True Lies

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True Lies

R

1994

2h 21m

Action

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

135 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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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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Michael H. Price

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

Dec 10, 2025

2/5

As an action film, True Lies is scarcely more than a retread of Commando.

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Anthony Lane

The New Yorker

Dec 10, 2025

The tale begins and ends in a flurry of joke violence; Cameron has decided to spoof what he used to take seriously, and the result, though bright and deafening, feels oddly slack—he loosens the screws, and our interest drops away.

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Geoff Brown

The Times (UK)

Dec 10, 2025

This is undoubtedly the popcorn muncher of the season.

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Matt Soergel

Florida Times-Union

Apr 8, 2026

4/5

Schwarzenegger handles this comedy with a deft touch, but he can still knock heads and glare his trademark glare, which is played for laughs here.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 12, 2025

2.5/4

Even without a sociopolitical analysis, this bloated film isn’t as fleet-footed or perpetually exciting as the material warrants.

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IGN Staff

IGN

Dec 10, 2025

8/10

Let's face it, James Cameron knows how to make a mean action movie. Sure, it's not the deepest movie you're likely to ever see, but boy is it a fun ride.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 6, 2026

True Lies = a *4* star movie

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Rick J

@Rickenball Jul 27, 2026

Fun and entertaining

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Mark M.

@Groundhog Jul 27, 2026

Great combination of action and comedy.

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nick S

@Nick_S Jul 20, 2026

It's pretty cheesy and full of corny gags. As with all these teen flicks, the bad guys can't hit the side of a barn and drop like flies. The character arcs are predictable and safe. But you have to take your hat off to the high production value. The stunts and effects were first rate. The action was relentless.

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Laura M

@Lauraxplaura Jun 27, 2026

It’s a fun ride. Tom Arnold very funny.

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Mitchell S

@Mitchstur May 23, 2026

The action sequences were dazzling and it had me laughing my head off. One of the few times action and comedy go together.

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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: 20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Comedy, Mystery & Thriller
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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