Total Recall

Name: Total Recall
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: June 1, 1990
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 57
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Ironside, Sharon Stone

1990

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 347 Ratings

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8.8

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8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 347 Ratings

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TOTAL RECALL

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Movie Details & Credits

X	TriStar Pictures \| Release Date: June 1, 1990

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Ironside, Sharon Stone

Summary: Doug Quaid (Schwarzenegger), a construction worker with a beautiful wife (Stone) and home in in the year 2084, decides to take a virtual vacation to Mars as a secret agent. When things go wrong during the aritificial memory implantation process, Quaid becomes reacts violently and must figure out if his life as Quaid or as the secret agentDoug Quaid (Schwarzenegger), a construction worker with a beautiful wife (Stone) and home in in the year 2084, decides to take a virtual vacation to Mars as a secret agent. When things go wrong during the aritificial memory implantation process, Quaid becomes reacts violently and must figure out if his life as Quaid or as the secret agent is his true life.… Expand

Director: Paul Verhoeven

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: X

Runtime: 113 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

One of the most complex and visually interesting science fiction movies in a long time. Read full review

Los Angeles Times - Michael Wilmington

If the movie sometimes seems overwhelmed by its budget and its legendary third-act problems, it's still entertainingly raw and brutal, full of whiplash pace and juicy exaggeration. [1 June 1990, Calendar, p.F-1]

Chicago Reader - Jonathan Rosenbaum

A worthy entry in the dystopian cycle of SF movies launched by "Blade Runner" (including "The Terminator" and "Robocop"), this seems less derivative than most of its predecessors yet equally accomplished in its straight-ahead storytelling, with plenty of provocative satiric undertones and scenic details. Read full review

USA Today - Mike Clark

Both female roles are unexpectedly meaty, so much so that the film loses something once the far more lively Stone is dispatched. Hour one (more satirical) is better all around, though the falloff isn't fatal. [1 June 1990, Life, p.2D]

ReelViews - James Berardinelli

An "intelligent" action film, because it presents the viewer with an opportunity to puzzle things out rather than sit mindlessly and watch people get blown to pieces. Read full review

The New York Times - Elvis Mitchell

Mr. Verhoeven is much better at drumming up this sort of artificial excitement than he is at knowing when to stop. Read full review

Washington Post - Rita Kempley

The overall effect is like wading through hospital waste. Verhoeven, who also directed the maliciously stylistic "Robocop," disappoints with this appalling onslaught of blood and boredom. Read full review

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User Reviews

PredatorX

Aug 22, 2018

Other than Terminator 2 and Predator, this is my goto Schwarzenegger movie. The practical effects still look good almost 30 years later and the infamous ambiguity of the whole movie holds up even more. Arnold is a great hero who not only comes off as an invincible action star but also feelsOther than Terminator 2 and Predator, this is my goto Schwarzenegger movie. The practical effects still look good almost 30 years later and the infamous ambiguity of the whole movie holds up even more. Arnold is a great hero who not only comes off as an invincible action star but also feels vulnerable at points. the last thing i have to say is that i'm actually depressed that the 2012 version has worse effects than a movie from 1990. but this one is one of my favorite films ever.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Zilcell

Aug 6, 2012

One of the best science fiction movies ever. Other than seeing Arnold take over the screen with a fantastic performance, Total Recall is witty, fast-paced, action packed, and occasionally humorous.

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

OneWhoKnows

Aug 25, 2010

Philip K. Dick is one of the best sci-fi authors in history. In fact almost all his written work has been transposed into great film. Total Recall is one of his best efforts. Again this is a movie that requires a thought process, so if Napoleon Dynamite is your fave, give up and don't watchPhilip K. Dick is one of the best sci-fi authors in history. In fact almost all his written work has been transposed into great film. Total Recall is one of his best efforts. Again this is a movie that requires a thought process, so if Napoleon Dynamite is your fave, give up and don't watch this movie because you will get lost. The ending is purposely left to your won interpretation... this makes it GREAT!… Expand

10 of 10 users found this helpful100

DuckNation

Jun 14, 2014

"Sorry, Quaid. Your whole life is just a dream."

Total Recall is a great sci-fi thriller loaded with tons of awesome action and without of a doubt one of the best movies from the 90's. This like other Paul Verhoeven films i used to watch this all the time when i was young because it was"Sorry, Quaid. Your whole life is just a dream."

Total Recall is a great sci-fi thriller loaded with tons of awesome action and without of a doubt one of the best movies from the 90's. This like other Paul Verhoeven films i used to watch this all the time when i was young because it was just so freaking awesome. Arnold kicking major ass from earth to mars whats not to like it also has plenty of twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. Seeing that i watched my two other favorite Paul Verhoeven films this year those being RoboCop and Starship Troopers also the fact i haven't watched this in a while i thought that i should give it a proper viewing and review.

The movie follows Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) a normal guy doing construction work for a living but after being haunted by vivid dreams of mars he asks his wife Lori (Sharon Stone) if they can move there. She is highly against the idea and instead purposes they take a vacation to Saturn Quaid avoids answering her by saying he has to go to work. While on his way to work on the metro train he sees a commercial for a place called "Rekall" a company that provides virtual memory implants of vacations for people. While he is at Rekall and about to be set up for a vacation to mars as a secret agent on a mission to save the planet but he freaks out killing multiple Rekall employees before they implemented the chip so they drug him to knock him out and they erase his memory of the visit and they send him on his way home in a taxi.

While on his way home he is attacked by a bunch of his co-workers and with no choice has to kill them he then rushes home to tell Lori but it just so happens that she also seems to be working with the people who are trying to kill him. From here we see Quaid as he tries to figure out who he really is and in the process makes his way to mars to find the people who are out to kill him. Of course the best part of the movie was once he gets to mars as we get to see plenty of mutants that look super freaky also tons of great action scenes. I just realized that Dean Norris was in this movie as one of the mutants so that was cool to notice for the first time but even to this day i have to say the 3 breasted woman has to be my favorite also the little midget chick was pretty awesome.

One of the great things about this movie was how brutal it can be seeing people get shot up, blood everywhere, limbs getting ripped off, maybe not as much as Starship Troopers but still enough to be brutal, personally my favorite part is when Quaid [spoiler] kills his wife Lori. I mean because really when do you ever see the hero kill a woman regardless if she is bad or good so i have to give the director and writers props for that. [/spoiler] The story was entertaining and intriguing enough to make you think is this really happening or is this really just a dream and for some reason i kept thinking of Inception while watching this. The cast did a solid performance overall, Arnold was great like in all his older action movies from the time, both Sharon Stone and Rachel Ticotin looked sexy, and Michael Ironside as the main henchmen was excellent, the guy was born to play a villain.

Overall i give it a 8.0Total Recall is a movie with amazing replay value and is a must watch for everyone that loves a great sci fi action movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Rens

Aug 1, 2018

Total Recall (1990) is many action and a good story. The twist is good, but not crazy and the ending does suck a little.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tokyochuchu

Oct 7, 2012

The original Total Recall is a fun sci-fi actioner that sees Schwartzenegger barreling around Mars kicking all sorts of ass. The movie has that classic over-the-top 80's violence to it (massive squibs & grotesque kills) that now feels both nostalgic and hilariously ridiculous. Stuffed withThe original Total Recall is a fun sci-fi actioner that sees Schwartzenegger barreling around Mars kicking all sorts of ass. The movie has that classic over-the-top 80's violence to it (massive squibs & grotesque kills) that now feels both nostalgic and hilariously ridiculous. Stuffed with decent special effects and a memorable plot, Total Recall remains fun viewing.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Bruce722

Nov 29, 2012

The acting was dreadful, the special effects were pathetic, and the action sequences were laughable. Not only that but the mutant stuff was a bit much. Mediocre film at best.

0 of 10 users found this helpful010

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