Basic Instinct
1992 · Movie · R · 128 min · ★ 6.9 · 50% critics
A novelist becomes a prime suspect after her boyfriend is brutally murdered, even though the crime echoes details from her latest story. As suspicion closes in, a hard-bitten investigator is pulled into a tense investigation tangled with desire and danger.
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Details
- Years
- 1992
- Release date
- 1992-03-20
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 128 min
- Critic score
- 50/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 (4,385 votes)
- Box office
- $352,900,000
- Budget
- $49,000,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy Basic Instinct if you like erotic noir mysteries with escalating tension and memorable performances; Not for you if you want a clean, modern-toned thriller, strong plotting throughout, or reduced focus on explicit sex—try Secret Window or Cruising instead.
Pros: high suspense; standout performances; erotic thriller energy | Cons: overlong story; nudity divisive; dated and uneven
Themes
- dying and death
- california
- jealousy
- sexual obsession
- police
- san francisco, california
- sadism
- psychopath
- detective
- eroticism
- bisexuality
- suspicion of murder
- +12 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1993 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Original Score · 1993 · nominated
Cast & crew
Michael Douglas
as Detective Nick Curran
Sharon Stone
as Catherine Tramell
George Dzundza
as Gus
Jeanne Tripplehorn
as Dr. Beth Garner
Denis Arndt
as Lieutenant Walker
Leilani Sarelle
as Roxy
Bruce A. Young
as Andrews
Chelcie Ross
as Captain Talcott
Dorothy Malone
as Hazel Dobkins
Wayne Knight
as John Correli
Directed by Paul Verhoeven