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Dead Ringers

Play trailer Poster for Dead Ringers R Released Sep 23, 1988 1h 55m Horror Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Elliot (Jeremy Irons), a successful gynecologist, works at the same practice as his identical twin, Beverly (also Irons). Elliot is attracted to many of his patients and has affairs with them. When he inevitably loses interest, he will give the woman over to Beverly, the meeker of the two, without the woman knowing the difference. Beverly falls hard for one of the patients, Claire (Geneviève Bujold), but when she inadvertently deceives him, he slips into a state of madness.
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Dead Ringers

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Critics Consensus

Dead Ringers serves up a double dose of Jeremy Irons in service of a devilishly unsettling concept and commandingly creepy work from director David Cronenberg.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Director David Cronenberg handles his usual fondness for gore in muted style. Sep 24, 2007 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader People like myself who find the character played by [Genevieve] Bujold (in one of her best performances) more interesting than either of the twins are bound to feel rather frustrated by the end. Sep 24, 2007 Full Review Nigel Floyd Time Out An intense psychological drama which confronts [Cronenberg's] familiar preoccupations -- fear of physical and mental disintegration, mortality, the power struggle between the sexes -- without the paradoxical protection of visceral disgust. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Joshua Mooney Movieline David Cronenberg's study in psychological terror is, surprisingly, near-bloodless, and at once disturbing and fascinating. Sep 16, 2025 Full Review Joe Botten Loud and Clear Reviews A harrowing two-hour spiral into psychosexual decay, medical detachment, and the emotional rot of codependency. Rated: 3/5 Jun 30, 2025 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand [David] Cronenberg created a startling film where the horror lies in the psyche: the conjoined relationship between two brothers, who share everything as if they were two parts of a whole, which pulls them both down in a spiral of madness. Apr 26, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jerod S Never thought there was creepy possibilities with twins until now - but these 2 gynecologists are whack. They share more than patients and end up dying together. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/07/25 Full Review Blu B A Psychological Horror Classic. Really well made all around. Irons is amazing in this and easily the best thing with solid direction. It's a dark exploration of the sibling bond in a way only Cronenberg could do. This suprisingly is very tame on the gore and really only has one scene with any. It's the complete opposite in the sense of something like Videodrome or The Fly. It's a slow burn the entire way the takes its sweet time exploring the ideas and twisted relationship between the two brothers. If there is any complaints it's honestly all minor stuff. IT's kind of difficult to tell the difference at times between the two brothers because the differences are so subtle. Visually also there really isn't many queues either. You really have to pay attention but you can follow it enough. It also can be a bit of a jump how thetwisted love triangle leads to addiction so suddenly. I don't really know how you fix it though because the editing between the doubles and merging of the images of Irons is freakin amazing and so smooth already. It's truly distrubing, fasinating, highly original, and again not a gore fest at all. Anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, the director, horror flicks, or psychological thrillers should check this out. Really never seen anything quite like it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/20/25 Full Review Ava S Dead Ringers starts slow, but once the psychological horrors take hold, it becomes an exciting yet devastating take on individuality, codependence, addiction, and human viscera. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/28/25 Full Review Ari V Not sure the character progression tracks flawlessly, but the performances (particularly Irons') well make up for any major gaps. 4.1/5 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/29/25 Full Review S R I saw it since it was on the NYT 1000 list. It started with promise, but it descended into trash and cliche like most of Cronenberg's work. I understand the movie's merit, but it's just not my cup of tea. Props to Jeremy Irons and Bujold, their acting was good. Saw on Peacock. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/12/25 Full Review Audience Member Ok, watching this in 2025. I also watched it in an actual theatre when it was released. I never cared much for it then/ I liked it even less now. This movie is Weird. I think a younger/gothier me it appealed to just for being kind of gross and strange- but even then I didn't love it. Well, I didn't like it at all now and won't be keeping it in my collection. Reznor said the movie was a big influence so I watched it again after 2+decades. There is always that kind of indescribable grotesque that only Cronenberg can do- and he does it well, but this isn't his best effort. I can see how some people would love this movie/ Tim Burton is the same way- he has a staunch following and a lot of fans but a good sized group that doesn't dig his stuff too. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/11/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Dead Ringers

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Movie Info

Synopsis Elliot (Jeremy Irons), a successful gynecologist, works at the same practice as his identical twin, Beverly (also Irons). Elliot is attracted to many of his patients and has affairs with them. When he inevitably loses interest, he will give the woman over to Beverly, the meeker of the two, without the woman knowing the difference. Beverly falls hard for one of the patients, Claire (Geneviève Bujold), but when she inadvertently deceives him, he slips into a state of madness.
Director
David Cronenberg
Producer
David Cronenberg, Marc Boyman
Screenwriter
Norman Snider, David Cronenberg
Distributor
20th Century Fox, Media Home Entertainment, Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
Morgan Creek Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 23, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.3M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Surround
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