Basic Instinct
Seen it?1992 | 128 min | Thriller, Mystery
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
People are still talking about it and it drew serious awards attention, though it had middling reviews (57% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 2 hr 8 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect violence and sex.
Catherine, a novelist with an insatiable sexual appetite, becomes a prime suspect when her boyfriend is brutally murdered -- a crime she had described in her latest story.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
57% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Nominated for 2 Oscars, 2 Golden Globes and 1 Cannes award.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$353 million worldwide on a $49 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 685K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
- Michael DouglasDetective Nick Curran
- Sharon StoneCatherine Tramell
- George DzundzaGus
- Jeanne TripplehornDr. Beth Garner
- Denis ArndtLieutenant Walker
- Leilani SarelleRoxy
- Bruce A. YoungAndrews
- Chelcie RossCaptain Talcott
- Dorothy MaloneHazel Dobkins
- Wayne KnightJohn Correli