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Total Recall

Play trailer 2:07 Poster for Total Recall R 1990 1h 49m Sci-Fi Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
81% Tomatometer 79 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Douglas Quaid is a bored construction worker in the year 2084 who dreams of visiting colonized Mars. He visits "Rekall," a company that plants false memories into people's brains, in order to experience the thrill of Mars without having to travel there. But something goes wrong during the procedure; Quaid discovers that his entire life is actually a false memory and that the people who implanted it in his head now want him dead.

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Total Recall

Total Recall

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Critics Consensus

Under Paul Verhoeven's frenetic direction, Total Recall is a fast-paced rush of violence, gore, and humor that never slacks.

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Critics Reviews

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Malcolm Knox Sydney Morning Herald Apr 28
Total Recall stands above most of its genre-mates by touching on the complex overlaps between various realities. Go to Full Review Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 11/20/2020
5/5
Forget about the disposable Colin Farrell remake from 2012. Go to Full Review David Robinson The Times (UK) 06/23/2020
The film's visual invention is offset by its visceral nastiness. Schwarzenegger's self-deprecatory good humour prevails none the less. Go to Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Sep 11
2/5
It's easy to see how fans of campy, '80s sci-fi hold a soft spot for this, though its more ludicrous components don't entirely stand the test of time. Go to Full Review Harry Solomons Loud and Clear Reviews 01/08/2025
4.5/5
Total Recall succeeds where hundreds of its contemporaries fail; a sci-fi epic turning grand philosophical questions into undeniable and ludicrous fun. Go to Full Review Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) 05/09/2023
1/4
Undoubtedly the film will make millions, but Schwarzenegger still can't act worth a damn and neither he nor anyone associated with the film can ever buy what they don't have -- it's called class. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tom F @RT55173143 May 23 For all its faults, it remains entertaining and interesting after all these years. See more Richard W @rdwoolf Apr 24 Paul Verhoeven's Total Recall (1990) is always a fun watch with a big bowl of popcorn. It's got over-the-top action. It's got humor. It's got a clever sci-fi premise based on a story from Philip K. Dick and written by the team that brought us Alien. It's got a fantastic score and amazing artistic design. Total Recall looks almost like a comic-book come to life. See more Mickey B. @Mickerdoo Apr 6 They really went for it. Really fun practical effects. Arnold either exploding or kicking tail. Stone is lovely. So rewatchable. See more Emb3rGamer66 T @Emb3r.G Mar 27 I still question what was real post-rekall visit See more Robert M @DK-Orion Mar 15 Great Sci-fi movie. I love Arnold and the supporting cast is mostly great as well. See more Dallas H @FozzieMcFly Mar 5 Somewhere along the way, I heard that Paul Verhoeven's movies are satirical commentaries on social topics. Or something similar to it. Therefore, the viewer should never take any of his movies literally. Or seriously. See more Read all reviews
Total Recall

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Cast & Crew

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Paul Verhoeven

Director

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Douglas Quaid

Rachel Ticotin

Melina

Sharon Stone

Lori

Ronny Cox

Vilos Cohaagen

Michael Ironside

Richter

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Total Recall

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Total Recall

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Movie Info

Synopsis Douglas Quaid is a bored construction worker in the year 2084 who dreams of visiting colonized Mars. He visits "Rekall," a company that plants false memories into people's brains, in order to experience the thrill of Mars without having to travel there. But something goes wrong during the procedure; Quaid discovers that his entire life is actually a false memory and that the people who implanted it in his head now want him dead.
Director
Paul Verhoeven
Producer
Buzz Feitshans, Ronald Shusett
Screenwriter
Ronald Shusett, Dan O'Bannon, Philip K. Dick, Jon Povill, Gary Goldman
Distributor
Live Video, Image Entertainment Inc., Artisan Entertainment, TriStar Pictures
Production Co
TriStar Pictures, Carolco Pictures Inc.
Rating
R
Genre
Sci-Fi, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 1, 1990, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Oct 10, 2020
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$117.8M
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby SR, Stereo
Aspect Ratio
35mm