Highlander

Name: Highlander
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Released: March 7, 1986
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 24
Cast: Christopher Lambert, Clancy Brown, Sean Connery

1986

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 69 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 69 Ratings

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Highlander

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: March 7, 1986 | R

Starring: Christopher Lambert, Clancy Brown, Sean Connery

Summary: Connor Macleod, an immortal Scottish swordsman, must confront the last of his immortal opponents, a murderously brutal barbarian who lusts for the fabled "Prize".

Director: Russell Mulcahy

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rating: R

Runtime: 116 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Staff [Not Credited]

Director Russell Mulcahy can’t seem to decide from one scene to the next whether he’s making a sci-fi, thriller, horror, music video or romance – end result is a mishmash. Read full review

Jay Scott

Highlander's flashy style is the cinematic equivalent of a Las Vegas chorus line: always kicking. Without Lambert, who displays an unexpected comic talent along with intensely photogenic passive-aggressive eyes, and Roxanne Hart, whose knowledgeable portrayal of a New York detective is undercut by the symphony of screams extracted from her toward the end, and Connery, who wears a pearl-drop earring and is supposed to be Spanish but still has the burr and brio of James Bond, Highlander would be little more than an everlasting video; it's not much more than that, as it is. [10 Mar 1986, p.C9]

Gene Siskel

About halfway through the violent, fantasy adventure Highlander, one character talks about how it was the custom during ancient times to throw babies into a pit of hungry dogs. Well, there were more than a few times during this hyperviolent film in which I felt as if I were a baby being thrown to a dog of a movie. Read full review

Walter Goodman

Since none of the characters makes sense even on the movie's own terms, Highlander keeps on exploding for almost two hours, with nothing at stake. Read full review

Bill Cosford

Mulcahy has style to burn, but he may well have used the script to light it, for Highlander almost never makes any sense. [11 Mar 1986, p.B4]

Paul Attanasio

The camera style is grotesquely overwrought, a relentless exercise in technique for technique's sake. It's all here, folks: fancy wipes, expressionistic angles, quick-cut close-ups, stylized backlighting, camera moving in endless illogic. It's as if a 15-minute history of film technique had been compiled by a psychotic. [19 Mar 1986, p.B9]

Sheila Benson

In spite of a sturdy cast and dazzling production design, Highlander is stultifyingly, jaw-droppingly, achingly awful.[11 Mar 1986, p.5]

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User Reviews

Kai82

May 24, 2020

The classic movie from the eighties. It is hated by many critiques, loved by fans and has an awesome soundtrack with some of the best songs from Queen. It is the story of Connor MacLeod an immortal who was born in the Scottish Highlands 400 years ago. He is in a never-ending battle withThe classic movie from the eighties. It is hated by many critiques, loved by fans and has an awesome soundtrack with some of the best songs from Queen. It is the story of Connor MacLeod an immortal who was born in the Scottish Highlands 400 years ago. He is in a never-ending battle with other immortals. The winner beheads the other and takes their power. At the end there will be only one and get a reward only know as the price. He is in a personal struggle against his nemesis Kurgan. Kurgan is the one you don't want to have the price because he is an amoral maniac. So far the premise of the movie. It is an interesting concept and unlike every other fantasy movie of its time (or the others are unknown). The movie shows the strengths of this concept as cutbacks to the past are here a powerful tool. You learn about his past life and the struggles of immortality while always being in a fight for survival. The visuals and costumes are excellent but the visuals are even better. The Scottish setting and landscapes are breathtaking and were used in many movies. There are even today guided tours for tourist to movie locations. Together with the memorable characters and fitting story the movie creates an enjoyable setting with great lore. It spawned a franchise with sadly many bad movies. Highlander 2 and Highlander The Source are frequently on the worst films of all time list. For the actors: All are good. Cant go wrong with Sean Connery. Christopher Lambert has his signature role. Clancy Brown is an enjoyable evil villain. Beatie Edney and Roxanne Hart are excellent choices. Then there is the Queen soundtrack. You have the phenomenal good tracks “Princes of the Universe”, “A Kind of Magic”, “Don't lose your Head” and of cause “Who wants to live forever”. I must admit that Queen and Freddie Mercury are in my favorite music list. Overall a really good movie but I must admit this is not for everyone. I could also write a pretty solid negative review instead of all the praise. Watch the movie for yourself to find out. Special Warning: Much of the Highlander franchise is really bad. As fan I can only recommend the TV-Series and The Search for Vengeance. Highlander 3 and Endgame are O.K. for me but no masterpieces.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

timone

Aug 22, 2018

''From the dawn of time we came; moving silently down through the centuries, living many secret lives, struggling to reach the time of the Gathering; when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known we were among you... until now.''

Say, remember that I told you about''From the dawn of time we came; moving silently down through the centuries, living many secret lives, struggling to reach the time of the Gathering; when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known we were among you... until now.''

Say, remember that I told you about that I hate box office failures? Well, here I am going to tell you about the cult classic Highlander. Now the sword fights really sure reminds me of the King Arthur stories. Christopher Lambert really does fit for the role although he's French. The movie was filmed at Scotland and New York City. I actually thought from Christopher Lambert's character's past was filmed at Cornwall but it's not, it's actually filmed in Scotland. The first fight scene where Macleod fights the immortal, that scene is awesome. I think the beheading scenes really does the sword fight scenes where the characters fight the enemies and then cut their heads after saying the only line ''There can be only one.'' The only best thing about the movie that really impressed me is Kurgan played by Mr Krabs. (Chuckles) Now don't let that bother you. I said Mr Krabs because Mr Krabs is played by Clancy Brown. I think he always plays bad guy roles like Uka Uka from the Crash Bandicoot series, Baron Praxis from Jak 2 and the others. But in Spongebob Squarepants, the only villian who is in it is got to be Plankton, so I'm just putting it out there. So Kurgan is got to be one of my favorite baddies if not the best villian. He really does get a line that I really like are ''There can be only one.'', ''Hello, pretty.'' ''Another time, Macleod!'' and the famous line ''I have something to say! It's better to burn out than to fade away!'' Now this is the line that I have to show my teacher Simon and my friends from Drama Club where I have to say the line by turning around. It is awesome! Sean Connery has a small role in it though cause his character dies because of Kruger the Kurgan after Ramirez helps Conner Macleod out with the sword skills so he can defeat the Kurgan. The songs are by Queen. Queen is one of the greatful music band that ever exist in music history. Their songs are Princes of the Universe, Who Wants To Live Forever and Kind Of Magic. I even heard Christopher Lambert saying the tagline. ''Hey, It's a kind of magic.'' This is a very good film despite the box office bomb but it spawn the sequals and TV series. I'm not sure if I wanted to check out the sequals because I heard pretty bad things about them so I'm gonna end it there. So anyways, if anyone's a fan of Queen I would definitely listen to the songs, the soundtrack from Highlander and watch the film. Go watch it! It is a very underrated and really awesome cult classic! But if you lose your head, it's over.

''Patience, Highlander You have done well. But it'll take time. You are generations being born and dying. You are at one with all living things. Each man's thoughts and dreams are yours to know. You have power beyond imagination. Use it well, my friend.''… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

bigcdawg94

Jun 3, 2015

This movie is a game changer. It has the classic mythical sword fighting. It has the sci fi immortal aspect. The villain is iconic ( masterfully played by clancy brown). It is a phenomenal movie and definitely worth a watch even to the skeptical. You will not be disappointed.

"ThereThis movie is a game changer. It has the classic mythical sword fighting. It has the sci fi immortal aspect. The villain is iconic ( masterfully played by clancy brown). It is a phenomenal movie and definitely worth a watch even to the skeptical. You will not be disappointed.

"There can be only one"… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

Highlander372

May 10, 2018

Wow, it blows me away by how low the metascore is. This movie is a highly underrated cult classic that should be shown at film school. I love Russell Mulcahy’s camerawork and directing. It makes the movie unique in its own way. I think Christopher Lambert is an underrated actor. He doesn’tWow, it blows me away by how low the metascore is. This movie is a highly underrated cult classic that should be shown at film school. I love Russell Mulcahy’s camerawork and directing. It makes the movie unique in its own way. I think Christopher Lambert is an underrated actor. He doesn’t get much respect by critics. He does have a couple of cheesy lines in this film but I still love him as MacLeod. In my opinion, Sean Connery as Ramirez was perfect casting choice.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

The3AcademySins

Nov 6, 2018

Highlander is a 1980s "B-Movie" cult classic with a little something for everyone. Highlander features fun melodramatic acting, a great Queen soundtrack, memorable characters and story, and action-packed swashbuckling fight scenes. Freddie Mercury's incredible voice definitely elevatesHighlander is a 1980s "B-Movie" cult classic with a little something for everyone. Highlander features fun melodramatic acting, a great Queen soundtrack, memorable characters and story, and action-packed swashbuckling fight scenes. Freddie Mercury's incredible voice definitely elevates almost every scene in the movie. Sean Connery, Christopher Lambert, Roxane Hart, and Clancy Brown all give career-defining performances. While the script does appear confusing, it's actually simpler than it is made out to be. The lore seems to be there to add flavor rather than to really flesh out the world, which is a flaw that trips up the movie occasionally. It reads a lot like a fantasy story that a little boy would tell. Overall, Highlander is a classic tale of good vs. evil with themes of immortality, love, and horror. The movie is very of the times. If I were to rename this movie, I would call it "1980s Intensifies." This is the pinnacle of 1980s cult movies, and it is well worth a watch, especially with friends!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Compi24

Mar 1, 2016

Possessing both imaginative and cliched moments of narrative substance, poorly and finely edited sequences, brilliant and terrible uses of special effects, as well as both silly and exemplary displays of camerawork, "Highlander" is quite an odd movie to swallow. Though, after watching thePossessing both imaginative and cliched moments of narrative substance, poorly and finely edited sequences, brilliant and terrible uses of special effects, as well as both silly and exemplary displays of camerawork, "Highlander" is quite an odd movie to swallow. Though, after watching the film, one cannot deny these two things; #1 - sword-fighting is the most entertaining when conducted at night in the middle of downtown New York City; and #2 - this movie might just contain one of the best performances from ol' Captain Byron Hadley/Mr. Krabs himself -- Clancy Brown. Proceed with optimistic caution, for the cheese is strong in this one.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

GregePorter

Aug 31, 2015

Bottom-line: I am baffled as to why this movie is so famous let alone why it started a franchise.

We learn The Highlander's story from Sean Connery who plays, I kid you not, a 2000 year old Egyptian/Spaniard named Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez. That right there should give you anBottom-line: I am baffled as to why this movie is so famous let alone why it started a franchise.

We learn The Highlander's story from Sean Connery who plays, I kid you not, a 2000 year old Egyptian/Spaniard named Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez. That right there should give you an indication of the caliber The Highlander. Anyway, the story is that there exist “Immortals” who roam the Earth hunting each other. They can’t be killed unless they are beheaded. At some arbitrary time in history (which turns out to be 1984), they will be drawn to a far off country to partake in what’s called “The Gathering” where they will fight for “The Prize” which only one can have hence the famous line “There can only be one.”

I found the bizarre transitions somewhat entertaining. That is, they are entertaining in the way a car crash is entertaining; it is more of a morbid curiosity than joy. A shot of the bottom of a lake in Scotland circa 1500, for example, wipes to the bottom of a fish tank. To signal a flashback to WWII the image on the screen shatters with the sound of cannon fire.

In terms of acting, we have three main characters, The Highlander (Lambert), Sean Connery, and Victor Kruger (Brown). I've never been a big Christopher Lambert fan particularly because of his laugh. It makes me feel like kind of a bad person if I dislike the guy because of his laugh, but have you heard it?! It always sounds forced and what is more unfortunate is that he laughs at inappropriate times throughout the movie. It reminded me of Tommy Wassau's laughing in The Room.

I included Sean Connery as a character instead of his ludicrous character name because he's just being Sean Connery in a fluffy red suit. I have a soft spot in my heart for Sean Connery so I'm down for his role as The Highlander's instructor. I never grew emotionally attached to his character, but I could say that about everything in this film.

Victor Kruger is “the Ultimate Warrior,” according to Sean Connery. He is a Russian who has traveled across the world hunting Immortals. Clancy Brown's baritone voice fits the character of Kruger perfectly. I believe one of my favorite scenes in the movie is Kruger's modern day entrance. He is listening to the radio while driving in a 1975 Cadillac Coup DeVille. A reporter is commenting on a series of recent decapitations saying, “Police currently have no suspects.” “I know who it is,” Kruger bellows. He proceeds turn on a cassette of Queen's “Gimme the Prize.” If ever there was a scene in a movie that characterized the 80's. Now, even though he fits the role, there isn't much Brown can do to salvage the movie. His dialog, much like the rest of the dialog, is lacking.

Now, I found Kruger and Connery entertaining but they aren't enough to save this movie. Cheesy special effects are all fine and dandy, in moderation, but there has to be something to balance it out; The Highlander's choreography is on par with some of Star Trek's fight scenes. The cinematography isn't very appealing either. Most of the odd camera angles seem unnecessary and, without any sort of justification, they are more distracting than anything.

Overall, The Highlander is a very 80's fantasy action movie. Would I recommend it? No, not really. The cinematography is blah, as is the acting and dialog. When it comes down to your Friday night movie, there can only be one...so don't let it be The Highlander.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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