Prime Video’s Surprise Smash: The Penguin Star’s Divisive Total Recall Remake Is Officially Streaming Strong
A science-fiction favorite
Paul Verhoeven directed the 1990 Total Recall, loosely based on a story by Philip K. Dick. The film became one of the best-loved science-fiction movies of its era.
Its unusual scenes helped make it divisive at first, but it later developed a strong cult following. Fans continue to return to the film and quote its memorable moments.
A remake met with criticism
Given the original’s lasting reputation, the decision to remake Total Recall in 2012 seemed unusual. Len Wiseman directed the new version. Critics and audiences responded poorly. One critic argued that the remake failed to take opportunities to improve on the original, a view the article described as close to the general consensus.
Unexpected streaming success
Despite that reception, the 2012 film has found a new audience. Fourteen years after its release, it ranked among the ten most-streamed movies on Prime Video in the U.S., at the time of writing. The ranking makes the remake an unlikely streaming hit, especially given how strongly it was criticized on release.
Key points
- The 2012 Total Recall remake was directed by Len Wiseman.
- Critics and audiences reacted poorly to the remake when it came out.
- At the time of writing, the remake ranked among Prime Video’s ten most-streamed U.S. movies.