Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Sci-fi thriller

Dual (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Dual (2022) movie poster

Dual is a 2022 sci-fi thriller directed by Riley Stearns, starring Karen Gillan as Sarah, Beulah Koale and Aaron Paul. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $425,909 worldwide on a $4.5 million budget. It won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Independent Film at the Saturn Awards 2022. Critics gave it 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and 62 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.

IMDb rating
5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
71%
worldwide gross
$425.9K
award won
1
Loading streaming availability…
Dual (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Director
Riley Stearns
Genres
Sci-Fi , Thriller , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$4.5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Dual About?

The premise of Dual without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Facing a terminal illness, Sarah opts for a cloning procedure to ease the pain for her family. However, her unexpected recovery throws everything into disarray. Authorities now consider her clone a liability, mandating a duel to the death. Sarah must train for a year, or risk elimination in a bizarre and unsettling competition.

Dual Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • clone
  • terminal illness
  • near future
  • duel to the death
  • personal trainer
  • recovery from terminal diagnosis
  • dead body
  • dance sequence
  • vomit
  • blood stained pillow
  • dream sequence
  • mother daughter relationship
+38 more
  • medical diagnosis
  • stabbed to death
  • sports field
  • forest
  • contact lenses
  • gun training
  • murder
  • rivalry
  • dog killed with an arrow
  • glass shattered
  • car crash
  • video call
  • strained relationship
  • human cloning
  • support group
  • letter of apology
  • morgue
  • park
  • bad driver
  • hip hop dancer
  • fighting one's clone
  • clone versus original
  • fighting one's doppelganger
  • terminal diagnosis
  • poison
  • attempted murder
  • killing a dog
  • hiring an attorney
  • independent film
  • woman watches internet porn
  • twins
  • nightmare
  • doctor
  • shot with an arrow
  • martial arts
  • away from home
  • fictional horror movie franchise
  • watching a horror movie
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Dual Cast & Characters

Karen Gillan leads the cast as Sarah, with Beulah Koale as Peter and Aaron Paul as Trent. Directed by Riley Stearns; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Dual

· 8 more
From the director

More from Riley Stearns

More films directed by Riley Stearns, best-rated first: Faults, The Art of Self-Defense, Casque and Magnificat.

Full filmography
Ratings

Dual Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Dual 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and 62 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 64/100, strongest in character & emotion (78) and weakest in rewatch factor (52).

64 /100

Dual Echo Score Breakdown

Dual provokes divergent reactions, balancing a striking premise with uneven execution. Critics cite a compelling satire and strong central performance, while others note a thin emotional core and uneven comedy. Viewer comments echo this split, praising the concept and visual tone yet criticizing pacing and character development. The film offers moments of originality but often retreats from narrative payoff, resulting in a mixed overall impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 58

    In terms of art and craft, the film presents a distinct visual style that some reviewers found memorable, with dark cinematography and a detached aesthetic. However, several critics pointed to flat execution, ineffective editing, and a lack of cinematic depth. The mixed feedback reflects both inventive design choices and perceived technical shortcomings, leading to an overall modest appraisal of the film’s craftsmanship.

  • Character & Emotion 78

    When evaluating character and emotion, Karen Gillan's dual performance received consistent praise, and many noted solid acting across the cast. Nonetheless, a few reviews highlighted stiff portrayals and limited emotional resonance. The majority of commentary underscores strong central acting against occasional superficiality, resulting in a relatively high assessment of the film’s character work.

  • Story & Flow 62

    Regarding story and flow, Dual offers an intriguing premise about cloning and societal critique that some found thought‑provoking. Yet many critics described the narrative as uneven, with pacing issues and a unsatisfying conclusion. The balance of originality and narrative friction produces a mid‑range rating, reflecting both the film’s conceptual strengths and its structural weaknesses.

  • Sensory Experience 68

    In the sensory experience domain, reviewers highlighted the film’s dark, atmospheric visuals and purposeful sound design that reinforce its sci‑fi tone. While certain comments noted a static or underwhelming auditory component, the prevailing sentiment appreciates the cohesive aesthetic. This results in a generally favorable assessment of the film’s sensory qualities.

  • Rewatch Factor 52

    For rewatch factor, the film’s unique concept and occasional dark humor invite repeat viewings for some audiences. Conversely, many cited a rushed ending and limited narrative payoff that diminish lasting appeal. The mixed reactions to replay value lead to a modest score, indicating that the film may not sustain strong long‑term interest for most viewers.

Plot

Dual Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Dual from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In a dystopian future, we meet Sarah, portrayed by Karen Gillan, a woman grappling with deep emotional turmoil and battling alcoholism. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Peter (Beulah Koale), is uninspired and strained, and she feels increasingly detached from her nagging mother. One fateful day, Sarah wakes to a disturbing sight—a pool of blood in her bed. After medical consultations, she learns the shocking news: she has a terminal illness. Despite the doctor’s insistence that there is a mere 2% chance of error, he underscores that her death is inevitable.

Full summary

The whole story of Dual, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Dual Box Office & Budget

Dual grossed $425,909 worldwide on a $4.5 million budget, 9% of what it cost. $185,212 came from the US and Canada and $240,697 (57%) from the rest of the world.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$425.9K

9% of its budget back

US & Canada
$185.2K
International
$240.7K
Budget
$4.5M
US & Canada 43% Rest of the world 57%
Awards

Dual Awards & Nominations

Dual won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Independent Film at the Saturn Awards 2022.

1 win1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Dual Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser and 1 featurette.

Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official UK Trailer
  • Teaser Trailer Tease
  • Featurette Riley Stearns on "Dual"
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Dual?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What prompts Sarah to consider cloning?

Details

Dual Also Known As

25 alternative titles, including “双重躯体” and “Clon”.

Also known as
  • 双重躯体
  • Clon
  • Klons
  • دوگانه
  • Pár-baj
  • Клон
  • 듀얼: 나를 죽여라
  • Klón
  • Dvojnica
  • 雙重身分
  • Cuộc Đấu Tay Đôi
  • Dvojník
+13 more
  • Klonas
  • Dual - Il clone
  • Двійник
  • مزدوجة
  • כפולה
  • Doble
  • همزاد
  • デュアル
  • Duel
  • क्लोन का कहर
  • المستنسخة
  • คู่ดวล
  • Kloon

Seen Dual?

FAQ

Dual FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Dual, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Dual?

Dual runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was Dual released?

Dual was released on April 15, 2022.

Who directed Dual?

Dual was directed by Riley Stearns.

More films by Riley Stearns

Who is in the cast of Dual?

Dual stars Karen Gillan as Sarah, Beulah Koale as Peter and Aaron Paul as Trent, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Dual make at the box office?

Dual grossed $425,909 worldwide ($185,212 domestic, $240,697 international) on a budget of $4.5 million.

How is Dual rated?

Dual has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.

What awards did Dual win?

Dual won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Independent Film at the Saturn Awards 2022.

Does Dual have a post-credit scene?

No. Dual has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app