Ladyhawke

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Ladyhawke

PG-13

Released Aug 12, 1985

2h 4m

Fantasy

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

30 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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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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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

A competent fantasy with likeable heroes and dastardly villains, though the running time is slightly overlong.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 6, 2020

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Zachary Jacob S

This was a pretty engaging film! Lots to love. Good characters. I disliked the score in how it set the tone for most scenes, but I think overall this a film worth trying!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/23/24

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David S

Fantasy - takes place in the King Arthur world of sorts- this tale has some good moments that capture the imagination in a battle of good and evil.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

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Mimi A

Who said they're pacing problems? The pacing is one of the miraculous features of this dramedy. Comedian Matthew Broderick is at his finest. Rutger Hauer is where he belongs on the top of a mighty steed, stately, dignified, and noble. Yum. And Michele Pfeiffer is as delicate and otherworldly as she always is, too pristine for mere mortals. Ladyhawke is action-packed, with perfect pacing to keep the story moving with twists, mystery, and wonderment. Who the heck is casting dispersions on this 10 out of 10 movie? Let's go, people, put your rating in. This is a 10. It's irreplaceable. It's incomparable. It's a love story drama and an adventure comedy. 10!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/29/24

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The Wandering D

While I have seen this film before, it was over ten years ago and I think that I can confidently say it was like watching it again for the first time. I love this film, it has such sharp dialogue and such interesting characters. I forgot how slow of a burn this film is, but it hits in the end.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/27/24

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Gerald H

Beautiful story, great actors. But the horrible filmscore ruins this nice movie for me.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

Full Review

Alec B

If you can tolerate the truly awful score (especially in the first half of the movie) this is actually one of the best fantasy movies of the 80s. Suprisingly romantic and emotional with a number of very good performances.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/13/24

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: 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros.
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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