Spawn
Spawn Image
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Metascore
34 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 17 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.2 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 13 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: John Leguizamo, Michael Jai White
  • Summary: A government assassin is brought back to life as a black superhero with supernatural powers. (Warner Bros.)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 17
  3. Negative: 8 out of 17
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    It walks and talks like a big budget horror film, heavy on special effects and pitched at the teenage audience, and maybe that's how it will be received. But it's more impressive if you ignore the genre and just look at what's on the screen.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: John Anderson
    70
    The special effects are effective and aggressive, although one might occasionally confuse a divine vortex with a flushed toilet.
  3. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    50
    Todd McFarlane's Spawn plays better on the page, but the adolescents of all ages who buy Spawn comics will probably enjoy the movie. Others should consider themselves forewarned.
  4. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Andy Seiler
    38
    Shot by a special-effects superstar making his first stab at directing, Mark Dippe, the result is dizzying in its unreality, and the visual tricks are impressive. [01Aug1997 Pg.02.D]
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See all 17 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. maxxk
    8
    The movie has its flaws, but I found it to be really good. The special effects were ok, nothing special. The acting was great, especially John Leguizamo as the Clown.… Expand
  2. Sam
    6
    Is it a terrible movie? No. Is it an ok movie? Sure. Does it deserve the 3 and a half out of for stars that Roger Ebert gave it? Not even close.
  3. Rox22
    5
    Overall an OK movie and decently made for the time. Effects were astounding (for the 90s) and Leguizamo is fantastic as Violator (perhaps a bit too over the top.) The rest of the cast were clearly not as interested in their roles. A really hammy performance from Martin Sheen, a bit shocked that he was capable of this. The story does cover modern Spawn's origin story, but in the most bland and rushed way possible. Like most comic book movies of the age, it clearly suffers from trying to do too much in a limited time and ending up with a disjointed mess that makes little sense. Too many references that only fans would understand with little to no exposition to explain them to anyone else. Overall: Spawn was fun to watch, but really a bit of a let down to most hardcore fans as it barely scratches the surface on the potential it could have been. Average, in every sense of the word.… Expand
  4. avatar16
    1
    En voyant le comics-book, il y avait quelque chose d'intéressant à tirer de Spawn. Surtout si le projet aurait atterri dans les main d'un réalisateur talentueux tel que Tim Burton, qui aurait pu faire ressortir toute l'ambiance et la puissance du comics ou tout simplement nous aurait livré un nouveau chef-d'oeuvre plastique comme il avait fait avec Batman. Mais au lieu de ça, Spawn reste un très mauvais film en plus d'être une très mauvaise adaptation. Et pour cause, le scénario est aussi indigeste que ses dialogues, c'est mal joué, les effets spéciaux sont immondes, la bande-son inadapté... Bref, tout est à jeter! Bon, je dois reconnaître que les maquillages et les costumes relèvent légèrement le niveau, mais cela n'est même pas suffisant pour faire un navet potable. Et franchement, on peut s'en rendre compte dès la première seconde du film, où une horrible voix off raconte les faits sur un montage digne du plus mal fichu des clips. En conclusion, Spawn ne ressemble à rien. Ou peut-être que si : il ressemble plus à un très mauvais jeu vidéo qui, lui-même, ne ressemble à rien. C'est pour vous dire...… Expand

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