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      Basic Instinct

      1992, Mystery & thriller, 2h 7m

      77 Reviews 100,000+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      Unevenly echoing the work of Alfred Hitchcock, Basic Instinct contains a star-making performance from Sharon Stone but is ultimately undone by its problematic, overly lurid plot. Read critic reviews

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      Basic Instinct  Photos

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      Movie Info

      The mysterious Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), a beautiful crime novelist, becomes a suspect when she is linked to the brutal death of a rock star. Investigated by homicide detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas), Catherine seduces him into an intense relationship. Meanwhile, the murder case becomes increasingly complicated when more seemingly connected deaths occur and Nick's psychologist and lover, Beth Garner (Jeanne Tripplehorn), appears to be another suspect.

      • Rating: R

      • Genre: Mystery & thriller

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Paul Verhoeven

      • Producer: Alan Marshall

      • Writer: Joe Eszterhas

      • Release Date (Theaters):  original

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Live Entertainment, Live Video, Pioneer Entertainment, Columbia Tristar

      • Production Co: TriStar Pictures, Carolco Pictures Inc.

      • Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

      Cast & Crew

      Michael Douglas
      Sharon Stone
      Jeanne Tripplehorn
      Denis Arndt
      Chelcie Ross
      Dorothy Malone
      Wayne Knight
      Daniel von Bargen
      Bill Cable
      Mario Kassar
      Jan de Bont
      Jerry Goldsmith
      Terence Marsh
      Mark Billerman
      Anne Kuljian
      Ellen Mirojnick

      News & Interviews for Basic Instinct

      Critic Reviews for Basic Instinct

      Audience Reviews for Basic Instinct

      • Dec 05, 2013

        For about the first hour the movie stays engaging simply because of how bonkers it is and Stone's commanding screen presence. After that it gets boring which is surprising given the movie's reputation.

        Super Reviewer
      • Mar 28, 2013

        An erotic thriller full of intrigue, Basic Instinct is a controversial noir film from director Paul Verhoeven. The story follows a police detective that becomes obsessed with a novelist who's suspected of murdering her lover in the same manner as described in her latest book. The casting is pretty strong, and includes Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, and Jeanne Tripplehorn. However, it's Stone's performance that makes the film, and she does an excellent job creating a captivating and mysterious character that's always one step ahead of everyone. Still, the plot's overly complex and weaves an intricate mystery that's a bit too open ended. The gratuitous sex and violence is overdone, but Basic Instinct has compelling characters a mystery that's irresistible.

        Super Reviewer
      • Jan 19, 2013

        Basic Instinct is a sexual psychological thriller with twists and turns until the ending. It was undeniably intense, and explicit. It adds humor in unlikely places. The film revolves around sex, it's paced brilliantly, and you don't know anything about the two suspects true identity until last second. I'm not going to spoil it but I think the way the concluding scene is finished is smart, it leaves it to the viewer. All around a masterful thriller, that could almost be called a dirty version of Vertigo.

        Super Reviewer
      • Sep 13, 2012

        Basic Instinct turns out to be more of a guilty pleasure than a suspensefull thriller.

        Super Reviewer

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