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Action thriller

Eraser (1996): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Eraser (1996) movie poster

Eraser is a 1996 action thriller directed by Chuck Russell, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Caan and Vanessa Williams. It runs 1 hour 55 minutes and earned $242.3 million worldwide on a $100 million budget. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 43% on Rotten Tomatoes and 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.

IMDb rating
6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
43%
worldwide gross
$242.3M
award nomination
1
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Eraser (1996) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 55m (115 min)
Director
Chuck Russell
Genres
Action , Drama , Mystery , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$100M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Eraser About?

The premise of Eraser without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A federal marshal, John Kruger, safeguards witnesses in a witness protection program where their lives are constantly at risk. As "Eraser," he meticulously eliminates all traces of their former lives to ensure their safety. Kruger is a skilled and determined protector, willing to bend the rules to keep his charges from those who seek to harm them, operating outside the boundaries of the law to guarantee their survival.

Eraser Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • witness protection program
  • rogue agent
  • treason
  • railgun
  • x ray vision
  • assassination attempt
  • corporate crime
  • car bomb
  • betrayal
  • faked death
  • zoo
  • crocodile
+38 more
  • weapons fire
  • vivarium
  • betrayal by a friend
  • military industrial complex
  • u.s. government
  • duffel bag
  • betraying best friend
  • suit and tie
  • sunglasses
  • refrigerator
  • pilot
  • jet
  • belt buckle
  • photograph
  • bulletproof vest
  • black and white photograph
  • broken glass
  • log cabin
  • pointing a gun at someone
  • agent
  • bandana
  • upstairs
  • hiding behind a door
  • stabbed through the door
  • suspicion
  • character name as title
  • character nickname as title
  • reference to iran contra affair
  • tattoo
  • tattooed chest
  • tattooed criminal
  • pizza delivery
  • drugged
  • chinese woman
  • animal abuse
  • cranberry
  • good versus evil
  • evil man
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Cast & crew

Eraser Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger leads the cast, with James Caan and Vanessa Williams. Directed by Chuck Russell; 4 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Chuck Russell

More films directed by Chuck Russell, best-rated first: The Mask, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Witchboard and The Scorpion King.

Full filmography
Ratings

Eraser Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Eraser 43% on Rotten Tomatoes and 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.

Plot

Eraser Plot Summary

What happens in Eraser from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

John Kruger, also known as “Eraser,” played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a dedicated U.S. Marshal working within the Federal Witness Security Protection Program (WITSEC). His unique role involves “erasing” high-profile witnesses, effectively faking their deaths and providing them with new identities. Under the guidance of his mentor, James Caan as U.S. Marshal Robert DeGuerin, John manages a staggering 14,600 protected witnesses.

Full summary

The whole story of Eraser, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Eraser Box Office & Budget

Eraser grossed $242.3 million worldwide on a $100 million budget, 2.4 times what it cost. $101.3 million came from the US and Canada and $141 million (58%) from the rest of the world.

1996 box office

Worldwide gross

$242.3M

2.4× its budget

US & Canada
$101.3M
International
$141M
Budget
$100M
US & Canada 42% Rest of the world 58%
Awards

Eraser Awards & Nominations

Eraser was nominated for 1 Oscar.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Eraser Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 2 trailers and 2 clips.

Original Theatrical Trailer
  • Trailer Eraser (1996), 35mm film trailer, flat hard matte 1.85 ratio
  • Clip Airplane Shootout and Escape
  • Clip Final Shootout At The Dock
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Eraser?

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 is John Kruger's codename in the Witness Protection Program?

Cars

Cars in Eraser

47 cars on screen, including the 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille and the 1987 Ford Bronco.

All 47 cars
  • 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille in Eraser 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Important role
  • 1987 Ford Bronco in Eraser 1987 Ford Bronco Important role
  • 1983 GMC C-3500 in Eraser 1983 GMC C-3500 Important role
  • 1995 Lincoln Town Car Stretched Limousine in Eraser 1995 Lincoln Town Car Stretched Limousine Important role
Details

Eraser Also Known As

32 alternative titles, including “El Protector” and “Eraser (Eliminador)”.

Also known as
  • El Protector
  • Eraser (Eliminador)
  • Likvidátor
  • 毁灭者
  • 蒸發密令
  • L'effaceur
  • L'Eliminatore - Eraser
  • Silici
  • 蒸发密令
  • Стиратель
  • Egzekutor
  • Végképp eltörölni
+20 more
  • Ликвидатор
  • Απόλυτη διαγραφή
  • イレイザー
  • پاک کننده
  • Ștergătorul
  • אירייזר
  • 이레이저
  • Queima de Arquivo
  • Заличителят
  • Kustutaja
  • Eraser – suojelija
  • Brisač
  • Стирач
  • 魔鬼毀滅者
  • Trintukas
  • Kẻ Xóa Sổ
  • อีเรเซอร์ คนเหล็กพยัคฆ์ร้ายพระกาฬ, წამშლელი
  • الماحي
  • Eraser: Eliminador
  • मीटा दुंगा नामो - निशान

Seen Eraser?

FAQ

Eraser FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

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

How long is Eraser?

Eraser runs 1 hour 55 minutes (115 minutes).

When was Eraser released?

Eraser was released on June 21, 1996.

Who directed Eraser?

Eraser was directed by Chuck Russell.

More films by Chuck Russell

Who is in the cast of Eraser?

Eraser stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Caan and Vanessa Williams, among 4 credited actors.

How much did Eraser make at the box office?

Eraser grossed $242.3 million worldwide ($101.3 million domestic, $141 million international) on a budget of $100 million.

How is Eraser rated?

Eraser has 6.2/10 on IMDb, 43% on Rotten Tomatoes, 56 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Was Eraser nominated for any awards?

Eraser received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Eraser have a post-credit scene?

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

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