Scanners (1981): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Scanners is a 1981 sci-fi thriller directed by David Cronenberg, starring Stephen Lack, Patrick McGoohan and Jennifer O'Neill. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $14.2 million worldwide. Critics gave it 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Director
- David Cronenberg
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- AVCO Embassy Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Scanners About?
The premise of Scanners without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Individuals with powerful telepathic and telekinetic abilities, known as Scanners, exist within society. Some use their abilities for positive purposes, while others are manipulated into plotting a dangerous takeover. A Scanner with a troubled past finds himself at the center of a conspiracy, forced to confront his own inner turmoil and prevent a catastrophic event that threatens all of humanity.
Scanners Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- psychic power
- exploding head
- scientist
- mall
- sculptor
- training
- psychic
- doctor
- sabotage
- artist
- investigation
- mission
+38 more Show fewer
- terrorism
- factory
- conspiracy
- escalator
- gore
- telepathy
- escape
- telekinesis
- human experiment
- surprise ending
- first part
- drive by shooting
- woman murders a man
- woman with a gun
- grindhouse film
- psychotronic film
- canadian horror
- man wears eyeglasses
- telepath
- food court
- yogi
- strapped to a bed
- driving a car into a wall
- single car accident
- gas fire
- part of trilogy
- pyrokinesis
- gas station explosion
- phreaking
- fictional drug
- biopunk
- man
- killed with a shotgun
- clandestine meeting
- shooting oneself in the head
- telepathic control
- charred remains
- shot multiple times
Scanners Cast
Stephen Lack leads the cast, with Patrick McGoohan and Jennifer O'Neill. Directed by David Cronenberg.
-
Director David Cronenberg
More from David Cronenberg
More films directed by David Cronenberg, best-rated first: Dead Ringers, The Fly, Eastern Promises and The Shrouds.
Scanners Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Scanners 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.
-
IMDb 6.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 60 Metascore
User score 7.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB
Scanners Plot Summary
What happens in Scanners 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
Scruffy wanderer Cameron Vale (Stephen Lack) roams a shopping mall, scavenging for scraps amidst the bustle of everyday life. While he attempts to eat leftovers at a food court table, he becomes the target of scorn from two rude middle-aged women who openly express their disgust at his disheveled appearance. Angered by their taunts, Vale’s gaze intensifies, and in a shocking turn of events, one of the women suddenly convulses and collapses to the floor. Just then, two men dressed in trench coats emerge, giving chase to Vale, who is soon struck in the hand by one of their dart guns. Frantically, he sprints through the mall, only to end up collapsing on the floor in defeat.
Full summary
The whole story of Scanners, scene by scene
Scanners Box Office
Scanners grossed $14.2 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$14.2M
- US & Canada
- $14.2M
Scanners Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 2 trailers, 1 featurette and 2 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer Scanners (1981) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
- Featurette Mick Garris on Scanners
- Behind the Scenes Exploding Brains and Popping Veins STEPHAN DUPUIS
- Behind the Scenes SCANNERS WAY CREATING SPECIAL EFFECTS
How Well Do You Know Scanners?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Cameron Vale's ability that identifies him as a scanner?
Cars in Scanners
12 cars on screen, including the 1974 Dodge Monaco and the 1971 Dodge Sportsman.
-
1974 Dodge Monaco Important role -
1971 Dodge Sportsman Important role -
1975 Ford Econoline Important role -
1981 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Minor role
Scanners Also Known As
28 alternative titles, including “Scanners 1: Sua Mente Pode Destruir” and “Scanners - dödande tanke”.
- Also known as
-
- Scanners 1: Sua Mente Pode Destruir
- Scanners - dödande tanke
- Tappava ajatus
- Mentes destructoras
- Scanners: Mentes destructoras
- Сканнеры
- Tarayıcılar
- İnfilak
- Scanners: Los amos de la muerte
- Сканеры
- Scanners Ihre Gedanken koennen toeten
- Scanners - Ihre Gedanken können töten
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- Контролори
- שלטון המוח
- Agyfürkészők
- Skanerzy
- 스캐너스
- スキャナーズ
- Скенери
- 夺命凶灵
- 掃描者大決鬥
- Сканери
- Scanners: Sua Mente Pode Destruir
- Σκάνερς
- Telépatas: Mentes destructoras
- Scanners – tappava ajatus
- สแกนเนอร์
- Moć razaranja
Seen Scanners?
Movies Like Scanners
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Scanner Cop, Scanners II: The New Order and Scanners III: The Takeover.
Scanners FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Scanners, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Scanners?
Scanners runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was Scanners released?
Scanners was released on January 14, 1981.
Who directed Scanners?
Scanners was directed by David Cronenberg.
More films by David Cronenberg Who is in the cast of Scanners?
Scanners stars Stephen Lack, Patrick McGoohan and Jennifer O'Neill.
How much did Scanners make at the box office?
Scanners grossed $14.2 million worldwide.
How is Scanners rated?
Scanners has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 60 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
Does Scanners have a post-credit scene?
No. Scanners has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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