Howard the Duck

"More adventure than humanly possible."

1986 1h 50m EN

😐

5.5

MID

🥫

14%

ROTTEN

😬

METACRITIC

⭐

4.8

IMDB

★5.5TMDB · 1,183🥫14%Rotten Tomatoes●28Metacritic★4.8IMDB · 53,326

ComedyAdventureScience Fiction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A scientific experiment unknowingly brings extraterrestrial life forms to the Earth through a laser beam. First is the cigar-smoking drake, Howard, from the duck's planet. A few kids try to keep him from the greedy scientists and help him back to his planet, but then a much less friendly being arrives through the beam...

“More adventure than humanly possible.”

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Cast

Lea Thompson
Beverly Switzler
Jeffrey Jones
Dr. Walter Jenning
Tim Robbins
Phil Blumburtt
Ed Gale
Howard T. Duck
Chip Zien
Howard T. Duck (voice)
Tim Rose
Howard T. Duck
Steve Sleap
Howard T. Duck
Peter Baird
Howard T. Duck

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Willard Huyck
Writers: Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

40 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Willard Huyck, shot by Richard H. Kline. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by John Barry. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Michael Chandler shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Lea Thompson and Jeffrey Jones and Tim Robbins carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "More adventure than humanly possible.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0091225 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Willard Huyck directs. Richard H. Kline behind the camera. John Barry scores. Michael Chandler cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

140 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Willard Huyck, shot by Richard H. Kline. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by John Barry. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Michael Chandler shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Lea Thompson and Jeffrey Jones and Tim Robbins carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "More adventure than humanly possible.".
7IMDB entry: tt0091225 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Released under 10 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Richard H. Kline
Original score: John Barry
Editing: Michael Chandler
Production design: Peter Jamison
Costume design: Joe I. Tompkins
Makeup / hair: Gracie Atherton
VFX supervisor: Michael J. McAlister
Sound: Randy Thom
Stunt coordinator: Everett Creach
Runtime: 110 min · 1h 50m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $37,000,000
Box office: $38,000,000
Return: 103% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Howard the Duck (1986)
Rotten Tomatoes: 14% 🥫 Rotten
Metacritic: 28/100
IMDB rating: 4.8/10 · 53,326 votes
MPAA: PG

Awards

5 wins & 4 nominations total

Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Visual Effects
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Willard Huyck

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2021-11-24
★ 5/10
The infamous film version of Steve Gerber’s intelligent, wise-cracking waterfowl from another world An English-speaking duck from another planet is somehow transported to Cleveland, Ohio, where he befriends a rock group leader (Lea Thompson). She introduces him to her friend, a quirky lab assistant (Tim Robbins), to figure out what happened, but the situation is complicated when a doctor at the lab is possessed by a “dark overlord of the universe” (Jeffrey Jones). "Howard the Duck" (1986) is the film version of Marvel Comics’ anthropomorphic waterfowl created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik with the Duck’s first appearance being in Adventures into Fear #19 featuring the Man-Thing, which debuted in March, 1974 (cover date Dec. 1973). While the cartoonish character was atypical for Marvel, he was a surprise hit, which led to this movie a dozen years later. It’s made in the mold of “Ghostbusters” (1984) and obviously influenced “Men in Black” (1997), but it’s the least of these and notoriously bombed at the box office. It begins well enough, both intriguing and amusing, but starts to lose its mojo in the second act before spiraling into a loud, frantic last act with loads of colorful special effects. The problem is that, after the first act, the flick abandons the characters for action-oriented zaniness and it loses the attention of the viewer. Creator Steve Gerber plainly said the movie “sucked” and was dissatisfied with the duck’s bland voice and costume. Howard’s face just isn’t animated enough and his eyes are too cute & innocent for Gerber’s ill-tempered, wise-cracking waterfowl. That said, there are enough entertaining elements in the “Ghostbusters” / “Men in black” vein to enjoy the movie to some degree as you revisit 1985 America when it was shot. But you have to be able to accept it as a cinematic alternative to Gerber’s original concept. I’m not big on Lea Thompson, but she’s winsome enough as Beverly on the female front, although she didn’t exactly fit Gerber’s version of the Duck’s babelicious pal. Liz Sagal is also notable as Ronette in a minor role. The film runs 1 hour, 50 minutes, and was obviously shot in the Bay area of Northern California, NOT Cleveland, Ohio. GRADE: C
GenerationofSwine2023-01-14
★ 10/10
It is so cool to hate on this isn't it? So I am giving it a 10, mainly because of all the folks that gave it a 1 to be in the in crowd...and partially because Lucas was right, it stood the test of time. The cult following isn't because it's a bad movie, it's because it's a funny movie. Just because a midget is wearing a duck suit doesn't make it bad. Just because there is duck nudity doesn't make it bad. I mean...we loved it with Team America. It was hysterical then. It's not funny in Howard because you are told not to laugh at it. If you give it a chance it's well worth the admission, for jokes alone.