True Lies

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True Lies

R

Released Jul 15, 1994

2h 21m

Action

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

58 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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Craig W.

Great action movie with some good comic relief by Tom Arnold

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

Full Review

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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

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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
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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