Legend

PG

Now Playing

1h 29m

Fantasy

List

41%

46 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Darkness (Tim Curry) seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns. Jack (Tom Cruise) and his friends do everything possible to save the world and Princess Lili (Mia Sara) from the hands of Darkness. Enter a world of unicorns, magic swamps, dwarfs and rainbows.

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Critics Consensus

Not even Ridley Scott's gorgeously realized set pieces can save Legend from its own tawdry tale -- though it may be serviceable for those simply looking for fantasy eye candy.

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Jessica J

Still one of my absolute favorite fantasy genre movies, despite Tom Cruise. I love everything about it. No one ever has made fantasy this fantastic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/13/24

Full Review

He-Rex

Legend is a beautiful, artfully crafted, at times frightening, Good versus Evil, fairytale from director Ridley Scott. Tim Curry is magnificent as the Lord of Darkness, completely unrecognizable in amazing prosthetic makeup. Mia Sara is lovely as the fair princess Lily. Loved by our hero, a forest boy named Jack, played by Tom Cruise, and coveted by the Dark Lord, Lily in her innocence inadvertently helps evil send the world into perpetual darkness. It's up to Jack, and a small band of misfit characters, to save Lily and the world from eternal despair. Often unfairly maligned by critics, Legend is a stunning visual achievement, and a classic in its own right.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Forrest S

This is one of the most immersive fantasy movies ever made. The real character arc is Lily's. She learns her beauty can be destructive, and therefore goes from being selfish to a hero.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/27/24

Full Review

Caleb J

Not one of my favorites from Ridley Scott, but still has wonderful world building and amazing visuals. With a banging score and soundtrack, a young Tom Cruise & Tim Curry as the Lord of Darkness. Still a lot of things to love.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/18/24

Full Review

Nicholas L

Terrible story. Terrible acting. Terrible make-up. Terrible.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

Full Review

Tom C

Absolutely stunning visuals, set designs, costumes and Tom Cruise more than make up for the lack of story. Ridley Scott is an extremely talented director but I'm not sure he was the right choice to direct this kind of story. He doesn't always get the best performances from his actors but his visuals are breathtaking. Tom Cruise is very good as a farm boy and Tim Curry is absolutely unrecognisable as he's coated in make-up and gives his everything to his physical performance. Good but not great.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/24

Full Review

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Ridley Scott

Director

Tom Cruise

Jack

Mia Sara

Princess Lily

Tim Curry

Darkness

David Bennent

Gump

Alice Playten

Blix

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Legend: Official Clip - Lili Betrays Darkness

2:15

Legend: Official Clip - I Want to Kill the Unicorn

1:02

Legend: Official Clip - Darkness Seduces Lili

2:02

Legend: Official Clip - Flattering Meg Mucklebones

2:12

Legend: Official Clip - Kissing Oona

2:09

Legend: Official Clip - Gump's Riddle

2:08

Legend: Official Clip - Jack the Champion

2:13

Legend: Official Clip - Diving for Lili's Ring

3:08

Legend: Official Clip - A Mission for Blix

2:07

Legend: Official Clip - Jack Defeats Darkness

2:11

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Legend is not without whimsical touches, but it surely could have used more humor and invention.

Mar 27, 2019

Full Review

Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

You are caught up in a morality play... the deepest significance of which the makers of this PG movie are apparently betting the adolescents of America will instinctively comprehend.

Mar 27, 2019

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

I don't want to remember any more about Legend than to make sure I include it in my ''worst films of 1986'' list and never rent it when it comes out as a video cassette.

Rated: 0.5/4

Mar 27, 2019

Full Review

Martin Carr

CBR

Don't let the rotten rating fool you, Legend is a cult classic with more than enough to entertain above and beyond Tim Curry's extreme makeover. This is an arthouse indulgence from Ridley Scott that may feature Tom Cruise, but still manages to impress.

Apr 20, 2024

Full Review

Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

Though Legend may never achieve full-on classic motion picture status, the more fleshed-out director's cut proves that Ridley Scott's lovingly-crafted fairytale always deserved better than it got from both film critics and paying audiences alike.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 12, 2023

Full Review

James Olsen

Starburst

Legend remains a stunning faerie floss fantasy. Ninety-five minutes of lovingly crafted, 'super real' escapism.

Jul 22, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Darkness (Tim Curry) seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns. Jack (Tom Cruise) and his friends do everything possible to save the world and Princess Lili (Mia Sara) from the hands of Darkness. Enter a world of unicorns, magic swamps, dwarfs and rainbows.

Director: Ridley Scott
Screenwriter: William Hjortsberg
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Embassy International Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 3, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.3M
Runtime: 1h 29m
Sound Mix: Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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