When Sylvester Stallone’s character John Spartan emerges from cryo-sleep in the 2032 world of Demolition Man, one of his first bewildering experiences is the three seashells in every bathroom. What do they do? How are they used?
After decades of questions and theories, Stallone has weighed in on one of cinema’s quirkiest mysteries.
Directed by Marco Brambilla and released in 1993, Demolition Man placed Spartan into a hyper-polished future society where the ordinary roll of toilet paper has been surpassed by seashells. The method of use is never explained in the film, leaving audiences scratching their heads ever since.
What The Writer Said
Though the film doesn’t show how the shells are used, the screenplay team – including Daniel Waters – have offered revealing glimpses. Waters admitted the origin of the three seashells came from a conversation with a friend on the toilet, who happened to have a decorative bag of seashells next to his loo.
“I’m trying to come up with futuristic things you’d find in there,” he said.
“I was having trouble, so I called my buddy, another screenwriter across town, asked him if he had any ideas. Ironically enough that guy was taking a dump when he answered the phone, looked around his bathroom and said ‘I have a bag of seashells on my toilet as a decoration?’ I said ‘Okay, I’ll make something out of that.’”
The concept served its purpose: to illustrate how Spartan arrives in a world with seemingly trivial but entirely alien customs.
The Theories Vs Stallone’s Official Word
Since the film’s release fans have invented multiple theories about the mechanics of the three seashells. One popular idea: two shells are used for mechanical removal of waste, and the third for scraping or “finishing” the job. Another suggests they’re part of a bidet-like future system: one shell triggers cleansing, another drying, the third applying scent.
But if you’ve been wondering about this for over three decades then the wait is over. We finally have an answer.
And to be honest, once you’ve heard it, you may wish it still remained a mystery.
Sly was (for the millionth time) asked how they work and, perhaps wanting to make sure he’s never asked again, he went on social media to talk about it.
In a short, 13-second video clip, he said: “Without being too gross, imagine how chopsticks work and use your imagination from there”.
We hope you don’t have the same visual brain that we do.
@requination #sylvesterstallone #demolitionman #threeseashells #rqn #requination ♬ Demolition Man – Sting
Why It Matters
Well, it doesn’t really. It’s of no importance other than explaining a curiosity from a movie over 30 years ago.
But beyond the bathroom joke, the three seashells reflect the film’s wider satire of progress, control and the illusion of a “perfect” society. By focusing on something as low-stakes yet personal as toilet etiquette, the writers show that even small changes can feel disconcerting when you’re a stranger in your own world. It’s a clever move and it’s partly why Demolition Man remains memorable decades later.
Listen to the full Rewind episode of the podcast about Demolition Man with GB and special guest, comedian Nick Helm below or wherever you get your pods.
Open in Apple Podcasts or Spotiify