Urban Legend

R

Now Playing

1 hr. 35 min.

Horror

TRAILER

for Urban Legend: Trailer 1

List

27%

64 Reviews

Tomatometer

37%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A university is beset by a rash of gruesome murders that resemble old urban legends. When her friend Michelle (Natasha Gregson Wagner) is killed by someone hiding in her car, Natalie (Alicia Witt) begins to notice the pattern. Her suspicions grow stronger when her own roommate is strangled to death. Soon the quiet college campus is transformed into hunting grounds for a maniac, and Natalie struggles to find the killer and stop the bloodshed before she becomes the next victim.

Read More

Read Less

Now in Theaters

Now Playing

Buy Tickets

In Theaters

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Urban Legend on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Elements of Scream reappear in a vastly inferior vehicle.

Read Critics Reviews

Jules N

Urban Legend n'apporte peut être rien de spécial dans le genre horrifique et réutilise ce qui a déjà été fait mais au moins il a le mérite d'être un bon slasher. Dommage aussi que Brenda soit plus drôle que effrayante dans son rôle d'antagoniste.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/24

Full Review

Dan R

The late 1990s saw a spate of slasher films. One of the better ones was 1998's 'Urban Legend'. SYNOPSIS: 'A college student suspects a series of bizarre deaths are connected to certain urban legends.' In many ways this is 'Scream-lite' and steals a lot of tropes from that film. However, this campy slasher does pull off the plot point of all of murders being based on American urban legends. It's a solid film with a great cast, many of which went on to bigger and better things. There's a future Joker and Lex Luther here, never mind the Oscar win. These films are never meant to be masterpieces and this film would've probably been more successful if it had the same promotional push as, for example, 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'. It would go onto spawn two sequels though. A decent mix of laughs and chills. 6/10

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Derek S

This is one of my all time favorite slasher films. I truly believe that if they had made a few, very small changes, this would be the best slasher film of all time. By small changes, I mean casting. The main character, not sure who she is, is terrible. Other than that, most of the movie is solid. A classic revenge tale with a surprise twist. The killer is iconic, and realistic. And the story…the story is fantastic. The idea of a killer offing people using urban legends as their inspiration is fucking genius!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/29/23

Full Review

Jack P

A fun yet gothic teen slasher

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

Full Review

Matthew D

A solid 90's slasher that will keep you guessing! Director Jamie Blanks' slasher horror mystery Urban Legend (1998) is a really awesome timepiece of 90's slashers after Wes Craven's iconic slasher Scream back in 1996. Blanks actually impressed me with his dark, atmospheric direction with tons of shadows and rain pouring down as characters run away from a serial killer at night. Editor Jay Cassidy's quick cuts make the kills and chases thrilling without ever giving away the killer too early. Cinematographer James Chressanthis shoots these stunning wide shots at night with moody lighting and oppressive shadows throughout Urban Legend. I love the gritty look of late 90's pictures and Urban Legend uses striking close-ups of faces and eyes with a neat soft look. It's dark and edgy, but a sheer pleasure to watch a slasher I had never heard of before. Urban Legend cleverly takes old myths and sets them up as the manner of death for the heroes at the hands of a mysterious killer. Writer Silvio Horta came up with a surprising amount of jokes and witty references to many old wives' tales that make Urban Legend so fun to watch. I did not see the killer's reveal coming at all and was happily surprised to be shocked. Urban Legend provides laughs and screams down to the last scene. Casting directors John Papsidera, Lisa Parasyn, and Jon Comerford got real cool 90's talent for this large ensemble. Certain cast members stood out more than others for me. Alicia Witt is a gorgeous redhead, who is very charming and sympathetic as Urban Legend's heroine Natalie Simon. Her vulnerable fear and mild manners seem sweet and make her immediately endearing. I appreciate Witt bringing a sensitivity to Natalie that feels nuanced and compelling. Witt's Natalie is driven by fear, paranoia, and guilt and that is all pretty interesting for a slasher horror final girl. She should have been a lead actress in more films. Rebecca Gayheart is lovely and enjoyable as the likable Brenda Bates. I found her a nice foil, challenging Alicia Witt's Natalie on her different theories over the killer. Gayheart is fascinating and versatile in Urban Legend. I found her range to range from playfully sweet to fiercely intense. Rebecca Gayheart is phenomenal in Urban Legend as well as Jawbreaker. She certainly should have been a bigger lead actress in movies after her run in the 1990's. Jared Leto is solid as the curious school journalist Paul Gardner. He feels just sleazy enough to relentlessly hound people for an interview or information as he tries to piece together clues as to who is the killer. Tara Reid is hilarious as the bubbly and sultry radio host Sasha Thomas with a delightfully irreverent sense of humor. Michael Rosenbaum is a jerk as the obnoxious Parker Riley. Loretta Devine is great as Reese Wilson. Joshua Jackson is very strange as Damon Brooks. Robert Englund is captivating as the suspicious history of legends Professor William Wexler. His role really stands out. Danielle Harris is hot and hysterical as the horny Goth girl Tosh Guaneri. Natasha Gregson Wagner is sympathetic in the chilling opener as Michelle Mancini. Stephanie Anne Mills is entertaining as Felicia. Brad Dourif is gripping as the gas station clerk Michael McDonnell. Julian Richings is truly odd as the Weird Janitor. I have to mention composer Christopher Young's sick film score that's very eerie and atmospheric. I kept thinking of The Ring or something similarly creepy. Mary Claire Hannan's 90's aesthetic for her cute outfits are such a trip to see again. Makeup artists Leslie A. Sebert and Sid Armour make Alicia Witt and Rebecca Gayheart look breathtaking with gorgeous flowing hair and haunted facial looks. Urban Legend is highly underrated now, but thoroughly enjoyable to this day. There's outlandish kills from the goth girl to the dog that'll really stun you. It's a very fast 100 minutes of terror and laughs.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/14/23

Full Review

Maciek K

come on it is a good teen slasher movie

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/05/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Jamie Blanks

Director

Jared Leto

Paul Gardener

Alicia Witt

Natalie Simon

Rebecca Gayheart

Brenda Bates

Michael Rosenbaum

Parker Riley

Loretta Devine

Reese Wilson

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Urban Legend: Official Clip - Killer Car Chase

2:27

Urban Legend: Official Clip - Chased by the Killer Tara Reid Scene

2:27

Urban Legend: Official Clip - Bloody Parking Garage Kill

2:05

Urban Legend: Official Clip - Killer in the Car

2:23

Urban Legend: Official Clip - Tortured by the Killer

3:23

Urban Legend: Official Clip - Pop Rocks Poisoning

2:24

Urban Legend: Official Clip - Sexy Goths Must Die

2:29

Urban Legend: Official Clip - Attacked in the Car

1:51

Urban Legend: Official Clip - Brutal Hanging

2:28

Urban Legend: Official Clip - Bloody Corpse in the Killer's Car

1:32

View more videos

83%

91%

Irena's Vow

42%

%

I Think I Do

%

95%

The Hopeful

%

%

Exhibition on Screen: John Singer Sargent - Fashion & Swagger

%

%

Ameena

%

%

Chicago & Friends in Concert

82%

%

Abigail

TRAILER

for Abigail

71%

%

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

TRAILER

for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

71%

62%

Sasquatch Sunset

TRAILER

for Sasquatch Sunset

%

%

Rebel Moon: Part Two - The Scargiver

TRAILER

for Rebel Moon: Part Two - The Scargiver

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Urban Legend: Trailer 1

2:20

View more videos

View more photos

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Like Frankenstein's monster before the lightning strikes, it's all recycled cold flesh and bolts, without a twitch of originality.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 25, 2003

Full Review

Kim Newman

Sight & Sound

Manages somehow to be rather endearing.

Mar 3, 2002

Full Review

Bob Heisler

Los Angeles Times

A low-voltage drive-in movie, made strictly by the book.

Rated: 1/5

Feb 14, 2001

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

A campy slasher that is just barely pulled off thanks to its charming cast and its inclusion of iconic urban legends, bringing to life stories that had previously only been told as ghost stories.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 24, 2023

Full Review

Paul Lê

Bloody Disgusting

Urban Legend is accused of being too imitative of Scream. [...] However, late screenwriter Silvio Horta‘s subversion of the film’s entire motif is something that goes unnoticed.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 21, 2023

Full Review

Stephanie Archer

Film Inquiry

While it does not boast itself as the best, the legends it holds, the horror it honors, the red herrings it constantly crafts and the twist ending make it at least an entertaining viewing experience.

Aug 28, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

A university is beset by a rash of gruesome murders that resemble old urban legends. When her friend Michelle (Natasha Gregson Wagner) is killed by someone hiding in her car, Natalie (Alicia Witt) begins to notice the pattern. Her suspicions grow stronger when her own roommate is strangled to death. Soon the quiet college campus is transformed into hunting grounds for a maniac, and Natalie struggles to find the killer and stop the bloodshed before she becomes the next victim.

Director: Jamie Blanks
Executive Producer: Brad Luff
Screenwriter: Silvio Horta
Distributor: TriStar Pictures, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: Phoenix Pictures, Original Film
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 25, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 11, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $38.1M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now