The 8th Day

The film revolves around a futuristic society where cloning has become a controversial yet normalized practice, except when it comes to humans. Its title alludes to a Bible verse referencing Creation on the sixth day. In this world, Arnold Schwarzenegger operates a helicopter service, catering to wealthy clients who wish to escape to the mountains for skiing and snowboarding. He lives a contented life with his wife and young daughter, while his business partner, Michael Rapaport, assists him in running the operation.

Set in an unspecified near future, the film showcases a society filled with advanced technology such as holograms and autopilots, enhancing the overall experience of life. A major underlying theme is the cloning of pets, which has grown popular; when a pet passes away, owners simply clone their beloved companion to have them back. However, one company, under the leadership of Tony Goldwyn and assisted by Robert Duvall, embarks on the illicit venture of human cloning, using a method called “syncording.” This process involves scanning one’s eyes to create a disc containing a copy of their brain, allowing the cloning of a human being in just two hours.

Drucker, the owner of this company, hires Arnold to take him to the slopes, but first, Arnold and Michael undergo tests for “insurance” purposes, which secretly collect their DNA and perform syncording. Unbeknownst to them, Arnold’s birthday coincides with the trip, prompting Michael to impersonate him so Arnold can be home with his family. Unfortunately, this outing leads to chaos when an anti-cloning activist ambushes them, resulting in a deadly confrontation.

In a bid to replace his deceased pet, Arnold considers obtaining a cloned version for his daughter, but instead opts for a lifelike “sim-doll.” Yet, when he returns home, he is startled to see a party where he is blowing out candles. Soon thereafter, he finds himself ambushed by individuals attempting to assassinate him. In a heart-racing escape, he manages to turn the tables, eliminating the attackers, only to discover they will merely return through cloning.

The twists and turns of the plot unfold as Arnold learns Drucker was cloned after he was reportedly killed during the trip. The narrative accelerates into a cat-and-mouse game as Arnold evades relentless pursuers determined to finish him off, all the while wrestling with the burden of keeping his family unaware of the cloning reality to protect them from harm.

The story deepens as Duvall’s cloned wife suffers from cystic fibrosis, and Drucker implements a deadly DNA disease in every clone to mitigate the potential threat. Refusing to let his wife suffer again, Duvall opts to quit, only for Drucker to kill him and plan to clone him alongside his wife.

As tension mounts, the villains resolve to kidnap Arnold’s wife and daughter during a school play, forcing Arnold to confront these threats head-on. Eventually, Arnold collaborates with his clone counterpart to develop a strategy against Drucker. In a twist of fate, a meetup at Drucker’s headquarters reveals that the Arnold present is the clone, while the original is alive and free.

A climactic showdown ensues, resulting in Drucker’s demise, but not before he attempts to clone himself one last time. With the cloning operation disrupted, one last confrontation leaves Drucker’s unfinished clone vulnerable, leading to a spectacular fall. The narrative concludes with the cloned Arnold taking off on a helicopter, bidding farewell to the original Arnold’s family as he sets off to create a new life in Argentina.

Last Updated: June 11, 2025 at 06:37