The Fly (1986)
David Cronenberg's landmark body horror film transforms a sci-fi premise into a devastating meditation on disease, love, and the terror of losing oneself.
The Fly - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Fly
- Release Year: 1986
- Directed by: David Cronenberg
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 36m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): August 15, 1986 (Canada), August 15, 1986 (United States - R), February 13, 1987 (United Kingdom - 18), January 8, 1987 (Germany - 18), January 21, 1987 (France), November 3, 1987 (India), January 8, 1987 (Australia), April 16, 1987 (Brazil - 14), May 22, 1987 (Mexico), January 8, 1987 (Italy - 14+), February 9, 1987 (Spain), August 13, 1988 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: Moucha (XC), Муха (SU), Za furai (JP), Muva (YU), Flugan (FI), Ha-Zvuv (IL), 더 플라이 (KR), A Mosca (BR)
- Production Companies: SLM Production Group, Brooksfilms
- Production Countries: Canada, United States of America
The Fly - Plot
When Seth Brundle makes a huge scientific and technological breakthrough in teleportation, he decides to test it on himself. Unbeknownst to him, a common housefly manages to get inside the device and the two become one.
The Fly - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see where Brundle's experiment takes a terrifying turn:
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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The Fly - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- David Cronenberg
Main Cast
- Jeff Goldblum
- Geena Davis
- John Getz
- Joy Boushel
- Leslie Carlson
- George Chuvalo
- Michael Copeman
- David Cronenberg
- Carol Lazare
- Shawn Hewitt
Writers
- David Cronenberg
- Charles Edward Pogue
Producers
- Stuart Cornfeld
- Mel Brooks
The Fly - FAQs
What is The Fly (1986) about?
The Fly follows brilliant but eccentric scientist Seth Brundle, who invents a teleportation pod and tests it on himself — not realizing a housefly slipped inside. The two organisms merge at the genetic level, and Brundle slowly, horrifyingly transforms. It's equal parts body horror and tragic love story.
Does The Fly have a happy ending?
Not at all. The Fly ends on a deeply tragic note. Brundle's transformation becomes complete and monstrous, and in a final act of mercy, Veronica is forced to end his suffering. It's one of cinema's most heartbreaking conclusions, leaving audiences shaken long after the credits roll.
Where can you stream or rent The Fly?
The Fly is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It's not currently on a major subscription streaming service, but it's easy to find digitally across all major platforms.
Is The Fly a remake of an earlier film?
Yes — Cronenberg's 1986 version is a reimagining of the 1958 sci-fi classic of the same name. Rather than a direct retelling, Cronenberg used the premise as a springboard for a much darker, more visceral exploration of disease, decay, and bodily transformation, making it far more than a simple remake.
Who stars in The Fly alongside Jeff Goldblum?
Geena Davis plays Veronica Quaife, the journalist and Brundle's love interest whose perspective anchors the emotional core of the film. John Getz rounds out the central trio as Stathis Borans. Director David Cronenberg also appears in a memorable cameo as a gynecologist.
What does The Fly's transformation symbolize?
Cronenberg has spoken openly about the film as a metaphor for disease, aging, and mortality — particularly resonant during the AIDS crisis of the mid-1980s. Brundle's gradual, unstoppable physical deterioration mirrors the experience of watching someone you love succumb to a terminal illness, giving the horror real emotional weight.
Did The Fly win any major awards?
It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup — a well-deserved recognition of Chris Walas and Stephan Dupuis's extraordinary practical effects work. The film was also a major box office success, earning over $60 million worldwide against a $15 million budget, cementing Cronenberg's mainstream breakthrough.
Where was The Fly filmed?
Principal photography took place in Toronto, Canada — a frequent Cronenberg stomping ground. The film was a Canadian-American co-production between SLM Production Group and Mel Brooks' Brooksfilms, and Toronto's industrial spaces gave Brundle's eccentric warehouse laboratory its distinctively grimy, claustrophobic atmosphere.
More About The Fly
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