Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Dark Backward

  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
21,981
3,382
The Dark Backward (1991)
Home Video Trailer from Other
Play trailer2:26
1 Video
12 Photos
Comedy
A man pursues stand-up comedy encouraged by his fellow garbage man. Though his friend, who accompanies him on accordion, continues to tell him how great he is, he actually stinks. When the "... Read allA man pursues stand-up comedy encouraged by his fellow garbage man. Though his friend, who accompanies him on accordion, continues to tell him how great he is, he actually stinks. When the "comedian" grows a third arm out of his back, the friend uses this twist to get him signed ... Read allA man pursues stand-up comedy encouraged by his fellow garbage man. Though his friend, who accompanies him on accordion, continues to tell him how great he is, he actually stinks. When the "comedian" grows a third arm out of his back, the friend uses this twist to get him signed up with a sleazy talent agent, and it begins to look like his career is on the move, even ... Read all
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
21,981
3,382
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Adam Rifkin
    • Writer
      • Adam Rifkin
    • Stars
      • Judd Nelson
      • Bill Paxton
      • Wayne Newton
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Adam Rifkin
    • Writer
      • Adam Rifkin
    • Stars
      • Judd Nelson
      • Bill Paxton
      • Wayne Newton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 53User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
    • 48Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Dark Backward
    Trailer 2:26
    The Dark Backward

    Photos12

    The Dark Backward (1991)
    The Dark Backward (1991)
    The Dark Backward (1991)
    Johnny Mask in The Dark Backward (1991)
    Judd Nelson in The Dark Backward (1991)
    Bill Paxton, Judd Nelson, and Claudia Christian in The Dark Backward (1991)
    Bill Paxton, Judd Nelson, and Wayne Newton in The Dark Backward (1991)
    Judd Nelson in The Dark Backward (1991)
    Adam Rifkin
    The Dark Backward (1991)
    The Dark Backward (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Judd Nelson
    Judd Nelson
    • Marty Malt
    Bill Paxton
    Bill Paxton
    • Gus
    Wayne Newton
    Wayne Newton
    • Jackie Chrome
    Lara Flynn Boyle
    Lara Flynn Boyle
    • Rosarita
    James Caan
    James Caan
    • Doctor Scurvy
    Rob Lowe
    Rob Lowe
    • Dirk Delta
    King Moody
    King Moody
    • Twinkee Doodle
    Claudia Christian
    Claudia Christian
    • Kitty
    Danny Dayton
    Danny Dayton
    • Syd
    Carrie Lynn
    • Nicolette
    Anna Berger
    Anna Berger
    • Mrs. Malt
    Lydell M. Cheshier
    • Dexter
    Tom Hodges
    Tom Hodges
    • Marjorie Zipp
    Theodocia Goodrich
    • Mrs. Bielfuss
    Laurianne Jameson
    • Shirley
    Debra Perkins
    • Pickles
    Charles Knapp
    • Sloppy
    Clifford Streit
    • Raoul
    • Director
      • Adam Rifkin
    • Writer
      • Adam Rifkin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Reflecting Skin
    6.7
    The Reflecting Skin
    The Rapture
    6.3
    The Rapture
    Nothing Underneath
    5.7
    Nothing Underneath
    The Stepfather
    6.7
    The Stepfather
    10 to Midnight
    6.3
    10 to Midnight
    Angel
    5.7
    Angel
    Just Before Dawn
    6.1
    Just Before Dawn
    Conquest
    5.2
    Conquest
    Hi, Mom!
    6.1
    Hi, Mom!
    My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done
    6.2
    My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done
    Dream Lover
    6.2
    Dream Lover
    Poison
    6.4
    Poison

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Adam Rifkin wrote the screenplay when he was nineteen-years-old.
    • Quotes

      Gus: I will laugh SO hard, my stomach will burst open and spray bile all over the stage!

    • Connections
      Referenced in Welcome to Hollywood (1998)

    User reviews53

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    perhaps the dirtiest film ever?
    I don't know whether I've ever encountered another film with quite as much on screen filth as this one... not filth in the pornographic sense, but in the sense that there is a layer of dirt covering just about everything all through the film. I remember looking at the case and seeing the claim that it compared to Brazil, Pink Flamingos and Eraserhead. At the time I thought it would be worth the money just to be able to tear it to shreds after watching it... but it turned out to be a very endearing film that paints a sinister picture of opportunism. Of course, The Dark Backward isn't going to appeal to just anyone, but anyone who finds humour in scenes of perversion and obvious discomfort will recognise this one as a gem.
    helpful•23
    3
    • fishead
    • Mar 29, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 24, 1993 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Man with Three Arms
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Backward Films
      • Elwes/Wyman Productions
      • L.A. Dreams Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $28,654
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,917
      • Jul 28, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $28,654
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Dark Backward (1991)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for The Dark Backward (1991)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    New & Upcoming Superhero Movies and Series
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    These Stars Are on the Rise
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Back to top
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.