True Lies

Play trailer

True Lies

R

1994

2h 21m

Action

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

57 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

Schwarzenegger's comic confidence and good-guy tenacity are a perfect balance, while Curtis wins our sympathy as his repressed wife, showing some deadpan drollery of her own.

Jul 16, 2019

Full Review

Caroline Westbrook

Empire Magazine

Proves that throwing everything at the camera sometimes works a treat.

Rated: 4/5

May 24, 2011

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

If the Gulf War gave you an insatiable taste for burning oil and burning Arabs, this extravaganza will tide you over for at least a couple of days.

Dec 11, 2009

Full Review

Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

True Lies is in a genre of it’s own: Action Romantic Comedy. The most impressive part of this movie, which there are many, is the balancing act of those genres and tones throughout.

Rated: 10/10

Sep 23, 2025

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

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

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 22, 2024

Full Review

Preston Barta

Fresh Fiction

'True Lies' is a James Bond fantasy mixed with a genuine love story. It’s a seamless marriage between laugh-out-loud comedy and cartoonish violence.

Jan 16, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Leaburn O

The best Annie action film ever, with some truly iconic action scenes. Even peak Arnie is ruined by his preposterously bad acting and stiff third rate action man lack of athleticism. It’s a fun watch, nothing more. Watched it on DVD.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/11/25

Full Review

JJ W

A must see action movie if you like Arnolds work.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/05/25

Full Review

Jason H

Highly entertaining action/comedy. Jamie Lee Curtis is at the top of her game.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/02/25

Full Review

Shaun R

Good fun and top action. Not too serious and often quite funny.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/23/25

Full Review

Inn Win N

A great fun movie, with comedy and action. Didnt mind the acting from arnold, it just shows his effort to expand, and it work.. He got a knack for comedy. This Tyler G must be a gen z prick to be picking on a movie that was 20 years ago on acting and chemistry, hoping for Shakespeare.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/25

Full Review

Tyler G

A preposterous movie in which not a single character acts as you would expect a human to act. The dialogue is at times bizarre. Arnold shows weaknesses in his acting game when asked to swing between romance, slapstick, and macho action star. The chemistry between Arnold and Curtis isn't there. It holds attention and is fun in a popcorn action movie kind of way, but it isn't good.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/18/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

James Cameron

Director

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Harry Tasker

Jamie Lee Curtis

Helen Tasker

Tom Arnold

Albert Gibson

Bill Paxton

Simon

Tia Carrere

Juno Skinner

Beverly Hills Cop III

11%

35%

Beverly Hills Cop III

Watchlist

A Low Down Dirty Shame

4%

70%

A Low Down Dirty Shame

Watchlist

Bad Boys

46%

78%

Bad Boys

Watchlist

Another 48 Hrs.

19%

35%

Another 48 Hrs.

Watchlist

Air America

12%

35%

Air America

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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
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

Most Popular at Home Now