1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
90 minutes exactly β the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#01
Heavy Metal
"A step beyond science fiction."
1981 1h 30m EN
π
6.5
SOLID
β
6.5TMDB Β· 833
AnimationScience FictionAdventureFantasyMusic
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
The embodiment of ultimate evil, a glowing orb terrorizes a young girl with bizarre stories of dark fantasy, eroticism and horror.
βA step beyond science fiction.β
Cast
Rodger Bumpass
Hanover Fiste / Dr. Anrak (voice)
John Candy
Desk Sergeant / Dan / Den / Robot (voice)
Jackie Burroughs
Katherine (voice)
Joe Flaherty
Lawyer / General (voice)
Don Francks
Grimaldi / Co-Pilot / Barbarian (voice)
Marilyn Lightstone
Whore / Queen (voice)
Eugene Levy
Sternn / Male Reporter / Edsel (voice)
Harold Ramis
Zeke (voice)
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Gerald Potterton
- Writers
- Daniel Goldberg, Len Blum, Dan O'Bannon
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- Canada
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 πΏ
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
45 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#02
3 / 8
CINEMA
Did you know
Part of the "Heavy Metal Collection" β so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Elmer Bernstein. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Mick Manning shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#05
6 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Rodger Bumpass and John Candy and Jackie Burroughs carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "A step beyond science fiction.".
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0082509 β still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Gerald Potterton directs. Elmer Bernstein scores. Mick Manning cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in Canada. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 190 minutes exactly β the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 245 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3Part of the "Heavy Metal Collection" β so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
- 4Original score by Elmer Bernstein. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Mick Manning shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Rodger Bumpass and John Candy and Jackie Burroughs carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "A step beyond science fiction.".
- 8IMDB entry: tt0082509 β still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Original score
- Elmer Bernstein
- Editing
- Mick Manning
- Production design
- Michael C. Gross
- Sound
- Don White
- Runtime
- 90 min Β· 1h 30m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $9,300,000
- Box office
- $20,118,654
- Return
- 216% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
Part of
Heavy Metal Collection
A collection of the Heavy Metal movies.
Also by
Gerald Potterton
Stills Β· wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames β open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Community reviews
What people are saying
- JPV852β 6/10
I know this has an incredible fan base and considered a cult classic but as someone who never watched this I don't have any nostalgia feelings for this. I found some of the animation to be pretty good while others, like for the segment, "Harry Canyon", I didn't care very much for (although it was my favorite one of the bunch, reminded me of The Fifth Element). The rest was watchable but not terribly impressive and the last, "Taarna" had good visuals but at that point I really was not invested. I don't know, maybe if I had watched this at some point in the late 80s or early 90s, it would have a better connection with my, but I was more interested as it is, not sure I have much interest in revisiting. 3.0/5
Production companies
Who made it
- CA
Canadian Film Development Corporation
CA
- GU
Guardian Trust Company
CA
Famous Players
CA
- PO
Potterton Productions
CA
Columbia Pictures
US
Key crew
- EditorMick Manning
- Executive ProducerLeonard Mogel
- CharactersJean Giraud
- ProducerIvan Reitman
- EditorIan Llande
- Theme Song PerformanceDon Felder
- Theme Song PerformanceSammy Hagar
- Production DesignMichael C. Gross
- Art DirectionPat Gavin
- Sound Re-Recording MixerDon White
- Animation DirectorHarold Whitaker
- Visual Effects DirectorJohn Bruno
- Sound Effects EditorRod Crawley
- Animation DirectorTayk Kim
- Supervising Sound EditorPeter Thillaye
- Sound Effects EditorJoanne Hovey
- Animation DirectorBrian Larkin
- Sound Effects EditorMarc Chiasson
- Sound Effects EditorGord Thompson
- AnimationMilton Gray
- AnimationRick Maki
- AnimationRay daSilva
- Production ManagerJack King
- Sequence SupervisorPino Van Lamsweerde
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- flying car
- taxi
- heavy metal
- based on comic
- drug use
- rotoscoping
- adult animation
Release history Β· US
When it landed
- Theatrical1981-08-07R
- Theatrical1996-03-08RΒ· Re-release prior to video release
Also known as
International titles
- MΓ©tal hurlantFR
- Heavy Metal Sex Crime and RocknRollDE
- Π’ΡΠΆΠ΅Π»ΡΠΉ ΠΌΠ΅ΡΠ°Π»Π»RU
- Heavy Metal - SchwermetallDE
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