Kuato appears in Paul Verhoeven's 1990 film Total Recall, based on Philip K. Dick's short story, as the leader of the Martian mutant resistance. His most quoted instruction to Douglas Quaid is to open his mind, a moment that has been lifted from the film and circulated on soundboards and in edits for years. The clip endures because the character's unusual appearance and strange voice make the line instantly recognisable, even to viewers who have not seen the full film, and it still signals a sudden shift in understanding.