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 99 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 99 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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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 2 users found this helpful02

MATM

Mar 5, 2022

I know there are many faults with "Highlander", but I can't see them. To me the long tracking shots from off-putting angles are beautiful and the Queen soundtrack makes every scene legendary. I give it an A, make a point to go see this movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

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 3 users found this helpful12

Voodoo123

Feb 15, 2018

This film is all about town levels of bizarre... and yet there is something very watchable about it! Great cast, memorable soundtrack from queen. It plays like a 2 hour 80's coca cola advert with evil mr crabs as the lead villan. Christopher Lambert is mesmerizing as McLeod with a greatThis film is all about town levels of bizarre... and yet there is something very watchable about it! Great cast, memorable soundtrack from queen. It plays like a 2 hour 80's coca cola advert with evil mr crabs as the lead villan. Christopher Lambert is mesmerizing as McLeod with a great supporting cast overacting their nuts off. It really is so crazy that you cant not enjoy at least some of what is happening. The lack of exposition explaining plot really helps this film!… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

gracjanski

Jan 11, 2021

The story is interesting and gives the opportunity to show many world from different times. But on the other side, some of the visual effects were cheap. The duels were a bit to weak, although you can expect sword masters with experience of hundred years.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Broyax

Apr 6, 2021

Gros nanar des familles dans lequel s’est égaré -mais pas très longtemps- Sean Connery (qu’on ne voit d’ailleurs qu’au bout de trois quarts d’heure) et dans lequel végète Christophe Lambert dont le regard habituel nous rappelle sans cesse que l’homme de Cro-Magnon n’a pas encore disparu.Gros nanar des familles dans lequel s’est égaré -mais pas très longtemps- Sean Connery (qu’on ne voit d’ailleurs qu’au bout de trois quarts d’heure) et dans lequel végète Christophe Lambert dont le regard habituel nous rappelle sans cesse que l’homme de Cro-Magnon n’a pas encore disparu.

Cette espèce d’histoire d’immortels à la mords-moi-le-noeud est aussi ridicule qu’elle sonne creux et fait très rapidement pschiiit (c’est le « drôle » de scénar qui s’évapore…) entre les allers-retours du présent au passé et inversement. Quand Connery est là, il cabotine plus que de raison et la star donne à peine le minimum syndical : il faut dire que ce téléfilm qui ne dit pas son nom ne mérite pas vraiment davantage…

Quant à Lambert, c’est… Lambert, c’est-à-dire… euh… rien pour ainsi dire. Ou alors une pointe d’énervement quand même dans une mare d’indifférence. Même s’il n’énerve certes pas autant que bien d’autres cadors -français ou étrangers- de son espèce, à savoir les acteurs totalement incompétents, tellement nombreux !…

Entre l’ennui et la totale incrédulité (et l’indifférence) que nous inflige (et nous afflige par la même occasion) ce « Highlander », l’avance rapide est notre planche de salut, puis l’arrêt et l’effacement pur et simple : c’est pas le tout d’enregistrer des merdes à la télé parce que l’air de rien, ça prend de la place (ces merdes) !… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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