Twins (1988)
52%RT Audience Score: 39%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 1 nomination
Though it offers a few modest pleasures for undemanding viewers, Twins leans too heavily on the wackiness of its premise to overcome its narrative shortcomings
Despite what some critics may say, Twins is a hilarious movie that will have you laughing from start to finish. Sure, the premise may be a bit contrived, but who cares when you have Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito playing long-lost twins? The chemistry between the two is undeniable, and their comedic timing is spot-on. Plus, the movie has heart, which is more than you can say for some comedies out there. So if you’re in the mood for a good laugh, give Twins a chance. You won’t regret it!
Production Company(ies)
Studio Ghibli, Dentsu Hakuhodo D Y Media, Partners
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Taos, New Mexico, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1988
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 52m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 9, 1988 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 23, 2005
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito, Kelly Preston, Chloe Webb, Bonnie Bartlett, Marshall Bell, directed by Ivan Reitman, written by Will Davies, William Osborne, Timothy Hyde Harris, Herschel Weingrod, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Dave Kehr, Peter Travers, Richard Schickel, Jay Boyar, Gene Siskel, Rene Jordan, Mike Massie, Brian D Johnson, Sky Staff, Roger Hurlburt, Jo Berry, PG rating, fraternal twins, genetic experiment, separated at birth, Los Angeles, scientist, unscrupulous street hustler, naive, fish out of water, family comedy, one-joke comedy, heartwarming, campy, cheesy, cliche, unrealistic, good chemistry, simple plot, simple characters, funny, enjoyable, entertaining, undemanding viewers, wackiness, narrative shortcomings, advertising campaign, Ivan Reitman’s, Universal Pictures, Surround sound mix
Worldwide gross: $216,614,388
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $554,628,426
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 257
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 60,482,925
US/Canada gross: $111,938,388
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $286,611,672
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 212
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,174,980
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $28,612,880
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 484
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $38,406,620
Production budget ranking: 988
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $20,681,965
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $495,539,842
ROI to date (est.): 839%
ROI ranking: 153
Danny DeVito – Vincent Benedict
Kelly Preston – Marnie Mason
Chloe Webb – Linda Mason
Bonnie Bartlett – Old Mary Ann Benedict
Marshall Bell – Webster
Director(s)
Ivan Reitman
Writer(s)
Will Davies, William Osborne, Timothy Hyde Harris, Herschel Weingrod
Producer(s)
Ivan Reitman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (24)
For all of its geniality and gushing good will, Ivan Reitman`s ”Twins” remains an advertising campaign in search of a movie.
March 12, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
What a concept: Cast pumped-up Arnold Schwarzenegger and pint-size Danny De Vito as twins separated at birth. Funny, huh? Sure is, hilarious even, for about five minutes. But the 102 minutes remaining are a stretch for one joke.
March 12, 2019
Peter Travers
People Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The whole movie has a warmth about it that never slops over into sentiment: there is much more here than tall-guy, short-guy jokes.
March 12, 2019
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
But what’s surprising is that Twins is somewhat sweeter than might have been expected. The mechanical plot may shake and grind unpleasantly, but gentler sounds also are produced.
March 12, 2019
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
“Twins” starts with an overblown fairy-tale quality that seems as if it should work. But, by the finish, the movie collapses on the shoulders of the stars. It works because they both showed up and delivered the goods and kept their end of the deal.
March 12, 2019
Michael Wilmington
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Schwarzenegger is amusing as a fish out of water in a land full of sharks.
March 12, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
A very funny comedy that also has heart. [Full review in Spanish]
June 16, 2022
Rene Jordan
El Nuevo Herald (Miami)
Like many comedies attempting to exist in the real world, the numerous predicaments are far too severe to be approached with even a touch of sincerity.
September 8, 2020 | Rating: 3/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Despite its contrived origins, Twins is a surprisingly sweet, gentle comedy that sustains its humor long after the novelty of the premise wears off.
March 22, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
It doesn’t take a genius to see how the caper might evolve with Arnie as the perfect specimen and Danny as the scheming lowlife, but everyone has fun turning the concept into a naughtier version of The Prince And The Pauper.
March 12, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Sky Staff
Sky Cinema
In all, Twins is kind of fun, although it’s strangely brutal at times.
March 12, 2019
Roger Hurlburt
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Here’s one of those rare things: a one-joke comedy that actually works.
March 12, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Jo Berry
Radio Times…
Plot
Julius and Vincent Benedict are the results of an experiment that would allow for the perfect child. Julius was planned and grows to athletic proportions. Vincent is an accident and is somewhat smaller in stature. Vincent is placed in an orphanage while Julius is taken to a South Seas island and raised by philosophers. Vincent becomes the ultimate lowlife and is about to be killed by loan sharks when Julius discovers that he has a brother and begins looking for him.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
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