Demolition Man (film)#Cast

In 1996, psychopathic criminal Simon Phoenix kidnaps a busload of hostages and takes refuge in an abandoned building. Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant John Spartan, nicknamed "The Demolition Man" for the large amounts of collateral damage he often causes in apprehending suspects, mounts an unauthorized assault to capture Phoenix. When a thermal scan of the area reveals no trace of the hostages, he raids the building and confronts Phoenix, who sets off explosives to destroy everything. The hostages' corpses are found in the rubble, and Phoenix claims that Spartan knew about the hostages and attacked anyway. Both men are sentenced to lengthy terms in the city's "California Cryo-Penitentiary", in which convicts are cryogenically frozen and undergo subliminal rehabilitation techniques.

In 2032, the city of San Angeles – a megalopolis formed from the merger of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara – is a seemingly-peaceful utopia designed and run by Dr. Raymond Cocteau. Phoenix is thawed for a parole hearing but easily escapes by using advanced technological skills he did not have before. Phoenix makes his way into the city, where to his surprise, he can now easily hack into all modern computer networks. Several police officers arrive and interrupt his hacking. Annoyed, Phoenix then taunts and kills the officers with ease. The modern police, who have never had to deal with such primitive violence, are shocked and helpless.

Lieutenant Lenina Huxley, an idealistic San Angeles Police Department officer who is fascinated with 20th-century culture, learns about Spartan's career from a veteran officer, Zachary Lamb, who suggests that their best chance to stop Phoenix is by enlisting someone with the experience and mindset to anticipate his actions. Huxley persuades her superior, Chief George Earle, to parole Spartan and reinstate him. Spartan finds life in San Angeles to be sterile and oppressive, since all types of behavior deemed immoral or unhealthy have been declared illegal.

Anticipating that Phoenix will attempt to secure firearms, Spartan outright rejects the computer's projection that Phoenix will first create a new drug network, has Huxley lead him to a museum, and finds Phoenix looting an exhibit of weapons. Phoenix escapes and unexpectedly runs into Cocteau, holds him at gunpoint but is unable to kill him, since Cocteau has altered his rehabilitation program to prevent him from doing so. Cocteau then orders Phoenix to kill Edgar Friendly, the leader of the Scraps, a resistance society that lives underground. Spartan arrives to find Cocteau unharmed and ponders why Phoenix would stop to talk to this one person.

Investigating Phoenix’s extraordinary technological skills, Spartan and Huxley discover that Phoenix's rehabilitation program was tailored by Cocteau to make him even more dangerous. Unhappy with Phoenix's progress, Cocteau threatens him with a return to the cryo-prison if he did not deal with Friendly and Spartan. Phoenix then persuades Cocteau to release additional cryo-prisoners to counteract Spartan's interference. Phoenix then leads his new gang underground to assassinate Friendly only to find Spartan was already there. Spartan and Huxley thwart the attempt on Friendly's life by Phoenix, who taunts Spartan that he framed Spartan for the deaths of the 1996 hostages; they were dead before the building exploded. Afterwards Phoenix escapes to meet Cocteau, Spartan borrows weapons from the Scraps and pursues him.

Now pleased with Phoenix's terror, Cocteau gleefully boasts he intends to use the chaos he orchestrated to remake San Angeles a “flawless pearl” that is even more authoritarian; enraged but programmed not to harm Cocteau, Phoenix has a minion kill Cocteau, then begins thawing out the cryo-prison's most dangerous convicts. Before entering the cryo-prison, Spartan incapacitates Huxley for her safety, battles Phoenix, and wins being true to his destructive name. Spartan escapes the cryo-prison as it explodes leaving it in ruins.

The police fear that the loss of Cocteau and his cryo-prison will end society as they know it. Spartan urges them and the Scraps to work together, combining the best aspects of order with personal freedom. Huxley and Spartan kiss, then depart together.

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{{Cast listing|

• Sylvester Stallone as John Spartan
• Wesley Snipes as Simon Phoenix
• Sandra Bullock as Lenina Huxley. The character was named after Aldous Huxley, the author of Brave New World, and Lenina Crowne, a central character in the novel.{{Cite news |date=October 24, 1993 |last=James |first=Caryn |title=FILM VIEW; 'Demolition Man' Makes Recycling an Art |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/24/movies/film-view-demolition-man-makes-recycling-an-art.html |work=The New York Times |url-access=registration |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121110115820/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/24/movies/film-view-demolition-man-makes-recycling-an-art.html |archive-date= 2012-11-10 |access-date=May 5, 2020 }}
• Nigel Hawthorne as Dr. Raymond Cocteau{{cite web |date=8 January 1995 |first=David |last=Gritten |title=Late-Blooming Nigel Hawthorne Enjoys 'Madness' of King-Size Role in Hytner's Film |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-08-ca-17652-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |quote=Nor did he enjoy his role in "Demolition Man" (1993), with Sylvester Stallone, which he has never seen. |access-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808223340/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-08-ca-17652-story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=January 22, 2003 |last=Taylor |first=Markland |title=Straight Face, The Autobiography |url=https://variety.com/2003/more/reviews/straight-face-the-autobiography-1200543941/ |website=Variety |quote=referring to the experience as "miserable" as the two thoughtless stars kept everyone waiting. |access-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015213756/https://variety.com/2003/more/reviews/straight-face-the-autobiography-1200543941/ |url-status=live }}
• Benjamin Bratt as Alfredo Garcia
• Denis Leary as Edgar Friendly
• Bill Cobbs as Zachary Lamb
• Grand L. Bush plays young Lamb
• Bob Gunton as Chief George Earle
• Glenn Shadix as Associate Bob
• Trent Walker as Boggle Guard
• Troy Evans as James MacMillan
• David Patrick Kelly as Leon (uncredited){{cite web |title=Demolition Man 2 Reportedly in The Works, Says Stallone |first=Grant |last=Hermanns |website=ComingSoon.net |date=May 4, 2020 |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1133611-demolition-man-2-reportedly-in-the-works-says-stallone |access-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-date=September 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902120714/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1133611-demolition-man-2-reportedly-in-the-works-says-stallone |url-status=live }} {{Dubious|date=September 2023}}
• Steve Kahan as Captain Healy
• Andre Gregory as Warden William Smithers
• Mark Colson as young Assistant Warden Smithers
• Toshishiro Obata as Kodo, CryoCon Ally
• Ben Jurand as Francis, CryoCon Ally
• Billy D. Lucas as Danzig, CryoCon Ally
• Rhino Michaels as Elvin, Cryocon Ally
• Jesse Ventura as Adam, Cryocon Ally
• Brandy Ledford as Wrong Number Video Girl
• Rob Schneider as Officer Erwin (uncredited){{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/21/movies/up-and-coming-rob-schneider-call-him-busy-he-s-the-smarminator.html |title=UP AND COMING: Rob Schneider; Call Him Busy. He's the Smarminator. |last=Marin |first=Rick |work=The New York Times |date=November 21, 1993 |access-date=August 23, 2014 }}
• Dan Cortese as Taco Bell Lounge singer and a Cryo Prison guard
• Jack Black as Wasteland Scrap #2
• Carlton Wilborn as Wasteland Scrap Carl

}}

{{Anchor|Writing|Scripts}}

The original script was written by Peter Lenkov, who retained a story by credit. Lenkov came to Hollywood straight out of college with no connections, and wrote seven different scripts, desperately hoping to break into Hollywood.{{cite web |date=2009-11-06 |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |title='CSI: NY' producer inks new CBS deal |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/csi-ny-producer-inks-cbs-85305 |website=The Hollywood Reporter }} Selling the spec script of Demolition Man to Warner Bros. was his first big break.{{cite web |date= 2012-03-10 |first= Lacey |last= Rose |title= Showrunners 2012: 'Hawaii 5-0's' Peter Lenkov |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/showrunners-2012-hawaii-5-0-peter-lenkov-375640 |website= The Hollywood Reporter |access-date= August 9, 2020 |archive-date= January 20, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210120131848/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/showrunners-2012-hawaii-5-0-peter-lenkov-375640 |url-status= live }} Lenkov had been inspired by Lethal Weapon and wanted to do something about cops. He was also influenced by stories of celebrities being cryogenically frozen and listening to Sting's song "Demolition Man" on repeat due to a broken cassette player in his car.{{Cite podcast |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLDqbQAx2s8 |title=Peter Lenkov - Writer of "Demolition Man, "Magnum P.I.", and more - TST Podcast #798 |website=The Smoking Tire |date=February 9, 2023 |last=Farah |first=Matt |last2=Klapman |first2=Zack |minutes=28}} His initial pitch was rejected by an executive who did not understand his "frozen cop" idea. The finished script, where a super cop has to battle the world's deadliest criminal, in a future where there is almost no crime, generated more interest.{{cite web |date=2013-05-02 |last=Webb |first=Charles |title=Interview: Rather 'R.I.P.D.' With Writer Peter M. Lenkov |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2627961/r-i-p-d-peter-m-lenkov/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023054115/http://www.mtv.com/news/2627961/r-i-p-d-peter-m-lenkov/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |website=MTV News }}

Writer Daniel Waters (known for Heathers) said his version of the screenplay was essentially a rewrite; he changed the script so extensively that when the script went to arbitration he received first screenplay writing credit. In the early drafts the script was a regular action movie, with no attempt at comedy. Waters pitched it as an action movie version of Woody Allen's Sleeper. Waters had an idea about a small part of Universal City, a shopping and entertainment area called CityWalk, and wondered what it might be like if one day all of Los Angeles might be like that, and the idea grew from there.{{cite web |date=16 April 2020 |last=Willmore |first=Alison |title=The Writer of Demolition Man on the Predictive Power of His 1993 Movie |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/interview-demolition-man-writer-daniel-waters.html |website=Vulture |publisher=Vox Media |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416152615/https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/interview-demolition-man-writer-daniel-waters.html |archive-date=2020-04-16 }} Waters says his intention was to have fun, that he was not trying to be political or deeply examine political correctness. He cited the conclusion of the film, where society will need to find a new balance and compromise, as representing his own position in the political middle ground. Burger King was originally written as the winner of the franchise wars, but they were not interested in being part of the film. McDonald's also declined to be involved. Taco Bell welcomed the opportunity. The "three seashells" concept originated when Waters was trying to come up with ideas for a futuristic restroom and called writer Larry Karaszewski for suggestions, and he happened to be using the restroom when he answered the call. He looked around his bathroom and said he had a bag of seashells on the toilet as decorations, so Waters decide to use that.{{cite web |date=August 9, 2018 |first=Ian |last=Schultz |title="Who does that guy in the coat think he is, anyways, Bo Diddley?" – An Interview with Daniel Waters {{!}} Live for Films |url=https://www.liveforfilm.com/2018/08/09/whos-he-think-he-is-bo-diddley-an-interview-with-daniel-waters/ |website=Liveforfilm.com |access-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001230107/https://www.liveforfilm.com/2018/08/09/whos-he-think-he-is-bo-diddley-an-interview-with-daniel-waters/ |url-status=live }} A joke was cut from the script, where after using the three seashells and washing his hands Spartan was confronted by the same ineffective hand dryer from his own time. Waters wrote some of the script on index cards while waiting in line for Johnny Carson tickets. He said it was some of the fastest work he'd ever written, and that he had only worked on it for two and a half weeks.

The film began with John Spartan being taken out of cryogenic freeze in the future of 2032, until Fred Dekker did uncredited rewrites on the script, adding the Los Angeles 1996 prologue, to showcase Spartan and Phoenix in their natural environment, and make the differences of the future more striking. Dekker explained "If you don't show Kansas, Oz isn't all that special."{{cite web |date=July 19, 2020 |first=Chris E. |last=Hayner |title=Demolition Man Movie: All The Easter Eggs, References, And Things You Didn't Know |url=https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/demolition-man-movie-all-the-easter-eggs-reference/2900-3499/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024085904/https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/demolition-man-movie-all-the-easter-eggs-reference/2900-3499/ |url-status=live }} Jonathan Lemkin also did uncredited rewrites on the film.{{cite web |date=22 August 1997 |last=Petrikin |first=Chris |title=Lemkin pens 2nd 'Twister' |url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/lemkin-pens-2nd-twister-1116678481/ |website=Variety |quote=doing uncredited polishes on such pics as Demolition Man |access-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301211858/https://variety.com/1997/film/news/lemkin-pens-2nd-twister-1116678481/ |url-status=live }} Steven de Souza read the script but was unavailable to commit to rewrites. De Souza recommended setting the film in the more distant future to make the culture clash more plausible. Producers rejected his suggestion because they wanted to keep the subplot of Spartan finding his daughter, but ultimately that subplot was cut from the film.{{cite book |last1=Hughes |first1=David |title=Tales from development hell : Hollywood film-making the hard way |date=2003 |pages=128, 129 |url=https://archive.org/details/talesfromdevelop00davi/page/128/mode/2up?q=%22Demolition+Man%22 |publisher=Titan |location=London |isbn=9781840236910 }} The script had been in development for six years before filming finally began.

Director Marco Brambilla had a background in shooting big-budget TV commercials, and this was his first feature film. Brambilla was working to make Richie Rich, starring Macaulay Culkin, but they could not get the budget they needed. Instead David Fincher recommended Brambilla to Joel Silver as director for Demolition Man. Steven Seagal had originally been attached as leading actor, and Jean-Claude Van Damme had been offered the part of the villain.{{cite news |date= 2008-03-03 |first= Josh |last= Horowitz |title= The Jean-Claude Van Damme/Steven Seagal Movie That Never Will Be...'Demolition Man' |publisher= MTV |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/2429786/the-jean-claude-van-dammesteven-seagal-movie-that-never-will-bedemolition-man/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305084700/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/03/03/the-jean-claude-van-dammesteven-seagal-movie-that-never-will-bedemolition-man/ |archive-date=2008-03-05 |access-date=May 4, 2020 }} Brambilla met Stallone a few days after getting attached to the project and started re-writing the script with Daniel Waters. The film went into production approximately eight months after that. Producer Joel Silver was able to get highly experienced crew for the film, including editor Stuart Baird and cinematographer Alex Thomson. Brambilla brought costumer Bob Ringwood to the project because of his work on Dune (1984), and wanted Alex Thomson because of his work on Alien 3 (1992).{{cite web |date=October 8, 2018 |last=Spry |first=Jeff |title=Mellow greetings and musings from director Marco Brambilla on Demolition Man's 25th birthday |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/mellow-greetings-and-musings-from-director-marco-brambilla-on-demolition-mans-25th-birthday |website=SYFY WIRE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008191150/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/mellow-greetings-and-musings-from-director-marco-brambilla-on-demolition-mans-25th-birthday |archive-date=2018-10-08 }}

Stallone passed on the project at first, but came back around to it. He liked the idea of two equal opponents in Spartan and Phoenix, and decided to take a chance on doing something he had not done before.{{cite magazine |title= Demolition Man |url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-195/page/n36/mode/1up?q=At+first+I+passed+on+it |website=Starlog Magazine Issue 195 |publisher=The Starlog Group |page=33 |via=Internet Archive |date=October 1993 |quote=I liked the idea that, in Spartan and Phoenix, you had two opposing forces that were equal. That's rare. }} Stallone wanted Jackie Chan for the role of Simon Phoenix. Chan turned it down, not wanting to play a villain.{{cite news |last=Dickerson |first=Jeff |title=Black Delights in Demolition Man |newspaper=The Michigan Daily |date=April 4, 2002 |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/content/black-delights-demolition-man |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224001408/http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2002/04/04/TheStatement/Black.Delights.In.demolition.Man-1403498.shtml |archive-date=December 24, 2007 |url-status=live |access-date=July 22, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Story Notes for Demolition Man |url=https://www.amc.com/talk/2013/02/story-notes-trivia-demolition-man |website=AMC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512174638/https://www.amc.com/talk/2013/02/story-notes-trivia-demolition-man |archive-date=2015-05-12 }} Wesley Snipes turned down the role several times, so Joel Silver and Marco Brambilla went to the set of the film Rising Sun to try and convince him in person. Brambilla explained what he thought the film could be and his passion for the script they were writing, and the next day they received a call and Snipes agreed to do the film. Brambilla said of Snipes, "He works without rehearsing too much, and he improvises a lot. The two of them, that combination of energies and the way they interact, really did the movie a lot of favors. They completely respected each other and were really professional, and they did get along. There was no ego or any competition between the actors." Lori Petty was originally cast as Huxley, but was fired after two days of filming due to what producer Joel Silver called "creative differences".{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/bullock-in-for-petty-on-man-105141/ |title=Bullock in for Petty on 'Man' |last=Ayscough |first= Suzan |date=March 18, 1993 |work=Variety |access-date=August 3, 2016 }} Petty attributed it to personality differences, as she and Stallone did not get along, and said "Sly and I were like oil and water."{{cite magazine |date=April 23, 1993 |first1=Jeffrey |last1=Wells |first2=Heidi |last2=Siegmund |title=Entertainment news for April 23, 1993 |url=https://ew.com/article/1993/04/23/entertainment-news-april-23-1993/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-date=March 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314063823/https://ew.com/article/1993/04/23/entertainment-news-april-23-1993/ |url-status=live }} Silver was looking for a replacement and Lorenzo di Bonaventura recommended Bullock; impressed by her audition tape, Silver hired her.{{cite web |date=September 1, 1995 |last1=Conant |first1=Jennet |author1-link=Jennet Conant |title=Sandra Bullock's September 1995 Cover Story: America's Sweetheart |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/1995/09/sandra-bullock-americas-sweetheart |website=Vanity Fair |publisher=Condé Nast |quote=Lorenzo di Bonaventura mentioned his pal Sandy. |access-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521200525/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/1995/09/sandra-bullock-americas-sweetheart |url-status=live }} Denis Leary said he was hired for his comedy rants, which he wrote himself and had to undergo a long approval process by the studio before it was included in the script.{{cite web |date=July 3, 2009 |first1=Kristopher |last1=Tapley |title=INTERVIEW: 20 questions with Denis Leary |url=http://www.incontention.com/2009/07/03/interview-20-questions-with-denis-leary/ |website=www.incontention.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708225408/http://www.incontention.com/2009/07/03/interview-20-questions-with-denis-leary/ |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 5, 2021 }}

{{Anchor|Pre-production}}

General Motors provided the production team with 18 concept vehicles, including the Ultralite. More than 20 fiberglass replicas of the Ultralite were produced to portray civilian and SAPD patrol vehicles in the film. After filming had completed, the remaining Ultralites were returned to Michigan as part of GM's concept vehicle fleet.{{cite web |url=http://history.gmheritagecenter.com/wiki/index.php/How_Many_Ultralite_Concept_Vehicles_Were_There |title=How Many Ultralite Concept Vehicles Were There? |publisher=GM Heritage Center |access-date=January 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921151136/http://history.gmheritagecenter.com/wiki/index.php/How_Many_Ultralite_Concept_Vehicles_Were_There |archive-date=September 21, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |date=19 February 2011 |last=Elliott |first=Stuart |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS: Advertising; In 'Demolition Man,' a car could be your grandson's Oldsmobile. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/08/business/media-business-advertising-demolition-man-car-could-be-your-grandson-s.html |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219120613/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/08/business/media-business-advertising-demolition-man-car-could-be-your-grandson-s.html |archive-date=2011-02-19 }}

The City of L.A. allowed the filmmakers to use and demolish an old Department of Water & Power building in downtown Los Angeles. This enabled them to have more control over the explosion, instead of having to cut straight to the building being gone and rubble as they had been forced to do with other projects. "We actually created a crater in the middle of the building. And have the explosion and rubble more designed, so to speak. It's fun to do that, because those big pyrotechnics always look great", Silver noted.{{cite web |date=22 July 1993 |last=Setlowe |first=Richard |title=In the world of stunts, there's a Silver lining |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/in-the-world-of-stunts-there-s-a-silver-lining-109023/ |website=Variety |access-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808223306/https://variety.com/1993/film/news/in-the-world-of-stunts-there-s-a-silver-lining-109023/ |url-status=live }}

The film suffered repeated delays, and the original 72-day production schedule ran to 112 days. Stallone was out for a week due to injury. Heavy rains in Los Angeles delayed filming. A soundstage was also damaged in a fire.{{cite magazine |title= Demolition Man |url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-195/page/n32/mode/1up?q=Torrential+Los+Angeles+rains |website=Starlog Magazine Issue 195 |publisher=The Starlog Group |page=33 |via=Internet Archive |date=October 1993 |quote=Torrential Los Angeles rains have played havoc with the film's shooting schedule}} The production went through five assistant directors, and many crew had to leave to work on other projects. Insiders at Warner Bros. were critical of Silver for hiring a director without previous feature film experience. Silver rejected this view, saying, "Marco's done a brilliant job. We're over-schedule because this is a very hard movie to make, not because Marco is inexperienced."{{Cite news |date=August 1, 1993 |first=Patrick |last=Goldstein |title=Hollywood's Big-Bang Theorist |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-01-ca-19142-story.html |access-date=July 31, 2020 |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707140656/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-08-01-ca-19142-story.html |url-status=live }}

{{Anchor|Locations}}

File:LOS.ANGELES.MDC.jpg in downtown Los Angeles.]]

File:PacificDesignCenter06.jpg was used as Sunrise Court, Lenina Huxley's apartment building.]]

Demolition Man was the first production to film at the Los Angeles Convention Center after it was rebuilt in the 1990s, it was used as the Cocteau Center.

"San Angeles" was filmed in Orange County, California. Several locations in Irvine and San Diego were also used.{{cite news |title=Irvine Cast as Futuristic L.A. : Movie: Action-thriller starring Wesley Snipes and Sylvester Stallone is being filmed in the city this week. |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=April 16, 1993 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-16-me-23636-story.html |access-date=November 8, 2010 |first=Stacy |last=Wong |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809043927/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-16-me-23636-story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Filming Locations for Demolition Man (1993) |url=https://www.movie-locations.com/movies/d/Demolition-Man.php |website=The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations |access-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807103908/http://movie-locations.com/movies/d/Demolition-Man.php |url-status=live }}

The S.A.P.D. police station in the background was the GTE Corporate Headquarters in Westlake Village, California (which later became the Baxter Healthcare building, and was used in the first episode of The Orville).

The Pacific Design Center, in West Hollywood was used for the exterior shot of Lenina Huxley's apartment building.

The cryo-prison used the exterior of the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles.{{cite web |date=8 April 2020 |title=Demolition Man (1993) |url=https://filmoblivion.com/2020/04/08/demolition-man-1993/ |website=Film Oblivion |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919060941/https://filmoblivion.com/2020/04/08/demolition-man-1993/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Demolition Man (1993) Film Locations |url=https://globalfilmlocations.net/2017/06/18/demolition-man-1993-film-locations/ |website=Global Film Locations |date=18 June 2017 |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925162914/https://globalfilmlocations.net/2017/06/18/demolition-man-1993-film-locations/ |url-status=live }} Filming also took place at Wilshire Courtyard, 5700 and 5750 Wilshire Boulevard.{{cite web |date=29 April 1993 |last=Archerd |first=Army |title='Man' imagines future riots, peace |url=https://variety.com/1993/voices/columns/man-imagines-future-riots-peace-1117862175/ |website=Variety |access-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016015131/https://variety.com/1993/voices/columns/man-imagines-future-riots-peace-1117862175/ |url-status=live }}

A power station in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, was used as the underground dwellings of Edgar Friendly and the Scraps.{{cite magazine |title= Demolition Man |url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-195/page/n36/mode/1up?q=Eagle+Rock |website=Starlog Magazine Issue 195 |publisher=The Starlog Group |page=37 |via=Internet Archive |date=October 1993 |quote=Eagle Rock, CA power station that has been commandeered by the Demolition Man company}}

{{Anchor|Stunts}}

The helicopter bungee jump at the start of the film was coordinated by Charles Picerni, and performed by stuntman Ken Bates. For safety, and due to the danger of recoil back into the helicopter blades, a decelerator was used instead of a real bungee, and Bates jumped {{convert|300|ft}} from a Chinook helicopter.{{cite web |date=July 22, 1993 |author=Variety Staff |title=Stunt meisters practice safe 'illusions' |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/stunt-meisters-practice-safe-illusions-109025/ |website=Variety |access-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-date=October 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015214314/https://variety.com/1993/film/news/stunt-meisters-practice-safe-illusions-109025/ |url-status=live }} According to Picerni it was a first: "We've done that off of buildings before, but never out of a helicopter."

The film mentions Arnold Schwarzenegger having served as President of the United States, after a Constitutional amendment was passed allowing him to run for the office due to his popularity. Coincidentally, a day short of ten years after the film's release, the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election was scheduled. The election saw Schwarzenegger actually begin a political career as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011. Shortly after he was elected, an "Arnold Amendment" did get proposed.{{cite news |last=Hertzberg |first=Hendrik |title=Strongman |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/09/29/strongman |magazine=The New Yorker |date=September 29, 2003 |access-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023120124/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/09/29/strongman |url-status=live }}

{{Anchor|Post|Post-Production}}

One of the film's focal points is Taco Bell being the sole surviving restaurant chain after "the franchise wars." The European version of the film substitutes Taco Bell with Pizza Hut, because Taco Bell is not as well known outside the United States and Canada; both restaurant chains were owned at the time by PepsiCo. Lines were re-dubbed and logos changed during post-production.{{cite web |url=https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=1863 |title=Demolition Man (Comparison: US Version - European Version) |publisher=Movie-Censorship.com |access-date=April 16, 2015 |archive-date=March 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317124546/http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=1863 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |date=October 29, 1993 |first=Nisid |last=Hajari |title='Demolition Man': Starring Taco Bell |url=https://ew.com/article/1993/10/29/demolition-man-starring-taco-bell/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |quote=Other chains wouldn't do a tie-in with an R-rated movie |access-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021131756/https://ew.com/article/1993/10/29/demolition-man-starring-taco-bell/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=July 13, 2016 |last=Chandler |first=Adam |title=Is Taco Bell Embracing Demolition Man's Vision of Its Future? |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/07/taco-bell-demolition-man/491234/ |website=The Atlantic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713222238/https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/07/taco-bell-demolition-man/491234/ | archive-date=2016-07-13 }} According to The Wall Street Journal, this kind of localization of product placement was a first.{{cite web |date=November 5, 2016 |first=Charles |last=Goldsmith |title=Dubbing In Product Plugs - WSJ |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB110228925774491481 |work=The Wall Street Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105205219/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB110228925774491481 |archive-date=2016-11-05 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last1=Ebert |first1=Roger |author1-link=Roger Ebert |title=Questions for the movie answer man |date=1997 |publisher=Andrews McMeel Pub |location=Kansas City |isbn=9780836228946 |page=186 |url=https://archive.org/details/questionsformovi00eber/page/186/mode/1up?q=%22demolition+man%22 |quote=the first time I have heard of "product placement" being fine-tuned to the local market }}

The film was green-lit with a production budget of $45 million. The cost increased to $77 million after the shooting schedule was extended. The combined cost of production and marketing was estimated at nearly $97 million.

{{Anchor|Editing}}

A subplot involving Spartan's daughter was cut for pacing reasons. This led to some confusion at test screenings, where audiences thought Sandra Bullock was the daughter, and reacted negatively to the scene where they were about to have sex. Originally Spartan's daughter was one of the Scraps living underground with Edgar Friendly's resistance. A scene where Stallone fights Jesse Ventura was cut from the film.{{cite web |title=(VIDEO) Stallone/Ventura Talk Demolition Man Fight Scene |url=http://www.manlymovie.net/2015/02/video-stalloneventura-talk-demolition-man-fight-scene.html |website=ManlyMovie.net}} {{cite AV media |author=Top Turnbuckle |title=Eric Bischoff interviews Sylvester Stallone and Jesse Ventura (05-22-1993) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kZ5OeMEdKM&feature=youtu.be&t=270 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814203106/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kZ5OeMEdKM&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2020-08-14 | url-status=dead |website=YouTube |date=Jan 16, 2017 }}{{better source needed|date=March 2023}}

MTV held a competition and demolition event to promote the film, with MTV Sports presenter Dan Cortese as host, and stars from the film in attendance. The Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Company building in Louisville, Kentucky was imploded.{{cite web |date=2021 |author=WHAS11 news |title=The Vault: A look at the 1993 Belknap building implosion |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpEVPWehoHk |publisher=YouTube.com |access-date=2023-01-10 }}{{cite web |date=2022 |author=WLKY News Louisville |title=Remember the Belknap building implosion? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbKMayQWlZk |publisher=YouTube.com |access-date=2023-01-10 |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113132823/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbKMayQWlZk |url-status=live }}

{{Anchor|Music|Soundtrack|Score}}

{{main|Demolition Man (soundtrack)|l1=Demolition Man (soundtrack)}}

{{citation needed span|The title theme is a heavier remix of the song originally recorded by Grace Jones and written by Sting during his time as frontman for The Police. The song was first released in March 1981, as an advance single from Jones's fifth album, Nightclubbing. Sting released an EP featuring this song and other live tracks, entitled Demolition Man.|date=December 2024}}

Elliot Goldenthal composed the score for the film. It was his second big Hollywood project after the Alien³ score.{{cite web |title=Film Score Monthly - Volume 01 Issue 40 (1994-01)(Vineyard Haven)(US) : Vineyard Haven : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming |url=https://archive.org/details/Film_Score_Monthly_Volume_01_Issue_40_1994_01_Vineyard_Haven_US/page/n13/mode/2up?q=Demolition+Man |website=Internet Archive |date = January 1994}}

The two commercial jingles, which are not part of the soundtrack, include the jingle from the 1967 commercial "Armour Hot Dogs" sung by Sandra Bullock and Benjamin Bratt in the police car,{{cite AV media |date=2012-11-12 |title=VINTAGE 1967 ARMOUR HOT DOGS COMMERCIAL - KIDS ... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fQwJdXFQlU | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/3fQwJdXFQlU| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|website=YouTube }}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |date=2016-09-14 |title=Demolition Man - Armour Hot Dogs |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HXBmgMHcBA | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/5HXBmgMHcBA| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|website=YouTube }}{{cbignore}} and the jingle from the 1960s commercial "Jolly Green Giant" sung by Dan Cortese in the Taco Bell restaurant.{{cite AV media |date=2015-12-16 |title=Old 60's Commercial - Jolly Green Giant (Remastered) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LurEEv0lM | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/R0LurEEv0lM| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|website=YouTube }}{{cbignore}}{{cite AV media |date=2015-05-12 |title=Demolition Man - Taco Bell |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cF6D8zDa9U?t=40 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/4cF6D8zDa9U| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|website=YouTube }}{{cbignore}}

The theme song "Love Boat" of the series of the same name, which is also not part of the soundtrack, was played by Sandra Bullock as a romantic background music in her apartment before the "virtual sex" between her and Sylvester Stallone.

The film debuted at No. 1 at the box office.{{cite news |date=October 12, 1993 |first=David J. |last=Fox |title=Weekend Box Office Stallone, Snipes: Action at Box Office |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-12-ca-44901-story.html |access-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-date=April 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403111600/http://articles.latimes.com/1993-10-12/entertainment/ca-44901_1_box-offices |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Weekend Box Office : 'Demolition Man' Fends Off 'Hillbillies' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 19, 1993 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-19-ca-47287-story.html |access-date=August 1, 2020 |first=David J. |last=Fox |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404082027/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-19-ca-47287-story.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=Demolition man' explodes into charts at no. 1 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=October 15, 1993 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-10-22-9310220292-story.html |access-date=May 4, 2020 |first=John |last=Horn |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714050830/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-10-22-9310220292-story.html |url-status=live }} Demolition Man grossed $58 million by the end of its box office run in North America and a total of $159 million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Demolition-Man#tab=summary |title=Demolition Man – Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information |work=The Numbers |access-date=June 1, 2020 |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108210513/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Demolition-Man#tab=summary |url-status=live }}

Film critic Roger Ebert was asked why this film was considered a success, but Last Action Hero was considered a disappointment, despite similar budgets and box office grosses. Ebert concluded it was due to expectations, and that the film was seen as a comeback for Stallone whose career had been flagging, whereas Schwarzenegger failed to live up to his previous record breaking successes.{{cite web |date=January 1, 1994 |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=Movie Answer Man |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/answer-man/movie-answer-man-01011994 |website= RogerEbert.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709025351/https://www.rogerebert.com/answer-man/movie-answer-man-01011994 |archive-date=2014-07-09 }}{{cite book |last1=Ebert |first1=Roger |author1-link=Roger Ebert |title=Questions for the movie answer man |date=1997 |publisher=Andrews McMeel Pub |location=Kansas City |isbn=9780836228946 |pages=37–38 |url=https://archive.org/details/questionsformovi00eber/page/37/mode/1up?q=%22demolition+man%22 |quote=Hollywood was surprised that Stallone, whose career had been lagging, did so well. }}

{{Anchor|Lawsuit|Accounting controversy}}

In 2017, Sylvester Stallone's loan-out company filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. over the disbursement of profits from the film.{{cite web |date=April 13, 2017 |last=Mumford |first=Gwilym |title=Sylvester Stallone sues Warner Bros for 'dishonesty' over Demolition Man profits |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/apr/13/sylvester-stallone-sues-warner-bros-demolition-man |website=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413100809/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/apr/13/sylvester-stallone-sues-warner-bros-demolition-man |archive-date=2017-04-13 |access-date=July 11, 2020 }}{{cite web |date=13 April 2017 |title=Sylvester Stallone sues 'greedy' studio |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39587583 |website=BBC News |access-date=August 5, 2020 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112005401/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39587583 |url-status=live }} The lawsuit was settled in 2019.{{cite web |date= May 8, 2019 |last= Maddaus |first= Gene |title= Sylvester Stallone Settles 'Demolition Man' Profits Dispute |url= https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/sylvester-stallone-demolition-man-settlement-1203208843/ |website=Variety |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508195041/https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/sylvester-stallone-demolition-man-settlement-1203208843/ |archive-date= 2019-05-08 }}

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 64% based on 44 reviews, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The site's consensus reads: "A better-than-average sci-fi shoot-em-up with a satirical undercurrent, Demolition Man is bolstered by strong performances by Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock."{{cite web |title=Demolition Man (1993) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/demolition_man/ |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=December 13, 2024}} On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 34 out of 100, based on nine reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.{{cite web |title=Demolition Man Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/demolition-man |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS |access-date=July 31, 2020 |archive-date=October 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023070628/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/demolition-man |url-status=live }} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= DEMOLITION MAN (1993) B |work= CinemaScore |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073531/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= February 6, 2018 }}

Critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert from At The Movies reviewed the film: Siskel found the film amusing but did not care for the action sequences and gave it "thumbs down", whereas Ebert enjoyed both the satirical edge this film had over other films of this genre and thought the action sequences were good for this type of film, and gave it a "thumbs up".{{cite web |title=Fatal Instinct, Demolition Man, The Remains of the Day, Twenty Bucks, 1993 – Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews |url=https://siskelebert.org/?p=1995 |website=SiskelEbert.org |access-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119080856/https://siskelebert.org/?p=1995 |url-status=live }} {{Cite episode |title=Fatal Instinct/Demolition Man/The Remains of the Day/Twenty Bucks |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1950834/ |number=8 |season=8 |series= At The Movies |series-link= At the Movies (1986 TV program) |date=30 October 1993 |time= 5 minutes }}

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the film fails to give action fans what they desire, instead substituting out-of-place satirical commentary.{{Cite news |title=Demolition Man: Another Killer Blond |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=October 8, 1993 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-08-ca-43330-story.html |first=Kenneth |last=Turan |author-link=Kenneth Turan |access-date=July 31, 2020 |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708025907/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-08-ca-43330-story.html |url-status=live }} Vincent Canby of The New York Times called it "a significant artifact of our time or, at least, of this week".{{Cite news |title=Review/Film; Waking Up In a Future Of Muscles |work=The New York Times |date=October 8, 1993 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/08/movies/review-film-waking-up-in-a-future-of-muscles.html |first=Vincent |last=Canby |author-link=Vincent Canby |access-date=July 31, 2020 |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926064215/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/08/movies/review-film-waking-up-in-a-future-of-muscles.html |url-status=live }} Richard Schickel of Time wrote, "Some sharp social satire is almost undermined by excessive explosions and careless casting."{{Cite news |date=October 18, 1993 |first=Richard |last=Schickel |title= Futuristic Face-Off |magazine=Time |url= https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,979410,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100917085656/https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,979410,00.html |archive-date= 2010-09-17 |access-date=April 1, 2022 }} Peter Travers of Rolling Stone criticized the film calling it "sleek and empty as well as brutal and pointless."{{cite magazine |date=8 November 1993 |last=Travers |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Travers |title=Demolition Man |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/demolition-man-123852/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023171049/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/demolition-man-123852/ |url-status=live }} Emanuel Levy of Variety called it "A noisy, soulless, self-conscious pastiche that mixes elements of sci-fi, action-adventure and romance, then pours on a layer of comedy replete with Hollywood in-jokes." Levy says it "works better as a comic-book adventure" than did Last Action Hero, but reserves his praise for the technical merits of the film, complimenting "the high-tech, metallic look created by production designer David L. Snyder and his accomplished team" as well as the cinematography of Alex Thomson. He concludes "what's badly missing is a guiding intelligence to lift this disjointed pic from its derivative status."{{cite web |date=October 8, 1993 |last=Levy |first=Emanuel |author-link=Emanuel Levy |title=Demolition Man |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/demolition-man-1200433744/ |website=Variety |access-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-date=November 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106040543/https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/demolition-man-1200433744/ |url-status=live }}

Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave it a "B−". Despite his low expectations of a Joel Silver production and "the everything-goes-boom school of high-tech action overkill", he found it "an intermittently amusing sci-fi satire" before it switches to full-tilt destruction mode. Gleiberman says "if it's the promise of overwrought violence that lures people into theaters, I suspect it will be the quieter scenes—the ones with a pretense of wit—that keep them satisfied."{{cite magazine |date=October 22, 1993 |first=Owen |last=Gleiberman |author-link=Owen Gleiberman |title=Movie Review: 'Demolition Man' |url=https://ew.com/article/1993/10/22/movie-review-demolition-man/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614185053/https://ew.com/article/1993/10/22/movie-review-demolition-man/ |url-status=live }}

Hal Hinson of The Washington Post wrote: "Basically, Demolition Man is a futuristic cop picture with slightly more imagination and wit than the typical example of the slash-and-burn genre."{{cite news |date=October 9, 1993 |first=Hal |last=Hinson |author-link=Hal Hinson |title=Demolition Man |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/demolitionmanrhinson_b007c3.htm |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |access-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926064220/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/demolitionmanrhinson_b007c3.htm |url-status=live }}

TV Guide praised the film and wrote: "The pleasant surprise about Demolition Man is that both the script, and Stallone, are funny; the film blends big-budget action and tongue-in-cheek humor in the way that 'Last Action Hero' tried, and failed, to do."{{cite web |title=Demolition Man |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/demolition-man/review/129347/ |website=TV Guide |access-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-date=October 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007062620/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/demolition-man/review/129347/ |url-status=live }}

Phillipa Bloom of Empire magazine gave it 4 out of 5, and compared it to a one-night stand "not necessarily something you'll remember next day but fast, furious and damn good fun while it lasts." Bloom was critical of the thin plot but called Stallone and Snipes "a dynamite screen combination".{{cite web |date=1 January 2000 |first=Phillipa |last=Bloom |title=Demolition Man |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/demolition-man-review/ |website=Empire |access-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111165655/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/demolition-man-review/ |url-status=live }}

{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}

The film was nominated for three Saturn Awards, Best Costumes (Bob Ringwood), Best Special Effects (Michael J. McAlister, Kimberly Nelson LoCascio) and Best Science Fiction Film.{{cite web |title=Past Winners Database |url=http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1993/1993sat.htm |newspaper=Los Angeles Times

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017175615/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1993/1993sat.htm |archive-date=2006-10-17 |date=17 October 2006 |url-status=dead }}

The MTV Movie Awards nominated Wesley Snipes in the Best Villain category.{{cite web |title=Demolition Man Awards - IMDb |website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106697/awards }}

Sandra Bullock was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award in the Worst Supporting Actress category.{{cite web |url=http://www.razzies.com/forum/1993-razzie-nominees-winners_topic343.html |title=1993 RAZZIEZ Nominees & "Winners" |publisher=The Official RAZZIEZ Forum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217042204/http://www.razzies.com/forum/1993-razzie-nominees-winners_topic343.html |archive-date=17 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}

File:GM_Heritage_Center_-_056_-_Cars_-_442.jpg was used in the car chase and also included in the Hot Wheels toys from the film.{{cite web |title=1993 "Demolition Man"/ 1970 Oldsmobile 442 |url=https://bestmoviecars.com/1993-demolition-man-1970-oldsmobile-442/ |website=Best Movie Cars |date=23 March 2017 |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=April 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411002914/https://bestmoviecars.com/1993-demolition-man-1970-oldsmobile-442/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=July 7, 2002 |first=Daniel G. |last=Fricker |title=GM hides 'archive' of cars in Detroit |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2002-07-07-0207070298-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 5, 2020 |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404144740/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2002-07-07-0207070298-story.html |url-status=live }}]]

Demolition Man action figures and vehicles were released in 1993. Produced by Mattel the toys were based on their "New Adventures of He-Man" style of figures. In addition to seven action figure, the set included a car, a red convertible called the "Fast Blast 442", an airplane "Bolajet" , and a "Missile Shooter" toy gun.{{cite web |title=Demolition Man (Mattel) Action Figure Checklist |url=https://www.figurerealm.com/actionfigure?action=seriesitemlist&id=300 |website=FigureRealm.com |access-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218065211/https://www.figurerealm.com/actionfigure?action=seriesitemlist&id=300 |url-status=live }} Lenina Huxley was not included in the toy line.{{cite web |date=24 November 2014 |first1=Michael |last1=Roffman |first2=Dan |last2=Caffreyon |title=The 5 Worst and Best Movie Action Figures |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2014/11/worst-and-best-movie-action-figures/5/ |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=March 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324070353/http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/11/worst-and-best-movie-action-figures/5/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=2013-03-01 |author=MTVGEEK |title=The Many (Toy) Faces of Sylvester Stallone |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2628210/sylvester-stallone-toys/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514184315/http://www.mtv.com/news/2628210/sylvester-stallone-toys/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |website=MTV News |quote=While Snipes got his first figure with the line, sadly Sandra Bullock's character received no figure as well. }}

Hot Wheels released a set of nine cars from Demolition Man.{{cite web |title=1993 Hot Wheels Demolition Man Series |url=https://www.hobbydb.com/marketplaces/hobbydb/subjects/1993-hot-wheels-demolition-man-series-series |website=www.hobbydb.com |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021180820/https://www.hobbydb.com/marketplaces/hobbydb/subjects/1993-hot-wheels-demolition-man-series-series |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |date=26 May 2020 |author=BRAD |title=Two little known Hot Wheels MOVIE CARS that today's collectors don't know about! |url=https://orangetrackdiecast.com/2020/05/26/two-little-known-hot-wheels-movie-cars-that-are-todays-collectors-dont-know-about/ |website=ORANGE TRACK DIECAST |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808230137/https://orangetrackdiecast.com/2020/05/26/two-little-known-hot-wheels-movie-cars-that-are-todays-collectors-dont-know-about/ |url-status=live }}

{{Anchor|Games}}

{{Main|Demolition Man (video game)}}

Acclaim Entertainment and Virgin Interactive released Demolition Man on various home video game systems. The 16-bit versions were shooting games distributed by Acclaim. The 3DO version is a multi-genre game that incorporates Full Motion Video scenes, with both Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes reprising their roles as their characters in scenes that were filmed exclusively for the game.{{cite magazine |title=Demolition Man |magazine=GamePro |issue=76 |publisher=IDG |date=January 1995 |page=192 }}

{{Main|Demolition Man (pinball)}}

In April 1994, Williams released a widebody pinball machine, Demolition Man based on the film. It was designed by Dennis Nordman. The game features sound clips from the film, as well as original speech by Stallone and Snipes.

{{Anchor|Literature|Comics}}

A four-part limited-series comic adaptation was published by DC Comics starting in November 1993, written by Gary Cohn and art by Rod Whigham with covers by Kevin Maguire.{{cite web |date=January 1, 1993 |author=Gary Cohn |author-link=Gary Cohn (comics) |others=Illustrator: Rod Whigham |title=Demolition MAN (1993 DC) 1-4 Complete Story Comic |url=https://www.amazon.com/Demolition-MAN-1993-Complete-Story/dp/B000R4O7X0/ |website=Amazon.com }}

A novelization, written by Robert Tine (using the pseudonym Richard Osborne), was published in November 1993.{{cite book |date=November 25, 1993 |first=Robert |last=Tine |title=Demolition Man |publisher=Signet Books |isbn=0451180798 }}{{cite book |last1=Osborne |first1=Richard |title=Demolition man |url=https://archive.org/details/demolitionman00osbo |publisher=Signet |date=1993 |isbn=9780451181022 |url-access=registration }}

Warner Bros. released Demolition Man on VHS in March 1994,{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-04-ca-29739-story.html |title='Fugitive' Runs Home : Movies: Even though the hit film is back in theaters, Warners rushes its video release on the heels of Oscar nominations. |last=Hunt |first=Dennis |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=March 4, 1994 |access-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-date=July 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724061202/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-04-ca-29739-story.html |url-status=live }} on DVD in October 1997{{cite web |url=https://movieweb.com/dvd-bluray/1997/action |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141123181640/http://www.movieweb.com/dvd-bluray/1997/action |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 23, 2014 |title=Action On DVD and Blu-ray 1997 |work=MovieWeb |access-date=November 23, 2014 }} (and November 2010), and on Blu-ray in August 2011.{{cite web |date=August 25, 2011 |last=Zupan |first=Michael |title=Demolition Man (Blu-ray) |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/49580/demolition-man/ |work=DVD Talk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828032653/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/49580/demolition-man/ |archive-date=2011-08-28 |url-status=live |access-date=July 31, 2020 }} The film was released by Arrow Video on Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on December 10, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Plale |first=Mathew |date=2024-09-28 |title=Demolition Man coming to 4K this December from Arrow |url=https://www.joblo.com/demolition-man-coming-to-4k-this-december-from-arrow/ |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=JoBlo |language=en-US |archive-date=September 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240928175352/https://www.joblo.com/demolition-man-coming-to-4k-this-december-from-arrow/ |url-status=live }} This Limited Edition release includes both the domestic "Taco Bell" and international "Pizza Hut" versions of the film.

Inspired by the film, Dennis Rodman had his hair dyed and styled the same way the character of Simon Phoenix played by Snipes, for his San Antonio Spurs debut, which was the start of Rodman dyeing his hair in different colors.{{cite web |date=1993-11-08 |last=Telander |first=Rick |title=Demolition Man |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/11/08/demolition-man-dennis-rodman-who-has-brought-his-unique-act-to-san-antonio-is-a-relentless-rebounder-a-ferocious-competitor-and-a-strangely-tormented-soul |website=Sports Illustrated Vault {{!}} SI.com |access-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728171741/https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/11/08/demolition-man-dennis-rodman-who-has-brought-his-unique-act-to-san-antonio-is-a-relentless-rebounder-a-ferocious-competitor-and-a-strangely-tormented-soul |url-status=live }} Snipes hated this hairdo and shaved it off as soon as filming had wrapped.{{cite web |url=https://www.moviefone.com/2018/09/17/demolition-man-sylvester-stallone-wesley-snipes-movie-trivia/ |first=Jesse |last=Schedeen |title=11 Things You Didn't Know About 'Demolition Man' |website=moviefone.com |date=September 17, 2018 |access-date=September 16, 2019 }}

The development of erotic games for the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset has been compared to the "virtual sex" scene from the film.{{cite web |date=2013-06-17 |last=Mize |first=Clint |title=Virtual Sex Almost a Reality Thanks To Oculus Rift |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2467401/virtual-sex-almost-a-reality-thanks-to-oculus-rift/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809135712/http://www.mtv.com/news/2467401/virtual-sex-almost-a-reality-thanks-to-oculus-rift/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |website=MTV News }}

To celebrate the film's 25th anniversary, Taco Bell recreated the 2032 San Angeles version of their restaurant at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.{{cite web |title=A Glimpse Into the Future of Taco Bell (Inspired by Demolition Man) |url=https://www.tacobell.com/blog/demolition-man |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323221519/https://www.tacobell.com/blog/demolition-man |archive-date=2019-03-23 |website=Taco Bell |date=23 March 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/demolition-man-taco-bell-san-diego-comic-con/ |title=Taco Bell Recreating Demolition Man Restaurant At SDCC 2018 |first=Danny |last=Salemme |website=Screen Rant |date=July 3, 2018 |access-date=July 4, 2018 |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703225110/https://screenrant.com/demolition-man-taco-bell-san-diego-comic-con/ |url-status=live }}

The film has been described as a cultural touchpoint, and the restrictive future society portrayed has been used as an example of government overreach, and called a "Libertarian manifesto".{{cite web |date=9 October 2018 |last=Riesman |first=Abraham |title=In Praise of Demolition Man's Wackadoo Libertarianism |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/10/on-demolition-man-libertarian-action-and-the-3-seashells.html |website=Vulture |publisher=Vox Media }} Demolition Man has been referred to as "the only plausible dystopian vision for our time".{{cite web |date=27 September 2007 |last=Yglesias |first=Matthew |title=Get Fit |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2007/09/get-fit/46453/ |website=The Atlantic |access-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811071339/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2007/09/get-fit/46453/ |url-status=live }}

The film found renewed relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic; the film was seen as predictive when there were calls to end the practice of shaking hands, and shortages of toilet paper.{{cite web |date=6 April 2020 |last=Augustine |first=Afiya |title=Are we headed towards a Demolition Man future? |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/are-we-headed-towards-a-demolition-man-future |website=SYFY WIRE |access-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726080338/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/are-we-headed-towards-a-demolition-man-future |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |date=May 4, 2020 |first=Clark |last=Collis |title=Sylvester Stallone is 'working on' a sequel to 'Demolition Man' |url=https://ew.com/movies/demolition-man-sequel-sylvester-stallone/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |quote=The film recently resurfaced in the popular consciousness when there were concerns of a toilet paper shortage following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. |access-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-date=December 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231094657/https://ew.com/movies/demolition-man-sequel-sylvester-stallone/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=20 April 2020 |first=Jon |last=Fuge |title='Demolition Man' Writer Looks at How It Predicted the Future and a Potential Sequel |url=https://movieweb.com/demolition-man-sequel-future-predictions/ |website=Movieweb |access-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-date=June 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612081601/https://movieweb.com/demolition-man-sequel-future-predictions/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=2020-04-16 |first=Beth |last=Elderkin |title=Demolition Man's Writer Wasn't Trying to Be Prescient, He Just Wanted to Make a Funny Movie |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/demolition-mans-writer-wasnt-trying-to-be-prescient-he-1842901085 |website=io9 }}

In the video game Cyberpunk 2077, three shells are found in the bathroom of the player's apartment.{{Cite web |date=Dec 13, 2020 |author=Anthony McGlynn |title=Cyberpunk 2077 has a Demolition Man easter egg in V's apartment|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/cyberpunk-2077/demolition-man |website=PCGamesN }}

In 2022, Sylvester Stallone reflected positively on the movie: "I always enjoyed this movie. It was a great action film wonderfully directed by Marco Brambilla. And the writers were way ahead of their time."{{cite web |date=13 February 2022 |last1=Dick |first1=Jeremy |title=Sylvester Stallone Reflects on Demolition Man, Says It Was Ahead of Its Time |url=https://movieweb.com/sylvester-stallone-reflects-demolition-man/ |website=MovieWeb.com |access-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-date=September 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923191000/https://movieweb.com/sylvester-stallone-reflects-demolition-man/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ7KXcBJJcF/ | title=Instagram | access-date=February 17, 2024 | archive-date=December 16, 2024 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20241216111105/https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ7KXcBJJcF/ | url-status=live }}

{{Anchor|Sequel|Sequels}}

In 1993, Us Weekly magazine reported a sequel was planned for 1995. In 2006, Stallone was asked about a sequel and he said, "I'd like to make a sequel to Demolition Man, but I believe that ship has sailed and maybe there are more challenges waiting on the horizon."{{cite web |date=December 6, 2006 |author=Harry Knowles (headgeek) |author-link=Harry Knowles |title=Round #4: Stallone talks about Dolly Parton, Rocky Balboa, his fave action stars and film, his... |url=http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/30877 |website=Aint It Cool News |access-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-date=July 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713151303/http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/30877 |url-status=live }} On May 4, 2020, Stallone said a sequel is in development.{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2020 |first=Adele |last=Ankers |title=Demolition Man 2 in the Works at Warner Bros. |website=IGN |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/demolition-man-2-warner-bros-sylvester-stallone |access-date=2020-05-04 |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510033514/https://www.ign.com/articles/demolition-man-2-warner-bros-sylvester-stallone |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{IMDb title}}
• {{AFI film}}
• {{mojo title|demolitionman|Demolition Man}}
• {{TCMDb title}}
• {{cite web |title='Demolition Man,' early draft, by Peter M. Lenkov |url=http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/demolition-man_lenkov.html |website=DailyScript.com }}
• {{cite web |title='Demolition Man,' by Daniel Waters; and Jonathan Lemkin |url=http://dailyscript.com/scripts/demolition-man_production.html |website=DailyScript.com }}

{{Demolition Man}}

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