Dreamscape

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Dreamscape

PG-13

1984

1h 35m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

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32 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Selfish teen Alex Gardner (Dennis Quaid) is coerced into joining a government project in which psychics like him are trained to enter others' dreams. He starts learning to use his abilities to do good, but before long, a new official, Bob Blair (Christopher Plummer), seizes control of the project. A writer (George Wendt) helps Alex uncover Blair's true motives, which involve assassination via dreams. Soon, only Alex and a beautiful scientist (Kate Capshaw) stand in the way of something terrible.

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Critics Consensus

Dreamscape mixes several genres -- horror, sci-fi, action -- and always maintains a sense of adventure and humor.

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Variety

Film [from a screen story by David Loughery] centers on 'dreamlinking', the psychic projection of one person's consciousness into a sleeping person's subconscious, or his dreams. If that sounds far-fetched, it is.

May 30, 2007

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Time Out

This is as good a piece of solid, down-the-line schlock as anything to come along since Halloween III.

Jan 26, 2006

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Most movies that try to crowd so much into an hour and a half end up looking like a shopping list, but Dreamscape works, maybe because it has a sense of humor.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A typically exuberant fantasy flick from the ’80s.

Rated: 3/4

May 8, 2023

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Alan Jones

Starburst

An engaging if workmanlike paranoia fantasy.

Aug 2, 2022

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...too violent for kids, and too silly for adults...

Rated: 3/5

Sep 23, 2021

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D P

I think I became aware of this movie because of Inception, and someone may have mentioned that this was a predecessor. I definitely see that being the case. However, this did not stand the test of time. Very cool concept, though.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

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Gray R

Fascinating and riveting. This one would be great done in a modern remake even though the special effects were dynamite.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/31/25

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Audience Member

I would never would want to be a psychic and want to go into dreams from people I work with. Haven't seen this since the 90s. Got to love the 80s Synthesizer score. Tubi has this listed as a horror movie but it's more of a suspense thriller with a little horror I guess. I do love me some Max Con Sydow. Definitely pushing the PG-13 rating. Kinda cool practical effects on certain scenes . Interesting concept of Dennis Quaid being psychic and going into people nightmares to help them sleep. It's a 5.3/10 just ok movie. Definitely the poster is so misleading this isn't a knock off Indiana Jones movie at all.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/04/24

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Ari V

Extra marks for some rather bold statements made here. Despite the somewhat schlocky exterior. An 'if you know, you know' type of thing. If you don't, this probably won't mean much to you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/25/24

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Steve D

Nightmare on Elm Street as an action film. Not as good but fun.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/24/23

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Jason D

How do audiences give this a rotten score? So innovative for its time. Dreamscape walked so Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Inception could run!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/31/23

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Joseph Ruben

Director

Dennis Quaid

Alex Gardner

Kate Capshaw

Jane DeVries

Max von Sydow

Doctor Paul Novotny

Christopher Plummer

Bob Blair

Eddie Albert

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Synopsis

Selfish teen Alex Gardner (Dennis Quaid) is coerced into joining a government project in which psychics like him are trained to enter others' dreams. He starts learning to use his abilities to do good, but before long, a new official, Bob Blair (Christopher Plummer), seizes control of the project. A writer (George Wendt) helps Alex uncover Blair's true motives, which involve assassination via dreams. Soon, only Alex and a beautiful scientist (Kate Capshaw) stand in the way of something terrible.

Director: Joseph Ruben
Producer: Bruce Cohn Curtis
Screenwriter: Joseph Ruben, David Loughery
Production Co: Bella Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround

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