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Darkman

Play trailer Poster for Darkman R Released Aug 24, 1990 1h 35m Action Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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81% Tomatometer 156 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
When thugs employed by a crime boss lead a vicious assault on Dr. Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson), leaving him literally and psychologically scarred, an emergency procedure allows him to survive. Upon his recovery, Wilder can find solace only by returning to his scientific work developing synthetic skin, and seeking revenge against the crime boss. He assumes a phantom avenger persona called Darkman, who, with malleable facial qualities, is able to infiltrate and sow terror in the criminal community.
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Darkman

Darkman

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Critics Consensus

Gruesome and deliciously broad, Sam Raimi's Darkman bears the haunted soulfulness of gothic tragedy while packing the stylistic verve of onomatopoeia springing off a comic strip page.

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Critics Reviews

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Nigel Andrews Financial Times Neither the script, by five writers, nor the acting, by everyone, persuades. Aug 27, 2025 Full Review William Green Sight & Sound A brave, moody attempt to cross The Invisible Man with The Phantom of the Opera. Aug 27, 2025 Full Review Margot Date Sydney Morning Herald Colin Friels as the corrupt property developer shimmers rather than shines, but the helicopter chase is a nice twist on the standard car chase. Aug 27, 2025 Full Review Alan Jones Radio Times This tasty buffet of gothic moodiness, startling make-up effects and expressionistic artifice sees Raimi on vibrant virtuoso form. Rated: 4/5 Aug 31, 2025 Full Review Travis Johnson Blunt Magazine Perfect is boring; if Darkman were perfect, I’d probably love it less. Aug 29, 2025 Full Review Robin Dougherty Boston Phoenix Darkman is a lyrical and stylish tale. Aug 27, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Christian W Besides the Bad Acting and Effects, it’s still a decent movie. Decent but Forgettable! Not Sam Raimi’s best work. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/31/25 Full Review thiago s Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review bob t classic Sam Raimi movie aged amazingly Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/06/25 Full Review Omar G Darkman (1990). Rating 3.5/5 stars. More than the Phantom of the Opera, which was not scientific, this film is inspired by the films of Vincent Price where he is disfigured or burned and returns to take revenge on his enemies one for one, as in House of Wax (1953), The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972), Theatre of Blood (1973). Madhouse (1974). Dr. Peyton Westlake, who as Darkman seeks revenge as did Professor Henry Jarrod, Dr. Anton Phibes, Edward Lionheart or Paul Toombes aka Doctor Death. Lían Neason was chosen with the height of 6'4" just like Vincent Price. The villains are like the villains of RoboCop (1987). Spawn (comic) took from Darkman that was burned and that returns to see his partner with another. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/25 Full Review Sankalp good S Fun packed film with simple story not great but a good Fun to watch thrill with good acting action n strong performances of Neeson n the other n raimis great direction makes it look like a superhero movie 🦸‍♂️🎉👏😃👊 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/28/24 Full Review Aaron V I am not sure if this is verified, maybe just some random Hollywood gossip story that caught on somewhere, but I swear I remember hearing that Sam Raimi wanted to direct Batman, but the studios weren't sure about such a relatively unknown director taking on such a big project. As we know, Tim Burton's Batman has been cemented in comic-to-film legend (I agree with Michael Keaton, that the spate of comic movies littering the 2010s owe their existence to that very first iteration of the dark knight); so Sam Raimi went ahead and made his own "comic book style" movie, with his own made up dark brooding antihero, taking justice into his own hands. Hence, we get Darkman... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/07/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Darkman

Darkman: Official Clip - Chopper Ride Darkman: Official Clip - Chopper Ride 2:56 Darkman: Official Clip - Call Me... Darkman Darkman: Official Clip - Call Me... Darkman 2:33 Darkman: Official Clip - Darkman Battles Strack Darkman: Official Clip - Darkman Battles Strack 2:59 Darkman: Official Clip - Darkman Impersonates Pauly Darkman: Official Clip - Darkman Impersonates Pauly 2:51 Darkman: Official Clip - Escape From the Burn Ward Darkman: Official Clip - Escape From the Burn Ward 2:59 Darkman: Official Clip - Playing in Traffic Darkman: Official Clip - Playing in Traffic 1:30 Darkman: Official Clip - The Pink Elephant Darkman: Official Clip - The Pink Elephant 2:30 Darkman: Official Clip - Durant Sees Double Darkman: Official Clip - Durant Sees Double 1:53 Darkman: Official Clip - You Have Been a Bad Boy! Darkman: Official Clip - You Have Been a Bad Boy! 1:10 Darkman: Official Clip - See the Dancing Freak! Darkman: Official Clip - See the Dancing Freak! 1:45 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis When thugs employed by a crime boss lead a vicious assault on Dr. Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson), leaving him literally and psychologically scarred, an emergency procedure allows him to survive. Upon his recovery, Wilder can find solace only by returning to his scientific work developing synthetic skin, and seeking revenge against the crime boss. He assumes a phantom avenger persona called Darkman, who, with malleable facial qualities, is able to infiltrate and sow terror in the criminal community.
Director
Sam Raimi
Producer
Rob Tapert
Screenwriter
Chuck Pfarrer, Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, Joshua Goldin
Distributor
MCA/Universal Home Video, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Renaissance Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 24, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$32.8M
Runtime
1h 35m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
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