Darkman

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Darkman

R

Released Aug 24, 1990

1h 35m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

158 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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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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Joe Kane

New York Daily News

The pic supplies more than enough sick wit and visual sweep to make it well worth a look.

Sep 12, 2025

Full Review

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

Robert Denerstein

Denver Rocky Mountain News

Despite a good deal of creativity and an admirable performance by Neeson, the film isn't quite as rich as it might have been.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 12, 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

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Travis Johnson

Blunt Magazine

Perfect is boring; if Darkman were perfect, I’d probably love it less.

Aug 29, 2025

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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

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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

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Sam Raimi

Director

Liam Neeson

Peyton Westlake

Frances McDormand

Julie Hastings

Colin Friels

Louis Strack Jr.

Larry Drake

Robert G. Durant

Nelson Mashita

Yakitito

Darkman: Official Clip - Chopper Ride

2:56

Darkman: Official Clip - Call Me... Darkman

2:33

Darkman: Official Clip - Darkman Battles Strack

2:59

Darkman: Official Clip - Darkman Impersonates Pauly

2:51

Darkman: Official Clip - Escape From the Burn Ward

2:59

Darkman: Official Clip - Playing in Traffic

1:30

Darkman: Official Clip - The Pink Elephant

2:30

Darkman: Official Clip - Durant Sees Double

1:53

Darkman: Official Clip - You Have Been a Bad Boy!

1:10

Darkman: Official Clip - See the Dancing Freak!

1:45

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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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