Ladyhawke

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Ladyhawke

PG-13

1985

2h 4m

Fantasy

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Upon breaking out of a dungeon, youthful thief Phillipe Gaston (Matthew Broderick) befriends Capt. Navarre (Rutger Hauer), a man with a strange secret. Navarre and his lover Lady Isabeau d'Anjou (Michelle Pfeiffer) were cursed by the wicked Bishop of Aquila (John Wood), who desires Lady Isabeau for himself. His dark magic prevents the pair from ever being in each other's presence except at twilight, so they enlist Gaston in a dangerous plot to overthrow the Bishop and break his evil enchantment.

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Critics Consensus

There are pacing problems, but Ladyhawke has an undeniable romantic sweep that's stronger than most fantasy epics of its ilk.

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

The actors are extravagantly good: Hauer, as always, with a sense of intelligence behind his physical exploits; Pfeiffer, strong and exquisite, and Broderick, embroidering on his role as go-between, is irresistible, comic and wistful by turns.

Oct 13, 2023

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Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

Here is the kind of elaborate, gothic tragedy that fuels Germanic operas and Heavy Metal ballads — the lovers who can remain together but forever be apart.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 13, 2023

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Unfortunately, director Richard Donner never quite gets the tone right, and the pace is positively stuporous. The horses gallop, but the film barely canters.

Jan 4, 2018

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Tom Hutchinson

Radio Times

Michelle Pfeiffer as the title's pretty predator and Rutger Hauer as a legendary lycanthrope give human poignancy to this medieval fairy tale about lovers cursed to shape-change into animals.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 19, 2025

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Frances Lynn

Starburst

Richard Donner has made Ladyhawke an uncontroversial fairy tale for young children, as the film's blandness and stereotype performances...offers nothing interesting, let alone new.

Jul 22, 2022

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Matthew Turner

Hero Collector

A thoroughly delightful fantasy romance that holds up remarkably well and deserves to be rediscovered by today's younger audiences.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 9, 2021

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Jace E

What an interesting slice of cinema history. Ladyhawke is a medieval period piece with a score that would fit better in Tron. A young Matthew Broderick has an on again/off again British accent, the action sequences are clunky and the nature of the "curse" is a bit out there. That being said, there is a strange charm to this movie that keeps me wanting to go back for more. I can't explain it, but I actually enjoyed this film quite a bit. Best Character: Phillipe Gaston Best Quote: "Sir, the truth is, I talk to God all the time, and no offense, but He never mentioned you." - Phillipe Best Scene: Breaking back in Best Piece of Score: "Phillipe Describes Isabeau"

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/22/25

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Jonathan B

Sword fights, adventure, and a love story. What's not to like?! It should be said that the musical score is hilariously bad. The traveling music is basically synthy 80s dance music. When we watched it as a family, we actually stood up and danced to those bits, so we had fun! John Wood brings an ominous gravity to the screen with his unhinged bishop of Aquila. Matthew Broderick almost steals the show as Mouse; he brought his character to life so vividly that I was confused about who the protagonist was. Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer both bring brilliant intelligence and deep feeling to the tragic love story archetype.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

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Oz S

It was nice, though a bit boring compared to today’s films. The final scene felt flat, and while the movie’s premise was okay, it didn’t deliver much beyond that. The soundtrack was pleasant and matched the medieval fantasy tone. Costumes and scenery were beautiful, but they couldn’t save the pacing.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/14/25

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David W

One of the greatest romantic fantasy movies in my book. The story is beautiful and the cast uniformally superb.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

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Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 4 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Distributed by Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Eye C

It’s not bad, but not so fun too watch. Matthew Broderick it’s not convincing and over the top. I’m the end I didn’t like it. Sorry Mr. Donner but putting a side Superman your beginnings were not a my favorites ones.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

Full Review

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Richard Donner

Director

Matthew Broderick

Phillipe Gaston, the Mouse

Rutger Hauer

Captain Etienne Navarre

Michelle Pfeiffer

Isabeau d'Anjou

Leo McKern

Father Imperius

John Wood

Bishop of Aquila

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Synopsis

Upon breaking out of a dungeon, youthful thief Phillipe Gaston (Matthew Broderick) befriends Capt. Navarre (Rutger Hauer), a man with a strange secret. Navarre and his lover Lady Isabeau d'Anjou (Michelle Pfeiffer) were cursed by the wicked Bishop of Aquila (John Wood), who desires Lady Isabeau for himself. His dark magic prevents the pair from ever being in each other's presence except at twilight, so they enlist Gaston in a dangerous plot to overthrow the Bishop and break his evil enchantment.

Director: Richard Donner
Producer: Richard Donner, Lauren Shuler Donner
Screenwriter: Edward Khmara, Michael Thomas, Tom Mankiewicz, David Webb Peoples
Distributor: Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 12, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2007
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Surround

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