Seven Mind-Blowing Philip K. Dick Thrillers

Colin Farrell is on the run with a serious identity crisis in the updated Total Recall, based on a Philip K. Dick story. From Blade Runner and The Adjustment Bureau to Minority Report and the original Recall with Schwarzenegger, check out the memorable movies inspired by the prolific sci-fi writer!

The iconic film that inspired a race to snap up Philip K. Dick's stories as source material, director Ridley Scott's 1982 film stars Harrison Ford as a retired Los Angeles detective in 2019 tasked with tracking down a quartet of Replicants -- perfect androids practically indistinguishable from humans -- who are illegally on Earth seeking to meet their maker and extend their expiration date. Based on Dick's 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.


Get 'Blade Runner'

One of Arnold Schwarzenegger's most popular flicks next to the Terminator and Predator films, 1990's Total Recall casts Ah-nuld as Doug Quaid, a construction worker who has recurring dreams of being on the human colonies of Mars. Unable to afford the actual trip, he decides to have false memories implanted into his brain to simulate an exciting vacation in which he's a secret agent – only to learn the hard way that everything he's been dreaming about is true. Based on Dick's 1966 short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.


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Steven Spielberg's futuristic 2002 drama stars Tom Cruise as John Anderton, a Washington D.C. detective who works for the Precrime division of the police department in the year 2054. Arresting murderers before they actually commit their crime -- using the visions of a trio of psychic "precogs" -- Anderton soon finds himself accused of a murder he has yet to commit. Forced to become a fugitive in order to solve his own mystery, he stumbles upon a cover-up that could shake the foundations of the entire Precrime program. Based on the 1956 short story The Minority Report by Dick.

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The Adjustment Bureau casts Matt Damon as David Norris, an ambitious politician on the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate. When he meets beautiful ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt), he is instantly smitten -- and the course of his future changes, prompting the Adjustment Bureau to intervene, no matter what the cost. The film is based on Philip K. Dick's 1954 short story Adjustment Team.


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Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson and Winona Ryder headline this eccentric 2006 rotoscoped film following Bob Arctor, a cop (Reeves) who infiltrates a group of paranoid, strung-out friends hooked on the illegal drug Substance D. Tasked with retrieving information about the drug supply train with the help of his "scramble suit," he becomes addicted himself and begins to find his personalities splitting in two. Based on Dick's 1977 novel.


Get 'A Scanner Darkly'

John Woo directed this 2003 action-packed thriller starring Ben Affleck, Aaron Eckhart and Uma Thurman. Affleck plays Michael Jennings, a reverse engineer who collects a hefty paycheck from various companies for his technical expertise, then wipes his memory after each job. After his biggest job yet and his mind is erased, he learns he is accused of treason and murder, and must piece together the puzzle to clear his name. Based on Philip K. Dick's 1952 short story.

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Nicolas Cage is a Vegas magician who can see into the future – the next two minutes, at least – who finds himself on the run from the FBI, who later reveal that they want to use his abilities to prevent terrorists from detonating a nuclear bomb. The present-day-set flick is loosely based on Philip K. Dick's 1954 post-apocalyptic short story The Golden Man.


Get 'Paycheck'