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Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, Fiona Lewis ... see more see more... , Henry Gibson , Vernon Wells , Robert Picardo , Wendy Schaal , Harold Sylvester , William Schallert , John Hora , Mark L. Taylor , Orson Bean , Kevin Hooks , Kathleen Freeman , Archie Hahn III , Kenneth Tobey , Charles Aidman , Christine Avila , Alan Blumenfeld , Joe Flaherty , Jenny Gago , Robert Gray , Grainger Hines , Rance Howard , Andrea Martin , Richard McGonagle , Terry McGovern , Dick Miller , Frank A Miller , John Miranda , Laura Waterbury , Jeffrey Boam , Chuck Jones , Neil Ross , Herb Mitchell , Jason Laskay , Archie Hahn , Frank Miller (II) , Terence McGovern , Kevin Mc Carthy

Golden Globe-nominees Meg Ryan ("Sleepless in Seattle," "When Harry Met Sally...") and Dennis Quaid ("In Good Company," "The Day After Tomorrow"), and Emmy-winner Martin Short (TV's "Merlin," "Mars At... read more read more...tacks!") star in this sci-fi comedy fantasy directed by Joe Dante ("Looney Tunes: Back in Action," "Gremlins" 1 & 2). A rambunctious Navy test pilot (Quaid) undergoes a top-secret miniaturization experiment and is accidentally injected into the body of a hypochondriac clerk (Short). Siskel & Ebert praised "two thumbs up for this ambitious science-fiction comedy... Dennis Quaid is charming and Martin Short is terrific." "One of the year's top 10 movies" (Time Magazine) "Hilarious! ...for non-stop inventiveness, 'Innerspace' is hard to beat!" (Newsweek). Produced by Academy Award, Emmy and Golden Globe-winner Steven Spielberg ("Munich," "War of the Worlds"). Received an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Flixster Users

60% liked it

33,877 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

36 critics

PG, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Joe Dante

Release Date: July 3, 1987

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DVD Release Date: July 9, 2002

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Stats: 1,101 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,101)


  • August 14, 2011
    With a great plot and screenplay, Innerspace, presents a great entertaining to the audience and that bring a funny and fine performance of Martin Short. Fresh.
  • July 8, 2011
    Not the most amazing ever made, but it's a boat load of fun with some great gags!
  • January 28, 2011
    Although this movie is really just an update of Fantastic Voyage, it has a lot of good actors, and it's fun, so I liked it.
  • July 31, 2010
    B-
  • June 8, 2010
    "Shit, I spilled my drink."

    I remember 'Innerspace' from my childhood. Glimpses, I mean. The terminatorish assassin with his mechanical hand, the ship inside a man, miniaturized people etc. Oh, yeah and Dennis Quaid with his all-american smile. Now SEVERAL years later, I was kin... read moreda anxious to see this film. Boy, should have left it alone..

    Steven Spielberg presents... So it starts. I'm sure that he had made a name out of himself by 1987 (this film premiered on my 9th birthday!) but this film proofs that the name is not a guarantee of quality. 'Innerspace' is a fantasy film with annoying people. That pretty much sums it up. And lousy directing. Joe Dante ('Gremlins') has to be blind or deaf, or something like that. I mean, the film is so full of bad acting that I'm not sure if Dante has been on any classes on how to direct people. Bad actors are bad actors. But a good director finds ways on how to make it work. Not here.

    Martin Short has always annoyed me but at times he can even be funny. Meg Ryan is so fuckin' lost in this movie! Ok, she's never been a favourite of mine but damn she just can not act. Period. In overall, the acting, by any person involved, is below any expectations. Be warned.

    The special effects have aged well. It looks "realistic" and there's a lot of effort in making it look good. But I felt that the filmmakers did not take full advantage of the use of the body. Some nice comedy could have been made, since the film turned out to be, rather than a fantasy, a lame comedy adventure.

    For nostalgic reasons, I can not leave this film with a one star rating. When I saw the key scenes that I remembered from my youth, I got a smile on my face. This is how I remembered it. But sadly, that which I did not rememeber was pretty bad. And as a reminder, this film is not for the littlest ones. At times it can look and feel a bit scary. There's some violence that can not be shown to kids. Give it a try?
  • December 21, 2009
    Another childhood favorite of mine.
  • December 12, 2009
    This 1987 film is a wonderful combination of sci-fi, comedy, romance and thriller elements. It is briskly paced despite being almost two hours in length, and features superb performances from the leads; Dennis Quaid is excellent as usual, as is Meg Ryan in her best role. Yet the ... read moreplaudits must go to Martin Short in a truly great performance he has never matched. He just needs the right role. The supporting cast are great as well; the delightful villainy of Vernon Wells who is unrecognisable as usual! Also Robert Picardo camping it up superbly as The Cowboy, one of his most memorable creations, plus the great pairing of Fiona Lewis and Kevin McCarthy, who memorably says to his dog before feeding it: 'Never beg, never beg!' The cinematography and special effects/makeup are all great as well, and Jerry Goldsmith's score is brilliant, perfectly complementing the tone of the film, alternately exciting/sprightly/romantic. Joe Dante binds it all together with magnificent verve, plus Dick Miller makes his trademark appearance! A great, timeless classic. Highly recommended.
  • September 24, 2009
    An old favourite. A sequel would have been interesting!
  • May 26, 2009
    Cool idea, but unfortunately not very well executed. The story is really out there, and it's the type of film that requires an incredible suspension of disbelief. I suppose that's all part of the old 80's charm though. Because back then, things didn't always have to make a lot of... read more sense, as long as it was done in the name of good fun. Anyhow, if you enjoy movies like Weird Science and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, you'll probably be entertained by this one as well. Just be to sure to keep your expectations really low. Because all in all, it's pretty average as far as sci-fi comedies goes.
  • April 18, 2009
    Good plot and cast. In an experiment that goes wrong a miniaturised Tuck (Dennis) is injected into Jack (Martin) instead of a rabbit.

Critic Reviews


Pat Graham
June 8, 2007
Pat Graham, Chicago Reader

The plot is standard fantasy-adventure pulp, though director Joe Dante has so many screwball things going on in it that the comedy all but overwhelms the formulaic line of action. Full Review

Variety Staff
June 8, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Short has infinitely more possibilities and makes the most of them, coming into his own as a screen personality as a mild-mannered little guy who rises to an extraordinary situation. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

It has been made in a style best described as enthusiastic. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Here is an absurd, unwieldy, overplotted movie that nevertheless is entertaining - and some of the fun comes from the way the plot keeps laying it on. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

It's an easy-to-get-along-with movie -- bouncy, rabbity fun. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Innerspace is significant for one thing -- the establishment of Martin Short as the funniest new kid on the Hollywood block. Too bad that's not enough for the sensation-a-second makers of Innerspace. Full Review

Betsy Bozdech
May 4, 2012
Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media

'80s sci-fi adventure comedy has some drinking, swearing. Full Review

Tim Brayton
June 14, 2011
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

While the sci-fi is pretty hard to fault for what it is, and the adventure is aces for a high-concept 1980s family movie, the comedy is awfully wan and reedy. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
September 6, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

For all the Amblin technology on display, Dante's greatest effects are humanistic Full Review

June 8, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Formulaic fun, helped by two winning leads. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Innerspace Trivia


  • Name the 80's movie that stars Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, Fiona Lewis, Vernon Wells and Robert Picardo  Answer »
  • I was in Merlin, Innerspace, and The Three Amigos, who am I?  Answer »
  • Which actor in Innerspace ends up with a miniscule Dennis Quaid in his stomach?  Answer »
  • He had a fantastic 'Innerspace' voyage inside Martin Short.  Answer »

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