Explosions, doves, dual identities, and two iconic performances — Face/Off (1997) is the ultimate ‘90s action movie with a wild sci-fi twist. John Travolta and Nicolas Cage deliver career-defining performances in a high-concept story about revenge, transformation, and walking a mile in your enemy’s skin — literally.
But how well do you remember the chaos, the shootouts, and the surgical swap of the century? Take this 10-question quiz and prove you can tell who’s who when no one is what they seem.
Face/Off (1997) Trivia Questions & Answers
- Who plays FBI Agent Sean Archer in Face/Off?
Correct Answer: John Travolta
John Travolta plays Sean Archer, a grief-stricken FBI agent determined to capture Castor Troy, the terrorist responsible for his son’s death. Travolta masterfully shifts gears when Archer assumes Troy’s identity, adopting Nicolas Cage’s mannerisms in a complex, layered performance.
- Who is the terrorist nemesis of Sean Archer?
Correct Answer: Castor Troy
Nicolas Cage plays Castor Troy, a flamboyant and sadistic terrorist. Cage delivers a thrilling dual performance, first as the wild villain and later as the lawman trapped in the villain’s body — adding intensity and charisma to every scene.
- What drastic procedure do Archer and Troy undergo?
Correct Answer: A face transplant
The film’s central conceit is a secret face-swapping surgery, allowing Archer to go undercover as Troy. But when Troy wakes up and takes Archer’s face, the plan spirals into chaos, leading to a high-stakes identity crisis with violent consequences.
- Who directed Face/Off?
Correct Answer: John Woo
John Woo infuses the film with his signature action style — slow-motion gunfights, operatic visuals, and symbolic doves. His direction elevates the sci-fi thriller into an emotionally charged action classic that balances high-concept drama with explosive spectacle.
- What item does Castor Troy plant in a public building?
Correct Answer: A bomb
Troy hides a massive bomb in the Los Angeles Convention Center. This terrorist threat is what prompts Archer to assume Troy’s identity to retrieve the bomb’s location from Troy’s brother, setting the plot into motion.
- What is the name of Castor Troy’s brother?
Correct Answer: Pollux Troy
Pollux Troy, played by Alessandro Nivola, is Castor’s awkward, tech-savvy brother. While not as violent as Castor, he is crucial to the plot and the bomb’s location. His bond with Castor adds tension and irony when he senses something is off with “his brother.”
- How does Castor Troy end up in a coma?
Correct Answer: He is hit by a jet engine blast
During an intense airplane chase, Castor is caught in a jet engine’s exhaust and knocked into a coma. With him incapacitated, the FBI proceeds with the face-transplant plan, thinking the secret is safe — until he wakes up.
- What complication arises after Archer assumes Troy’s identity?
Correct Answer: Troy wakes up and takes Archer’s face
The plan backfires when Castor regains consciousness. He forces the doctors to give him Archer’s face and kills everyone involved. Now, Archer is trapped in Troy’s body while Troy parades around as a national hero.
- Where does the final confrontation between Archer and Troy take place?
Correct Answer: On a speedboat
The action-packed climax features a high-speed boat chase that ends in a brutal fight. John Woo delivers a visual spectacle with stunts, gunfights, and explosive emotion as Archer and Troy battle face to face — no masks, just rage.
- How does the film end?
Correct Answer: Archer returns to his family and adopts Troy’s son
After reclaiming his identity and killing Troy, Archer returns home. In a redemptive gesture, he adopts Troy’s orphaned son, symbolizing his decision to break the cycle of violence and loss — and begin healing his fractured family.
