True Lies | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

70% Tomatometer 57 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings

Secretly a spy but thought by his family to be a dull salesman, Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is tracking down nuclear missiles in the possession of Islamic jihadist Aziz (Art Malik). Harry's mission is complicated when he realizes his neglected wife, Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), is contemplating an affair with Simon (Bill Paxton), a used-car salesman who claims he's a spy. When Aziz kidnaps Harry and Helen, the secret agent must save the world and patch up his marriage at the same time.

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True Lies

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Critics Consensus

If it doesn't reach the heights of director James Cameron's and star Arnold Schwarzenegger's previous collaborations, True Lies still packs enough action and humor into its sometimes absurd plot to entertain.

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Critics Reviews

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True Lies | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Duane Byrge Hollywood Reporter Schwarzenegger's comic confidence and good-guy tenacity are a perfect balance, while Curtis wins our sympathy as his repressed wife, showing some deadpan drollery of her own. Jul 16, 2019 Full Review True Lies | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Caroline Westbrook Empire Magazine Proves that throwing everything at the camera sometimes works a treat. Rated: 4/5 May 24, 2011 Full Review True Lies | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader If the Gulf War gave you an insatiable taste for burning oil and burning Arabs, this extravaganza will tide you over for at least a couple of days. Dec 11, 2009 Full Review True Lies | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Even without a sociopolitical analysis, this bloated film isn’t as fleet-footed or perpetually exciting as the material warrants. Rated: 2.5/4 Apr 22, 2024 Full Review True Lies | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Preston Barta Fresh Fiction 'True Lies' is a James Bond fantasy mixed with a genuine love story. It’s a seamless marriage between laugh-out-loud comedy and cartoonish violence. Jan 16, 2024 Full Review True Lies | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness Each of these moments and many others continue to generate laughs, as do the stunt work, the set pieces, and the general character work by the performers. In short, if you loved TRUE LIES before, the film ages well enough that one won’t regret a revisit. Dec 20, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Fer S A dumb movie, but you expect it to be dumb. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/05/24 Full Review Juan B Technical Effects and NostalgiaThe technical effects in True Lies are outstanding, especially for its time. The opening scene in the chateau, with the crunching ice and snow, is particularly memorable. The sound design is so immersive that you can almost feel the cold and hear the ice crunching beneath the characters’ feet. This attention to detail brings a sense of nostalgia and realism to the film.Humor and ChemistryThe humorous interactions between Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are a highlight. Their chemistry adds a layer of charm and wit to the movie, making the comedic scenes feel natural and credible. The balance between humor and action is perfectly timed, ensuring that the audience is entertained throughout the film.Pacing and BalanceThe pacing of True Lies is impeccable. The movie never feels slow or drawn out, maintaining a perfect balance between action sequences and humorous moments. This makes it a film that you can watch repeatedly without getting tired of it.James Cameron’s DirectionWhen you first watch True Lies, you might not immediately recognize James Cameron’s signature style. However, upon reflection, it’s clear that his meticulous attention to detail and ability to blend different genres seamlessly are evident. Cameron’s direction turns True Lies into a piece of art, much like his other films.Overall, True Lies is a well-crafted film that combines technical excellence, humor, and action in a way that keeps audiences engaged and entertained. It’s a movie that stands the test of time and remains enjoyable to watch again and again. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/02/24 Full Review Tre B One of the best action movies ever made, though it may not reach the height of some of Cameron’s other work but boy does it sure set out to do what it was meant to do. It has a great score, awesome visuals and effects, cinematography is pretty good here, story is pretty good can be a bit over the top at some points but still a pretty good story, and lets not forget the comedy done in this film where Tom Arnold and Bill Paxton really steal the show here. This film is much better than what people give it hints the reason it’s considered by many as one of the best action films ever made to date 💯💯 Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/18/24 Full Review Audience Member ITS JUST SO MUCH ACTION EVEN WHEN THE PLOT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO FOLLOW Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/15/24 Full Review Joel H True Lies isn’t as satirical as Last Action Hero, which came out the year before, but this tongue-in-cheek action flick still stands firmly on the border of ridiculousness. James Cameron was already pushing the budgetary boundaries, since this was the first movie to cost $100 million, and you can see his fingerprints all over the film. Arnold Schwarzenegger seems to be having a great time in the starring role, as does Jamie Lee Curtis. And I didn’t find Tom Arnold that annoying, which is impressive. The budget and runtime may be a little bloated, but True Lies is a solid movie-viewing experience. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/16/24 Full Review Joseph C The best action movie of the 1990's was Speed but this one might just be the second best with it's campy Mr. and Mrs. Smith plot. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

James Cameron Director Arnold Schwarzenegger Harry Tasker Jamie Lee Curtis Helen Tasker Tom Arnold Albert Gibson Bill Paxton Simon Tia Carrere Juno Skinner
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Synopsis Secretly a spy but thought by his family to be a dull salesman, Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is tracking down nuclear missiles in the possession of Islamic jihadist Aziz (Art Malik). Harry's mission is complicated when he realizes his neglected wife, Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), is contemplating an affair with Simon (Bill Paxton), a used-car salesman who claims he's a spy. When Aziz kidnaps Harry and Helen, the secret agent must save the world and patch up his marriage at the same time.

Director
James Cameron

Producer
Stephanie Austin, James Cameron

Screenwriter
James Cameron

Distributor
Argentina Video Home, 20th Century Fox

Production Co
Lightstorm Entertainment, 20th Century Fox

Rating
R

Genre
Action, Comedy

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 15, 1994, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 7, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA)
$146.3M

Runtime
2h 21m

Sound Mix
Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Digital, DTS, Stereo
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