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

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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

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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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Hannah N

Classic, epic. Howie is my muse, my love, my sweet duckie!! Also, the soundtrack - trash classics and then some. In conclusion, it's one of the most magnificent films ever created.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/12/25

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Hughe J

Howard the Duck was released in theatres in 1986 and is based on a Marvel superhero of the same name. The film starred Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, and Tim Robbins. Howard is beamed to Earth from Duckworld (seriously that's the name) but luckily he speaks English. He meets Thompson and saves her from attackers using duck martial arts. Luckily she knows the scientists who made the space ray that transported him here but when they try to reverse it evil spirits start taking over people's bodies and Howard has to destroy the space ray machine. So, this was awful. The duck suit looked like something from the Spirit Halloween store, the jokes didn't land, Howard's voice was really annoying, and the plot was dumb. I liked him much more in his Guardians of the Galaxy cameo. Worth a watch to see what "superhero" movies used to look like I suppose.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/29/25

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Alberto R

i like this movie Howard the duck i never watch this before but i like thank You for make this movie i like it so much

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/01/25

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Petros T

The first part isn't horrible: it's formulaic, sure, but it runs on the novelty factor of the character and premise. Much has been said about the duck costume, and though its lack of expressiveness doesn't help, it's a quirk you accept and go along with. What's tougher to swallow is the unconvincing Thompson, overblown plot, janky effects and insistence on cringey humour undermining every potential semblance of suspense, as well as the sense that they're biting off a lot more than they can chew.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/31/25

Full Review

Gregory S

This movie is absolutely terrible. What makes it worse, is that this was the first theatrically released Marvel movie ever made. A truly terrible and embarrassing start. Glad they improved. Whoever chose this as the first should be in some type of psych ward.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

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peanutbutter m

HELL NO!!!!!! one of the worst movies ever. What was Tom Robins thinking? Oh yeah. I need money and will do every- and anything.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/21/25

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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