Arnold Schwarzenegger is Dennis Quad, a 21st-century construction worker who discovers his life is a lie made up of implanted memories. After learning he’s actually a secret agent, Quad hitches a ride to Mars to uncover the truth about his identity while getting sucked into a secret plot involving an ancient artifact, the downtrodden and mutated Martian population, and the dream of a breathable atmosphere. Loosely based on renowned author Philip K. Dick’s story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, Total Recall became a vehicle completely for Schwarzenegger after he bought it for a cheap $3 million after the collapse of Dino De Laurentiis’ production company. The action star had unprecedented control over the film, including veto power over the producer, director, and screenplay. He personally hired Paul Verhoeven to direct the movie after it had gone through forty-two drafts – and still missing a third act. Underneath this partnership emerged a fast-paced, violent, and humorous film that’s as entertaining now as it was 27 years ago.