Arnold Schwarzenegger Slams Total Recall Remake as Pointless
Arnold Schwarzenegger has openly criticised the 2012 Total Recall remake, questioning Hollywood’s obsession with reworking classic films and calling the new version a needless downgrade.
Few figures in the world of action cinema have left as indelible a mark as Arnold Schwarzenegger. Having shifted his focus from the silver screen to the political arena, he tends to look back on his acting heyday with a sense of pride. Yet, not every decision made by the film industry during or after his reign has met with his approval, and some have even drawn his ire.
Schwarzenegger, alongside Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis, formed a trio that redefined the action genre in the 1980s. Their collective influence shaped the direction of high-octane, visually striking productions, inspiring a wave of imitators. While comparisons between their careers are inevitable, Schwarzenegger’s unique charisma set him apart from his contemporaries.
Challenging the Action Star Stereotype
Despite a reputation for starring in broad-appeal blockbusters, Schwarzenegger has not shied away from collaborating with visionary directors or taking on roles that subvert expectations. While his association with The Terminator franchise is perhaps most enduring, his performance in Total Recall, directed by Paul Verhoeven, stands as a testament to his range. The film, a cerebral science fiction thriller, allowed him to play a construction worker whose reality is thrown into question, blending satire and body horror in a way that was ahead of its time.
Verhoeven’s approach brought a distinctive edge to the project, and Total Recall quickly became a cult favourite. However, as with many early ‘90s classics, the temptation to revisit and reimagine proved too strong for Hollywood to resist. In 2012, Len Wiseman helmed a new version, casting Colin Farrell in the role Schwarzenegger had made famous.
Schwarzenegger’s Unfiltered Opinion
Schwarzenegger has never been particularly fond of remakes, but the reworking of Total Recall struck a particular nerve.
“This was the decade where most of the greatest action movies were made, the ’80s into the ’90s, and now of course a lot of companies come and remake them,”
he remarked.
“In most cases, I’m not happy about that, because they’re perfect movies. Why would you redo Total Recall? I was unhappy about it. That is stupid to do.”
His criticism was echoed by many critics and viewers, who found the 2012 version lacking in imagination and energy. Despite a respectable box office return of $212 million, the film’s hefty $125 million budget left little room for celebration. The remake, while not the worst offender among reboots of action staples, failed to capture the eccentricity and boldness of the original. Notably, the new adaptation omitted the Mars storyline and was constrained by a PG-13 rating, limiting the visceral impact that defined Verhoeven’s vision.
Room for Exceptions
Though his comments on Total Recall were particularly scathing, Schwarzenegger has shown that he is not entirely opposed to remakes. More recently, he expressed approval for a new adaptation of a Stephen King novella in which he had previously starred. The 2025 version, directed by Edgar Wright and featuring Glen Powell, managed to win him over, suggesting that, in rare cases, a fresh take can indeed do justice to the original.