Demolition Man (1993) User Reviews

Explosive action and scathing satire.

[BA_Harrison · 8/10 · 24 December 2020]

When 20th century violent criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) breaks out of cryogenic prison in the year 2032 and wreaks havoc in a seemingly peaceful utopian society, wrongfully convicted cop John Spartan (AKA The Demolition Man) is thawed out to bring the maniac to justice.

I don't think I've seen Demolition Man since it came out in 1993; watching it today, I was amazed at how accurate some of its predictions of the future were (in essence, at least): in the film, digital transactions have replaced real money, there's a guy holding what could be considered a digital tablet (albeit a tad chunkier than an iPad), there are self-driving cars, non-contact social greetings (a must during these pandemic days), a board room where a virtual meeting takes place (although Zoom it ain't), and it's not hard to imagine how our current overly-PC/snowflake/cancel culture might eventually go so far as to make swearing illegal. Okay, we still wipe our butts with paper and have sex the old-fashioned way, and I don't see that changing in the next twelve years, but you can't get everything right.

Not only is Demolition Man's vision of 2032 eerily prophetic in many ways, but the film also features a witty script bristling with social satire, star Stallone in one of his best performances of the dumb '90s action flick era (happily mocking his tough guy persona), Wesley Snipes having a blast as the eccentric villain of the piece, and Sandra Bullock being super cute and looking mighty fine in skin-tight leggings (and I'm not even that much of a Bullock fan). Director Marco Brambilla balances the humour and the action superbly, opening and closing with guns a-blazing and huge explosions, but ensures that there is never a dull moment even when Stallone and Snipes aren't busting skulls and shooting up the place.

Hell, this film even features early roles for Rob Schneider and Jack Black that didn't irritate me - miracles do happen!

Not as bad as people say!

[redkiwi · 8/10 · 9 February 2002]

This is one of those films that it is popular to think is rubbish. I'm not quite sure why. Don't take it seriously and it's a fun ride.

Wesley Snipes and Sly Stallone play off each other well as the forces of bad and good -- old foes that have come out of chryo-generic storage hundreds of years into the future.

Sandra Bullock as the nostalgia [for Stallone's time, naturally] struck cop isn't even rubbish and annoying -- a first time for everything!

Watch out for a fun performance by Nigel Hawthorne also.

Weird, It's A Satirical Action Movie

[mjw2305 · 7/10 · 30 December 2006]

Sgt. John Spartan (Stallone) is a tough cop for a tough age and Simon Pheonix (Snipes) is a nasty and violent criminal. When Stallone finally catches his man, he is found guilty of killing a group of innocent civilians at the same time; and they are both given sentences in the new cryo-prison. When Simon Pheonix escapes into a new world in the year 2032, the police have no way of dealing with such a vicious arch-criminal so they re-animate John Sparton, and so it begins.

I simply love the way the future is portrayed in this film, it is a wonderfully satirical crime free environment where the humans have become ultra-placid geeks under the new regime. Sandra Bullock and Nigel Hawthorne are the two main police-persons that we see and they are brilliantly funny in their performances.

Demolition man is as funny as it is action packed and although it's pretty shallow, it is still great fun to watch.

7/10

It has never been so current

[skidwasted-145-490998 · 14 March 2020]

UK's Home Office declares that calling someone ugly is a hate crime. Now we're just awaiting the fine machines.

Ahead of it's time.

[brentn · 7/10 · 26 September 2021]

This film's depiction of what society may become always struck a chord with me. The extreme side of PC culture is something growing at this very moment and it was amazing to see this idea conveyed so well for the time of it's release in 1993. The casting was perfect, Snipes was a great villain and to me Sandra Bullock stole the show with her jovial demeanor and comic relief as Stallone's partner. The advanced tech seemed very realistic for the time and the story itself was very original. The action scenes and stunt work were very big budget with nothing held back. Hand to hand, gunfights, car chases, explosions and one liners, this movie has it all so I was surprised by the sort of low rating the critics gave it. Definitely a solid 7.5/10.

FUTURISTIC HIGH COMEDY!

[Agent10 · 7/10 · 20 May 2002]

Sylvester Stallone was really beside himself when he took this film. Instead of trying to be the tough guy, he sort of made fun of his pre-existing persona in his role as John Spartan. Funny, and satirical of a gun-free society, it just proves that peace doesn't necessarily result in the most diverse range of self expression. The humor in the film was exceptional, and Wesley Snipes was great as Simon Phoenix. This also proved to be my favorite film with Sandra Bullock, who subsequently destroyed her career thereafter. This movie will always be good for a laugh, especially for the characters singing all of the commercial jingles.

Goofy fun

[bat-5 · 6/10 · 27 November 1999]

Demolition Man is just good, goofy fun. You plop yourself down when nothing else is on and watch Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes blow up everything around them. Snipes plays Simon Phoenix over the top and that's exactly where he's supposed to be. Stallone has some good lines in this film, and he's actually a funny guy when he plays things straight. Of course, no action film would be complete without the prerequisite snappy one liners, outlandish action and bullets flying everywhere. A silly, but fun film to watch.

A Cult classic, one of the best Sci-Fi action flicks of Stallone!

[ivo-cobra8 · 10/10 · 4 November 2015]

Demolition Man (1993) is one of the best epic classic science fiction/action film of all time! AN ALL TIME CLASSIC, has it all, explosions, practical effects, one liners, 80s songfests, soundtracks. It is one of my personal favorite movies. I love this film to death it is Stallone-Snipes futuristic science fiction action flick of the 90's. They don't make like this anymore.

Demolition Man is my favorite best Stallone Sci-fi, action movie, very awesome alongside with Rambo films. Demolition Man is one of the funniest, most action-packed and most poignant social satires of at least the last 22 years. It's not necessarily the easiest film to appreciate, as it makes its points through extremely over-the-top "mindless" action and tongue-in-cheek, purposefully cheesy plot and dialogue, but it's well worth trying to acclimate oneself to the style if you're not an action or sci-fi fan, as the satire cuts deep. There are other films with somewhat similar aims, such as Total Recall (1990) and Starship Troopers (1997), which are perhaps just as good as Demolition Man, but they certainly can't top it, and they have aims other than the purely satirical. As a social commentary, it's extraordinarily on-target. I mean, come on, this is the movie where the joke was made that Schwarzenegger would be president and Taco Bell would win the franchise wars, and what do you know? Now people want the constitution amended so Arnold can run for president and Taco Bell is winning the franchise wars (they merged with Pizza Hut and KFC). One of Stallone's best Sci-fi action packed films. This film is phenomenal!

Send a maniac to catch a maniac!!!!!!!!

Sylvester Stallone is a legendary bad-ass cop John Spartan Demolition Man he plays by his own rules and he does what he does best to catch the bad guys. He will blow things up to get the job done and he does in this movie. Demolition Man defies my childhood and I love this movie to death!

The cast, the script, the story itself all of these elements come together to make this one of the best action movies of the 90s. This movie does have a few surprises and it is not above making fun of itself or the action movie genre (Denis Leary is a wonderful touch!). It is a perfect addition to an action movie night or collection. The movie has humor, a little comedy and pure action that the gunplay is delivered in perfect Stallone-Snipes style - you'll see lots of heavy automatic and explosive weapons, and you'll see them used well. Stallone uses hand guns including a Remington shotgun. The film is absolutely filled with great, classic moments (I counted TEN all-star ones during my last viewing), and they're evenly spaced through the movie. The martial arts are excellent, so are the cryoprision scenes. Terrific special effects and art direction. Marco Brambilla did a great direction debut of directing of one of my all time classic sci-fi action movies!

This is an action film that actually has a brain in its head and has something to say. The vision of future world here is undeniably original and memorable. What is more admirable is that many of things seen here are happening in REAL world. Demolition Man shows what would happen if the politics will went to far with it.

Anyway I love this film, I grew up with Demolition Man, beside Cliffhanger is my second best favorite action Stallone movie!!! The rating I am giving is a 10, because the film isn't a 6, but it is a perfect 10. It is a film that is an underrated cult classic movie that I will always enjoy and cherish it to death!!!

Demolition Man is a 1993 American science fiction action film directed by Marco Brambilla in his directorial debut. The film stars Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. The film was released in the United States on October 8, 1993.

Demolition Man is a 1993 science-fiction action film starring Sylvester Stallone as John Spartan, a Los Angeles cop with a reputation for destruction who in the then future year of 1996 is found guilty of a crime he didn't commit and is subsequently sentenced to be frozen in a cryogenic prison along with his nemesis Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes). Spartan is then revived in the year 2032 and finds himself in the city of San Angeles when Phoenix escapes. Spartan is then asked by the San Angeles police force to use his old school tactics to take down his archenemy.

The film's cast also includes Sandra Bullock, Benjamin Bratt, and Denis Leary. The film is notable for featuring one of the first and only appearances of the Heckler & Koch G11, an experimental rifle at the time that was portrayed as futuristic magnetic pulse rifle. 10/10 Grade: Bad Ass Seal Of Approval

Should Have Played It Straight

[zkonedog · 6/10 · 10 March 2017]

"Somebody put me back in the fridge". When John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) utters that line about half way through this film, it really symbolizes (unfortunately) the kind of tone "Demolition Man" takes.

For a brief plot synopsis, "Demolition Man" begins in Los Angeles circa 1996, where policeman John Spartan is trying to corral wacko criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes). Long story short, they both end up incarcerated and flash-frozen in hopes of psychological parole 40 years into the future. When that time comes, Phoenix escapes and begins to wreak havoc on a benevolent civilization that is now not capable of handling such violence. Thus, Spartan is taken "out of the fridge" to try and stop Phoenix by all means necessary.

Now, here is the problem with this film: Imagine the plot of a great science fiction tale (like, say, Minority Report) done in a tone like the 1960s Batman television show...pure "camp". At its core, this movie isn't all that bad at all, featuring a very intriguing plot, interesting characters, plenty of action, and some legitimately funny comedy. Unfortunately, the entire film was played for purely "camp", thus leading to groan-inducing one-liners, characters that start off interesting and quickly turn one-dimensional, and a plot that kind of meanders around without ever really delving into the interesting issues (what cryostasis is like, how the future became what it is like, morality, etc.).

Don't get me wrong...this is a fun little movie to watch. But, once again, to use the Batman analogy, who is considered the "real" Joker: the puffed-out Caesar Romero of TV fame, or the dark, gritty Heath Ledger of Christopher Nolan's silver screen adaptation? I thought so. Had "Demolition Man" taken itself a bit more seriously, it could have risen that critical notch from novelty "eh" to "hey, that was a good film".

Stallone-fun

[rbverhoef · 5/10 · 30 July 2003]

'Demolition Man' is a lot of fun to watch. A lot of things in the movie don't make any sense but those things create opportunities for some nice action and some funny moments. I am not sure if all the laughs in the movie were meant to be funny, but if you laugh, what does it actually matter.

In the future in the city San Angeles (the area from San Diego to Los Angeles) after the earthquake people live in a perfect world. For a long time no murder has committed. Then Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes)escapes. Over 40 years ago he was a criminal arrested by John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone). Spartan killed a lot of people during Phoenix' arrest, so he was punished as well. They both were frozen, possible in 1996 in a cryo-prison. Now Phoenix has escaped (how he does this is a secret that will be revealed later in the movie) the police can't handle him because they are not used to his violent behavior. The only thing they can come up with is Spartan. With the help of Lt. Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) he must catch Phoenix and learn to know the new world.

The story above sounds ridiculous which it sometimes is. But you can understand there must be a lot of funny moments. Almost everything Spartan used to do is illegal now and he just can't get used to it. Snipes is a great villain, Stallone is nice as long as he is in this kind of movie and Bullock has some fine lines. I enjoyed it very much.

an action classic!!

[supertom-3 · 9/10 · 25 March 2002]

This movie features Sly Stallone at his muscle bound, destructive best. Around the same time he did the excellent Cliffhanger he also did this nifty action flick. What you get with Demolition man is an entertaining and satirical look at the future of Los Angeles where people walk about in robes and are a peace loving society. Anything remotely bad for you, including spicy foods, is illegal and the whole new system is run by Raymond Cochtoe played by the late Nigal Hawthorne. The opening action scene is set in the present day and is a rip roaring sequence with Stallone polishing off bad guys with stylish flair, before he has a face off with the show stealer Wesley Snipes. Snipes plays the baddest of bad guys Simon Phoenix and does so excellently. The films pacing is good and in particular there are three big action sequences that shine, these are the opening and the end as well as a very good action scene set in a museum. The comedy factor is high in this film and the film certainly has tongue fastened firmly in cheek. The two leads are very good and in particular Snipes revels in his nasty role. Sandra Bullock is good as the gratuitous attractive lady you get in practically all action films. All in all this is a great way to spend 90 or so minutes and is certainly how I would like to remember Sly Stallone, in his action prime. 9/10

Good old fashioned fun and action...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 10 August 2022]

This 1993 action sci-fi thriller from writers Peter M. Lenkov, Robert Reneau and Daniel Waters is actually a movie that proves somewhat timeless.

The storyline in "Demolition Man" is enjoyable and entertaining, especially because it is a good combination of storytelling and action sequences. And while this isn't exactly Shakespearian storytelling, there is just something great about this action-packed story.

Sure, the time frame of the storyline is askew, but the plot was and still is a very enjoyable one, and one that makes for good old fashioned hard-punching action entertainment that spews one-liners left and right. And the way that the future is presented as a non-violent place of harmony where you get fined for foul language and all things that are bad for you are prohibited, now that is just a stroke of satirical genius. I loved that aspect of the movie.

Director Marco Brambilla managed to put the script and storyline to the screen in a very enjoyable and entertaining manner, and that is why "Demolition Man" is a movie that you can watch again and again with some time passing in between each viewing.

The movie has a great cast ensemble with some pretty impressive names on the cast list actually. The movie is well-helmed by Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. And the movie also have the likes of Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne, Benjamin Bratt, Glenn Shadix, Denis Leary and others on the cast list.

"Demolition Man" is definitely one of the more outstanding movies starring Sylvester Stallone, if you don't count in the "Rambo" and "Rocky" franchises.

My rating of "Demolition Man" lands on a six out of ten stars.

two demolition men and one cute woman

[smartgggg · 5/10 · 16 May 2003]

Well, what can I say about this film. Not that much, really. It's one of those movies of which you say afterwards: "Haven't I seen this before?" I doesn't contain any original ideas or an interesting plot. It doesn't feature any intriguing acting. But it does contain a cute Sandra Bullock. She looks HOT in those future, tight, black police uniform pants. And she plays the typical role of a woman who is actually still that insecure little girl, which only adds to her attractiveness in this movie.

Rating from the Dutch judge: 5 (out of 10).

Perfect blend of action and comedy.

[mkmatt1138 · 7/10 · 6 March 2009]

Demolition Man is a movie that I love, but some others seem to have mixed feelings about. The main complaint I've seen is that people ask whether this is comedy or action. It is both. I think it is the perfect blend of action and comedy. You get great action, funny one-liners, more action, and more jokes. The comedy doesn't outweigh the action, and to me that is good. Its not impossible to have 2 genres in a movie. The Tremors series was horror/comedy. This is a good Action/Comedy. I love the action in this movie, it is top notch. Wesley Snipes was on top of things. He sold this movie for me and played the role of Simon Phoenix to perfection. Stallone is of course great as the good action hero. No complaints about any performance. The music is good as well. My only complaint is that it the movie is a touch long, but when I watch it I don't notice it.

10/10, it does its job perfectly and keeps me entertained every time I watch it.

The Stallone movie ever

[davidfancella · 10/10 · 27 June 2005]

I thought it was one of the greatest movies of all time. As a social commentary, it's extraordinarily on-target. I mean, come on, this is the movie where the joke was made that Schwarzenegger would be president and Taco Bell would win the franchise wars, and what do you know? Now people want the constitution amended so Arnold can run for president and Taco Bell is winning the franchise wars (they merged with Pizza Hut and KFC).

The story parallels Brave New World and there are numerous references to it. It's the best "Big Brother" film to ever be made. It's got great laughs, great action, and just great stuff. The basic plot is pretty mediocre when you get right down to it, but when you factor in all the detail and the very well-thought script, it's a must-see movie. It's like the anti-movie, it's great, but nobody likes it, apparently.

It's 2020 and this movie still gives me those joy joy feelings

[KOOLAIDBRO · 10/10 · 22 May 2020]

I saw this movie when I was a wee lad and me and my friends still quote it and make references to it. Like the 3 sea shells, 187 murder death kill, Simon says bleed! We're police officers. Were not trained to handle this kind of violence. There's so many greats that I could go all day. Stallone is good in this, but Wesley Snipes is unforgettable. One of the best villains ever. Let's not forget a young Sandra Bullock. This movie was awesome back in the day. Guess what? It's still awesome in this day.

Charming tongue in cheek parody of action movies, with still lots of butch tough guys and blistering action to be a rock solid nineties ACTION flick!

[imseeg · 7/10 · 29 February 2020]

Great parody of action movies, in which there are still enough tough guys and blistering action scenes to enjoy it as a regular action flick.

The good: blistering, cool tough guys Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. There is more good: terrific jokes with lots of tongue in cheek references to all sorts of nineties icons and "traditions". Sandra Bullock's performance is another lovely and comical positive contribution. And to top it all of, this is one heck of a terrific action rampage, best suited for those who like simple, diehard, straightforward action flicks.

Any bad? It's kinda silly. If one doesnt like that silliness at the beginning, then this is not the right action movie for you. I loved the silliness though, because I truly believe that any real good action movie (Die Hard, The Terminator) thrives with excellent jokes!

The story? One good cop (Stallone) fighting a bad guy (Snipes), somewhere in the future.

The writer could be considered a prophet

[nph19 · 10/10 · 18 September 2021]

Saw this movie with my dad in the theater in 1993 at the age of 12. Loved it then and love it now. This movie predicted the future. Scared wimps afraid of being offended living under fascism. Takes place in 2032 and I already see similarities in 2021. Amazing. Stallone and Snipes work amazing together. Snipes is delightfully funny and Stallone is, well, Stallone. Denis Leary was great and stole the show with his wonderful speech about freedom. Definitely deserves a higher rating. Do not pass this one up.

Fun campy take

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 8 February 2014]

It starts in the near future of an apocalyptic 1996 Los Angeles. John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) aka Demolition Man takes on master criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) when he kidnaps a bus full of people. Simon frames John for the death of those people and John gets 70 years in the cryo-penitentiary. It's 2032 and the world is an idyllic utopia where there is hardly any crime. Simon Phoenix gets a parole hearing where he escapes from prison. He's been programmed to kill social agitant Edgar Friendly (Denis Leary). The police are ill prepare to take on a real criminal. Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) is a police woman who pines for a little action. However Simon is more than even her to handle. So they unthawe John Spartan to take on Simon.

This is great fun camp. The central joke works very well. Take it all with a grain of joy. The world is one silly PC idiocy after another. It's the perfect place for Sly to chafe at. Wesley Snipes makes for a fun villain. Sandra Bullock is also a load of fun. It's also a great excuse for everybody to blast away.

She Sells Three Sea Shells for Sylvester Stallone

[wes-connors · 5/10 · 24 August 2011]

In 1996 Los Angeles, weight lifting policeman Sylvester Stallone (as John Spartan) fights with bleached blond gangsta Wesley Snipes (as Simon Phoenix). After an explosive battle, both are committed to California's "Cyro-Penitentiary", where criminals are frozen in cryogenic blocks of ice. Apparently, immortality is no longer in vogue, and the practice of freezing people has become low-cost. Known as the "Demolition Man" for his violent tendencies, Mr. Stallone receives a 70 year punishment for collateral damage, though he seems innocently unaware of the number of lives lost. While frozen, Stallone will learn to be a seamstress...

In 2032 San Angeles (combining San Diego and Los Angeles), Mr. Snipes escapes while he is temporarily unfrozen for a parole hearing. Naturally, Snipes starts killing people. Because the society has become Utopian, officials are unable to respond to Snipes' aggression. So, Stallone is brought back to life and pardoned, since he is familiar with Snipes and knows how to get tough on crime. Stallone meets peachy Sandra Bullock (as Lenina Huxley), but learns nothing about his mentioned daughter. The future overlord is sedate doctor Nigel Hawthorne (as Raymond Cocteau) with Denis Leary (as Edgar Friendly) running the resistance...

***** Demolition Man (10/7/93) Marco Brambilla ~ Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock, Nigel Hawthorne

Awesome movie

[Adriane · 15 May 2000]

I first saw this movie in the theater when it came out in 93 and loved it. The cool futuristic toys and Stallone and Sandra Bullock make a great on-screen couple. Snipes delivers as the bad guy, and Stallone is the cop who is frozen but thawed out 36 years later to stop him once again. Plenty of one-liners and action.

Some great tongue-in-cheek in this futuristic Stallone action adventure

[robertemerald · 7/10 · 23 November 2019]

Demolition Man has to be congratulated for its fairly accurate vision of the future. Driverless cars, video conferencing, laser cutting, voice activated commands, microchip GPS, and CCTV surveillance are all there. Less successful are the other changes envisaged, nearly all a result of cryogenics, in particular a crime-less society (save for the graffiti - there's a pop up laser for that). It's not like Minority Report (2002) though, as all the cops have become wimps. I have to take my hat off to the script if not the story, which is a typical Stallone hero tale. The script is very fun indeed. Some good writing went into how people from 2032 talk, wonderfully delivered by a charmingly energetic Sandra Bullock. The star though is definitely Wesley Snipes, whom must have been villain of the year for 1993. This movie is not as extravagant as Judge Dredd (1995), but it would be in the same ballpark as Total Recall (1990). There's a few classic lines too, such as Stallone claiming "I can do subtle", which, of course, he can't. Some great actors throughout bring much sparkle to their roles. It's a little long this movie, especially today, but you can't fault the fireworks, the stunts and the action. Demolition Man is still great popcorn entertainment.

Critics Are Too Uptight

[ReelCheese · 7/10 · 4 June 2006]

A sometimes awkward blend of action, sci-fi and humor, DEMOLITION MAN is one of many big-budget, critically-panned Sylvester Stallone efforts. But it's really not that bad; in fact, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how entertaining it all is.

Sly once again plays a tough-as-nails cop, only this time he's frozen for 36 years beginning in the futuristic atmosphere of 1996. (These movies really have to stop picking not-so-far-off dates... how many old sci-fi pictures depicted flying cars and missions to Mars before 1990?). This was our hero's punishment for a crime, but one he naturally did not commit. Instead he was framed by his old nemesis (an effectively hateful Wesley Snipes). He's thawed out to get back on his enemy's trail once more. He must also deal with a real-life Brave New World of pacified cops, tickets for swearing and mysterious plastic seashells that have somehow replaced toilet paper.

DEMOLITION MAN does not take itself seriously, and that's part of the fun. Between the chases and explosions one would expect, the film tries (and to a degree succeeds) to be a social commentary on the dangers of a Utopian society. As Snipes' character so eloquently states, it's wrong to take away people's right to be "a**holes."

Its no longer Science Fiction

[jenssundall · 10/10 · 29 March 2021]

A Society without physical contact, caused by fear of diseases.

Survailiance on everybody.

And punishments for non political correct words and language ..

Welcome to 2021.