Red Sonja

PG-13

Released Jul 3, 1985

1 hr. 29 min.

Fantasy

Action

Adventure

List

21%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

29%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Power-hungry Queen Gedren (Sandahl Bergman) captures the priestesses guarding the Talisman, a mystical orb that created and can destroy the world. But one of the priestesses escapes and seeks out her warrior sister, Red Sonja (Brigitte Nielsen), to warn her about Gedren's plan for world domination. Lord Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger), the Talisman's keeper, insists on helping Sonja, and though she scorns the assistance of any man, she soon gains respect for Kalidor's fighting prowess.

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Critics Consensus

Dull, poorly directed, and badly miscast, Red Sonja is an uninspired conclusion to Schwarzenegger's barbarian trilogy.

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Aidan B

Terrible. Terrible terrible terrible. Terrible terrible terrible terrible terrible. This film is easily one of the worst I've ever seen. It's so bizarre and strange. It's a cheap Conan the Barbarian knockoff. The premise is laughably bad and the execution is even worse. The acting is terrible. The characters are flat, monotonous and irritating. The dialogue is dreadful. The action is appalling. The action sequences consist of minor sword fights that end very quickly. The sets and costumes are decent but not all that great and the special effects don't hold up in the slightest and are painful to look at. Brigitte Nielsen delivers a terrible performance in her film debut and Arnold Schwarzenegger delivers one of the worst performances of his career. The little kid is one of the most annoying characters ever put to film. This movie is a disgrace to the film industry and it should be wiped clean from the face of the earth.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Anderson O

I thought Red Sonja was solid and ahead of its years for a movie about a strong female lead and strong heroine. Kalidor and the young Prince plaid by Ernie Reye's Junior nearly stole the show, but Bridgette Nielsen was not to be outshine and the bold, and daring Read Sonja.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/02/23

Full Review

Just A

It's bad, but it's bad in that fun campy 80s way that actually makes it an enjoyable watch. It's B-grade swords and sorcery set vaguely kinda in the Conan universe. It has fun with it a lot more than the Conan movies did. There is nothing out-standing about this film, and compared to modern movies in the same genre it's never going to hold up (Though post 2020 the writing may actually be worse than this if Wheel of Time, Rings of Power, and other similar productions are to be taken as the standard) But if all you're looking for is 80s campy fun sword flick, it'll fill the niche.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/28/23

Full Review

Redbil A

It is sort of like cosplay with porno acting. However good 80's action fun.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/25/23

Full Review

C A

I do not understand the low rating. Compared to the Conan movies, the acting and storyline are very similar. The costumes and sets are way over the top for this production.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/19/23

Full Review

Jelisije J

If you like low budget stereotypical fantasy films from the 1980's.... then you like to have a good time like me.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/12/23

Full Review

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Richard Fleischer

Director

Brigitte Nielsen

Red Sonja

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Kalidor

Sandahl Bergman

Queen Gedren

Paul L. Smith

Falkon

Ernie Reyes Jr.

Prince Tarn

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

None of this would matter if Red Sonja was the least bit exciting, or sexy, or even funny. Instead, it`s lumbering, oddly prim and laughable.

Rated: 1/4

Jul 14, 2015

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

The dialogue passages don't exactly play like Noel Coward, but this is a movie that succeeds rousingly well on its own humble, Saturday-night terms.

Jul 9, 2010

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Red Sonja returns to those olden days when women were women and the menfolk stood around with funny hats on until called forth to be whacked at.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Alan Jones

Starburst

Red Sonja isn't camp enough to be funny, just boring.

Jul 22, 2022

Full Review

Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

A highly-entertaining swords and sandals epic which plays on the talents of both leads.

Jul 16, 2022

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...sword and sorcery buffoonery...

Rated: 3/5

Mar 24, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Power-hungry Queen Gedren (Sandahl Bergman) captures the priestesses guarding the Talisman, a mystical orb that created and can destroy the world. But one of the priestesses escapes and seeks out her warrior sister, Red Sonja (Brigitte Nielsen), to warn her about Gedren's plan for world domination. Lord Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger), the Talisman's keeper, insists on helping Sonja, and though she scorns the assistance of any man, she soon gains respect for Kalidor's fighting prowess.

Director: Richard Fleischer
Executive Producer: A. Michael Lieberman
Screenwriter: Clive Exton, George MacDonald Fraser
Distributor: MGM Distributing Corporation, United Artists
Production Co: Dino De Laurentiis Company
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 3, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015

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