The Action Sci-Fi Remake That Arnold Schwarzenegger Called “Stupid” Is Streaming Free

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As a total movie buff, I can’t believe this is happening! A remake of one of my favorite action films – the one even the genre’s biggest star called “stupid” – is now going to be available for free streaming. Look, remakes are just everywhere in Hollywood these days. Some are actually pretty good and try to offer a fresh take, but others? They’re just…forgettable. You blink, and you miss them.

The 2012 film Total Recall is based on Philip K. Dick’s 1966 short story, “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.” This remake replaces action star Arnold Schwarzenegger with Colin Farrell, telling the story of a man who discovers he’s more significant than he thought. Len Wiseman, known for directing Underworld and Ballerina, directed this version, taking over from Paul Verhoeven, who directed the 1990 original. The two films are quite different; the 1990 version has an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while the 2012 remake received a “rotten” score of 30%.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted that the 2012 remake of Total Recall wasn’t a success, and felt it strayed too far from the original, including the iconic Mars setting. You can judge for yourself when the movie becomes available on December 1st, and see if you share his opinion. Read the official plot summary below to learn more.

Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), a factory worker feeling stuck in his routine, goes to Rekall, a company that implants realistic, false memories. He hopes to experience the thrill of being a secret agent, but the procedure malfunctions. Suddenly, Quaid finds himself on the run and joins forces with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to locate the leader of an underground movement and confront the powerful figure (Bryan Cranston) who controls everything.

“That Is Stupid to Do!”


Columbia Pictures

We’re seeing a trend of classic action movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger getting remade, and director Edgar Wright’s new take on The Running Man is the latest example. Schwarzenegger himself attended a screening of the film – which features Glen Powell (known from Top Gun: Maverick) in his iconic role – and praised Wright’s version. However, he wasn’t impressed with the remake of Total Recall.

We made The Running Man back in 1987. That was a great era for action films – the eighties and early nineties were full of them. I didn’t understand why they decided to remake Total Recall. I really thought it was a mistake.

Colin Farrell has achieved significant success since 2012. He received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin in 2023, and recently earned Emmy nominations for playing the lead role in The Penguin, a series based on The Batman. He’s also expanding into action films again, set to star in Ordained, a new movie based on a comic book and created by the writer of John Wick.

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2025-11-27 23:03