Spawn

PG-13

Released Aug 1, 1997

1h 37m

Fantasy

List

17%

47 Reviews

Tomatometer

36%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Covert government assassin Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) is killed after being double-crossed by his boss, Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen). Upon arriving in Hell, Simmons is offered an opportunity to return to Earth if he's willing to lead an evil army. He accepts, and is reincarnated as a "Hellspawn" -- a twisted, horribly disfigured version of his former self. However, Spawn serves as a force of good, much to the dismay of the Devil's henchman, a wicked clown (John Leguizamo).

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Critics Consensus

Spawn is an overbearing, over-violent film that adds little to the comic book adaptation genre.

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Emilliano Jr S

Another failed 90's comic superhero movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/26/24

Full Review

eric l

Great movie. Love John Leguizamo as the clown!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/05/24

Full Review

Charles S

This was never a b movie I have watch many movies from 1997 I know why this was given a b rating because of people now days really understand what it took to write and produce a movie back than and also take into consideration this movie was produced by New line Cinema those people there run a great studio to so to the people the criticize this movie u need to first understand what is take to make a great movie like this and also this film was not produce for HD or 4k res why do you first watch it on a standard box tv and and a vhs copy maybe you would understand older movies a lot better and think about your rating you give them

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/16/24

Full Review

David C

Los efectos son bien chafas los gráficos son espantosos esta es la película más problemática que aya visto en mi vida que mala película a quien se le ocurrió hacer está espantosa película

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

Full Review

Brad K

Considering it was made in 97 it was actually good graphics for the time. Up too maybe bale batman or ironman this was probably the best comic book movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Lou T

Spawn, as a character, is everything that was 1990's comic books, rolled into one badass superhero. In the comics, that works very well, with his popularity still reigning today. In his big screen debut, it did not work at all. Starting off, it showcases some of the worst visual effects put to screen, and just when you think it can't look any worse, it hits rock bottom again and again. The dialogue feels like it has been ground on a cheese grater and the actors aren't able to do much with the bland and basic script they're given. With only a couple jokes landing, there are few other moments that help pull you through to the end of this train wreck of a film. I can typically find enjoyment in some of the lesser quality films, but I found myself watching the clock, counting down the minutes until this was over. There is no good reason to watch this film, spend your time doing anything else.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/28/23

Full Review

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Mark A.Z. Dippe

Director

John Leguizamo

Clown

Michael Jai White

Al Simmons

Martin Sheen

Jason Wynn

Theresa Randle

Wanda Blake

Melinda Clarke

Jessica Priest

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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

This barely coherent hunk of junk is like a cheap horror film with only a suggestion of the grisliness that appeals to fans of cheap horror films.

May 6, 2016

Full Review

Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

It's simply a parade of toys and tricks, without a jot of playfulness, knowing humour or campery to endear itself.

Rated: 1/5

Jul 12, 2010

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

The film gives you the pleasurably junky sensation of living inside an apocalyptic videogame.

Rated: B-

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

If it’s meant to snare the uninitiated, I must say it failed to hook me.

Rated: F

Sep 1, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Unfortunately, as a product of the '90s, the film relies heavily on dated, primitive, terribly unconvincing computer graphics.

Rated: 2/10

Sep 24, 2020

Full Review

Mark H. Harris

Black Horror Movies

I would say I feel bad for a cast that's clearly above this material, but at least they got paid for it; I ended up in the red.

Rated: 1.8/5

Aug 8, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Covert government assassin Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) is killed after being double-crossed by his boss, Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen). Upon arriving in Hell, Simmons is offered an opportunity to return to Earth if he's willing to lead an evil army. He accepts, and is reincarnated as a "Hellspawn" -- a twisted, horribly disfigured version of his former self. However, Spawn serves as a force of good, much to the dismay of the Devil's henchman, a wicked clown (John Leguizamo).

Director: Mark A.Z. Dippe
Producer: Alan C. Blomquist, Todd McFarlane
Screenwriter: Alan B. McElroy
Distributor: New Line Home Video [us], New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Juno Pix
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 1, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.0M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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