Multiplicity

Multiplicity

Year: 1996

Runtime: 117 min

Language: English

Director: Harold Ramis

Sci-FiComedyRomance

Doug Kinney, a construction worker struggling to balance his career and family life, undergoes a radical experiment that results in the creation of clones of himself. Initially seeking a more assertive version to handle his responsibilities, Doug inadvertently triggers a series of duplications, leading to multiple versions of himself wreaking havoc. He must then navigate the chaotic consequences of his multiplied personas while desperately trying to maintain his marriage and keep his wife from discovering the truth, resulting in comedic and touching situations.

Multiplicity (1996) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Multiplicity (1996) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the bustling sprawl of Los Angeles, Doug Kinney is a hard‑working construction crew member whose job is steadily eating away the time he wishes to spend with his family. His marriage to Laura feels strained under the weight of endless overtime, while a well‑meaning but blundering colleague, Vic, and a demanding boss, Ted Gray, make the workday feel like a never‑ending marathon. The film sets this everyday grind against a bright, slightly exaggerated suburban backdrop, where humor bubbles up from the tension between responsibility and desire for a simpler life.

A chance encounter with the genial scientist Dr. Leeds introduces a fantastical solution: human cloning. The concept is presented with a whimsical, almost mad‑cap feel, inviting the audience to imagine what would happen if one could simply duplicate himself to handle the endless to‑do list. The tone balances slapstick comedy with sincere moments, hinting at the chaos that will ensue when the very idea of “more hands on deck” turns literal. As Doug decides to try the experiment, the story promises a playful exploration of identity, as each new version of him embodies an amplified facet of his personality.

The premise teases a cascade of duplicated selves, each stepping into different corners of Doug’s life—work, home, and the spaces in between—while he scrambles to keep the arrangement hidden from his increasingly impatient wife. The film’s style leans into fast‑paced, absurd situations that are grounded by heartfelt interactions, suggesting that the real comedy arises not just from the clones’ antics but from Doug’s struggle to reconcile his ambitions with the love he risks losing. This blend of sci‑fi curiosity and family‑driven humor sets the stage for a wild yet tender ride through the consequences of trying to be everywhere at once.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 13:27

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with chaotic domestic farce like Multiplicity

When a simple solution for life's pressures spectacularly backfires at home.If you enjoyed the hilarious havoc in Multiplicity, you'll love these movies about family life spiraling into comedic chaos. Discover similar stories where well-intentioned plans backfire spectacularly, leading to frantic situations and touching resolutions in movies like Multiplicity.

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Narrative Summary

This thread follows characters facing relatable domestic pressures who turn to an unconventional, often technological or magical, shortcut. The plot structure revolves around the initial success of the plan, followed by a rapid and uncontrollable escalation of complications, creating a series of frantic, overlapping crises that threaten to expose the secret and ruin everything.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared light tone, fast pacing, and focus on the comedy of errors that arises from trying to 'solve' life with a single, flawed idea. They all feature a mix of playful chaos, domestic satire, and a heartwarming core that prevents the farce from becoming mean-spirited.

Movies about clones and identity like Multiplicity

Exploring the self through fantastical duplicates and copies.Fans of Multiplicity's exploration of identity through cloning will enjoy these similar sci-fi comedies and dramas. Find movies like Multiplicity that play with the concept of doubles, clones, and alternate selves, using them to create comical and touching stories about self-discovery.

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Narrative Summary

The pattern involves a protagonist who gains one or more duplicates of themselves, either by accident or design. This forces a confrontation with their own flaws and strengths as the duplicates take on different aspects of their life or personality. The journey is about reconciling these fragmented selves to achieve a more wholistic understanding of who they are, often with a humorous and chaotic middle act.

Why These Movies?

These films are linked by their central use of a fantastical doubling mechanism as a narrative engine for comedy and character growth. They share a moderate complexity in exploring identity questions within an accessible, often lighthearted framework, balancing the conceptual premise with relatable emotional stakes.

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Multiplicity Summary

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Multiplicity Summary

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Multiplicity Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Multiplicity

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Multiplicity

More About Multiplicity

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