Heavy Metal

R

Released Aug 7, 1981

1h 30m

Fantasy

Adventure

Animation

List

66%

35 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Adventures from deep space to futuristic New York, and beyond. Each world and story is dominated by the presence of the Loch'nar -- the sum of all evils manifest as a glowing green sphere whose power infects all times, all galaxies, all dimensions. To some, it appears as treasure, a green jewel they must possess. Others worship it as a god. Few escape it. Even in death and through death its powers continue. From war to war and world to world it seems invincible.

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Critics Consensus

It's sexist, juvenile, and dated, but Heavy Metal makes up for its flaws with eye-popping animation and a classic, smartly used soundtrack.

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Audience Member

Awesome movie. Wish there was more of these. Not like there isnt source material.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/24

Full Review

Noe G

Heavy metal 1981 is an amazing, animated film from 1981 I give this film a 10/10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/07/24

Full Review

davenface

I never cared to watch beforehand but now I did just because my son wanted to watch.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/16/23

Full Review

Daniel F

Fantastic visuals and design, leaning hard into the absurdity of the science fiction fantasy concepts, and plodding along with all the logic and sexual subtlety of a teenage masturbatory fantasy. There are some great ideas, and music, and the blueprint for future films and TV shows is clear (Fifth Element, anyone?). After the grungy femme fatale/noir of Harry Canyon, the film loses its momentum- although John Candy's narration of Den/Dan's adventure is brilliant- trying to string a lot of essentially unrelated segments together with the presence of the Locknar, a tenuous after thought judging by the flow of it. But if you're looking for acid trip escapism and the sort of art design that existed in the minds of 2000AD artists in the 70s/80s (it doesn't quite have the bite of that publication in its heyday) then the moment that convertible Chevy gets launched into space at the beginning of the movie, you're in for a treat.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/27/23

Full Review

Alain M

strange very strange, and it just doesn't make any sense.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/08/23

Full Review

Devon B

This movie was good and pretty unique for its time and on top of that we have a great soundtrack that just screams 80's rock and metal from bands like BOC, Devo, Cheap Trick, Black Sabbath and most notably Sammy Hager but the greatest is the song Radar Rider by an artist named Riggs. Other than the ending it's actually very enjoyable and it features voice acting by comedy legends such as Eugene Levy, the late John Candy, Roger Bumpass who would go on to voice the character Squidward in Spongebob and another late great Harold Ramis. I like switch from animation from fantasy type serious type to doodle like comedic it's a fun change of pace.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/22/23

Full Review

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Gerald Potterton

Director

Harvey Atkin

Alien, Henchman

Thor Bishopric

Boy

Rodger Bumpass

Hanover Fiste, Dr. Anrak

Jackie Burroughs

Katherine

John Candy

Desk Sergeant, Dan, Den, Robot

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Heavy Metal: Official Clip - B-17

2:45

Heavy Metal: Official Clip - WWII Zombies

3:31

Heavy Metal: Official Clip - Harry Canyon

2:21

Heavy Metal: Official Clip - Bar Fight

2:20

Heavy Metal: Official Clip - Captain Sternn vs. Hanover Fiste

3:21

Heavy Metal: Official Clip - So Beautiful, So Dangerous

2:44

Heavy Metal: Official Clip - Double-Crossed

1:55

Heavy Metal: Official Clip - Taarna vs. the Barbarian Leader

4:17

Heavy Metal: Official Clip - Taarna's Flight

2:24

Heavy Metal: Official Clip - Den

1:30

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67%

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Highlander II: The Quickening

38%

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Circle of Iron

8%

36%

Heavy Metal 2000

12%

53%

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

A cult film receives a sterling AV transfer from Sony, while its miscalculation of a sequel makes its high-def debut on home video.

Apr 26, 2022

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Initial segments have a boisterous blend of dynamic graphics, intriguing plot premises and sly wit that unfortunately slide gradually downhill.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Some of the animation is first-rate, particularly in the more modest comedy segments, and even the heavy set pieces have greater flash and dazzle than anything Ralph Bakshi mustered around the same period.

Apr 16, 2007

Full Review

John Brosnan

Starburst

Heavy Metal is a mind boggling, mind blowing animation extravaganza.

Jul 27, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A mixed bag of a movie.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 30, 2022

Full Review

Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Heavy Metal didnt win any awards and the movie certainly isnt for everyone (neither is Heavy Metal 2000) but it has a certain charm that allows it to have a cult-like following.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 18, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Adventures from deep space to futuristic New York, and beyond. Each world and story is dominated by the presence of the Loch'nar -- the sum of all evils manifest as a glowing green sphere whose power infects all times, all galaxies, all dimensions. To some, it appears as treasure, a green jewel they must possess. Others worship it as a god. Few escape it. Even in death and through death its powers continue. From war to war and world to world it seems invincible.

Director: Gerald Potterton
Producer: Leonard Mogel
Screenwriter: Len Blum, Daniel Goldberg, Cornelius Cole, Dan O'Bannon
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures, Guardian Trust Company
Rating: R
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 1981, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 25, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $204.7K
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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