar 1992, Arts, p.12]
    All this critic's reviews

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 5 out of 12
  1. SimpoB.
    10
    Brilliantly crafted movie with beautiful cinematography and acting (except for Stone). This is a modern classic which deserves better credit than its reputation.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. Paul
    10
    It's really attacting and thrilling! but there is still something i can't get to know. Who is the moder? the shrink? or Cathrine?
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. BShea423
    2
    I felt like I was watching a porno, with the same production value and cheap plot. The sex scenes were entirely over the top, and the movie was extremely predictable. Pretty much a waste of 2 hours.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 12 User Reviews

Trailers