Highlander

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Highlander

R

1986

1h 51m

Fantasy

Adventure

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When the mystical Russell Nash (Christopher Lambert) kills a man in a sword fight in a New York City parking lot, he leaves a sliver of an ancient weapon lodged in a car in the process. After brilliant forensics specialist Brenda Wyatt (Roxanne Hart) recovers evidence of the mysterious weapon, she and her partner, Lt. Frank Moran (Alan North), embark on an investigation Of Nash that will land them in the middle of a dangerous, centuries-old feud between powerful immortals.

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Critics Consensus

People hate Highlander because it's cheesy, bombastic, and absurd. And people love it for the same reasons.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Even Gerry Fisher's camerawork can't convince me that this is other than the most inutterable tosh.

Jul 30, 2024

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Victoria Mather

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Made with such superstyle Highlander does have entertainment value but this can only be a one-off.

Jul 30, 2024

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Close your brain to the illogicalities of the time-chopping structure and there is much to marvel at.

Jul 24, 2024

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

As the climax approaches, this sci-fi/fantasy blend tends to bore, struggling to turn sword-fighting and an inevitable showdown for an undefined “prize” into excitement.

Rated: 3/10

Jul 20, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

It’s easy to see why many love this picture but just as easy to see why many despise it.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 15, 2023

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

The film is a little sad, a little comic, a little horrific, and a little sexy and, now, it’s out on home video for the first time in 4K UHD with Dolby Vision and a bevy of bonus features.

Dec 21, 2022

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Jack F

It was alright. Pretty famous movie. But what's even more famous-- infamous, is the second one. Check it out if you want, but I didn't.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

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grego0331 A

Highlander is a bold, eccentric fantasy classic that blends sword-and-sorcery mythmaking with gritty ’80s style. Christopher Lambert brings a mysterious, brooding presence to Connor MacLeod, while Sean Connery steals every scene as his mentor, Ramirez. The film’s time-hopping structure jumping between modern-day New York and centuries-old Scotland gives it an epic feel, and Russell Mulcahy’s music-video-influenced direction fills the movie with striking visuals and kinetic energy. What truly sets Highlander apart is its unapologetically operatic tone. Queen’s soundtrack turns duels and emotional beats alike into soaring moments, and the film never shies away from its own high-concept mythology. It’s rough around the edges, but its ambition, characters, and world-building have kept it a cult favorite for decades. There can be only one and that weird, wonderful mixture is exactly why it endures.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/26/25

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Boni E

This is a superb movie! I definitely recommend it!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/25

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Metalero G

The film Highlander is a cult classic, yet undeniably weak by current standards. The script is uneven and the plot loses strength over time. The sword action scenes are enjoyable, however, they come across as slow. Their choreography evokes the staging of a theater play more than the fluidity of cinematic combat. The cast offers weak performances, except for Clancy Brown as Kurgan, the sole light. Queen’s soundtrack is iconic, though used excessively. It is not a good film, but its value lies in nostalgia and light entertainment.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/21/25

Full Review

Ryan H

You can’t always explain why, but sometimes a movie just sticks with you and engrains itself into your memory is a positive way. Highlander is that movie. Is it perfect? No. Is entertaining with wonderful mythology & great characters? Yes. If there “can be only one” film about feuding immortals, this is it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/17/25

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Gregory S

Everything about this movie is fantastic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/25

Full Review

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Russell Mulcahy

Director

Christopher Lambert

Connor 'The Highlander' MacLeod

Sean Connery

Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez

Roxanne Hart

Brenda J. Wyatt

Clancy Brown

Victor Kruger

Beatie Edney

Heather MacLeod

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Synopsis

When the mystical Russell Nash (Christopher Lambert) kills a man in a sword fight in a New York City parking lot, he leaves a sliver of an ancient weapon lodged in a car in the process. After brilliant forensics specialist Brenda Wyatt (Roxanne Hart) recovers evidence of the mysterious weapon, she and her partner, Lt. Frank Moran (Alan North), embark on an investigation Of Nash that will land them in the middle of a dangerous, centuries-old feud between powerful immortals.

Director: Russell Mulcahy
Producer: William N. Panzer, Peter S. Davis
Screenwriter: Gregory Widen, Peter Bellwood, Larry Ferguson
Distributor: Home Box Office (HBO) [us], Image Entertainment Inc., 20th Century Fox, Anchor Bay Entertainment
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment, Davis-Panzer Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 7, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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