Howard the Duck

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Howard the Duck

PG

1986

1h 51m

Sci-Fi

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

13%

Tomatometer

86 Reviews

38%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In this film based on the comic book character, Howard the Duck is suddenly beamed from Duckworld, a planet of intelligent ducks with arms and legs, to Earth, where he lands in Cleveland. There he saves rocker Beverly (Lea Thompson) from thugs and forms a friendship with her. She introduces him to Phil (Tim Robbins), who works at a lab with scientist Dr. Jenning (Jeffrey Jones). When the doctor attempts to return Howard to his world, Jenning instead transfers an evil spirit into his own body.

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Critics Consensus

While it has its moments, Howard the Duck suffers from an uneven tone and mediocre performances.

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David Stratton

Sydney Morning Herald

There are a few good jokes along the way, but the final effect is that we've been here rather too many times before.

Dec 15, 2020

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Michael Shmith

The Age (Australia)

This creature with a mobile bill, scrawny body, and with a voice like Humphrey Bogart proves irritating beyond belief. Also, Howard has the glassy eyes of a doll and an artificiality that even his brusque, wise-quacking manner cannot quite conceal.

Dec 15, 2020

Full Review

David Robinson

The Times (UK)

There must have been a terrible moment, many millions of collars into the production of Howard, when everyone realised it was not going to work either as comedy or thriller, as kid's stuff or sophisticated fore.

Dec 15, 2020

Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

This was a bad movie when it was released. It is a bad movie today. And it will continue to be a bad movie long after this planet ceases to exist.

Rated: 1/4

May 6, 2024

Full Review

Avaryl Halley

Movie Bitches

I like this better than the Prequels. The choices are strong and wrong…I mean they storyboarded duck tits!!

Rated: 6/10

Apr 24, 2024

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Andrew Galdi

Movie Bitches

I honestly think if you rescored this movie you could improve it by 50%

Rated: 4.5/10

Apr 24, 2024

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Charlie R

I watched it 20 years ago and hated it. I watched it again and love it. I need the guardians.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

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Chris W.

Great film. I don’t understand the hate. It’s silly and fun.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

Full Review

Melanie M

What even is this movie…

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

Full Review

Matthew T

Absolutely fine. Howard The Duck does not deserve all the hate and ridicule that it receives. The first Marvel movie and definitely of higher quality than some of the Marvel Studios offerings of recent years.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

Full Review

Martin W

This was such a weird, yet strangely compelling movie when I was a kid. It's certainly no cinematic masterpiece, but It's an interesting premise and still posseses more imagination and atmosphere than 99% of movies released these days. There never going to make more movies like this again, so its worth watching just for it's cultural perspective and novelty value alone.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

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Stephen C

Tasteless in 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

Full Review

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Willard Huyck

Director

Lea Thompson

Beverly Switzler

Jeffrey Jones

Dr. Walter Jenning

Tim Robbins

Phil Blumburtt

Paul Guilfoyle

Lieutenant Welker

Liz Sagal

Ronette

Howard the Duck: Official Clip - The Dark Overlord

3:02

Howard the Duck: Official Clip - Taking Flight

1:37

Howard the Duck: Official Clip - Howard's Wallet

2:30

Howard the Duck: Official Clip - Intense Animal Magnetism

2:32

Howard the Duck: Official Clip - A Brewski at Beverly's

2:15

Howard the Duck: Official Clip - No More Mr. Nice Duck

2:21

Howard the Duck: Official Clip - I'm a Freak

1:48

Howard the Duck: Official Clip - Me Phil, You Howard

1:45

Howard the Duck: Official Clip - Smog Inspection

1:35

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Synopsis

In this film based on the comic book character, Howard the Duck is suddenly beamed from Duckworld, a planet of intelligent ducks with arms and legs, to Earth, where he lands in Cleveland. There he saves rocker Beverly (Lea Thompson) from thugs and forms a friendship with her. She introduces him to Phil (Tim Robbins), who works at a lab with scientist Dr. Jenning (Jeffrey Jones). When the doctor attempts to return Howard to his world, Jenning instead transfers an evil spirit into his own body.

Director: Willard Huyck
Producer: Gloria Katz, Robert Latham Brown
Screenwriter: Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz
Production Co: Lucasfilm Ltd., Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.0M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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