D.A.R.Y.L.

"He can fly a jet, race a car and outsmart a computer. The government created him and now they want him destroyed."

1985 1h 40m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 382

FamilyScience FictionAdventure

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Daryl is a normal 10-year-old boy in many ways. However, unbeknown to his foster parents and friends, Daryl is actually a government-created robot with superhuman reflexes and mental abilities. Even his name has a hidden meaning -- it's actually an acronym for Data Analyzing Robot Youth Life-form. When the organization that created him deems the "super soldier" experiment a failure and schedules Daryl to be disassembled, it is up to a few rogue scientists to help him escape.

“He can fly a jet, race a car and outsmart a computer. The government created him and now they want him destroyed.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Barret Oliver
Daryl
Mary Beth Hurt
Joyce Richardson
Michael McKean
Andy Richardson
Kathryn Walker
Dr. Ellen Lamb
Colleen Camp
Elaine Fox
Josef Sommer
Dr. Jeffrey Stewart
Steve Ryan
Howie Fox
Ron Frazier
General Graycliffe

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Simon Wincer
Writers: Jeffrey Ellis, David Ambrose, Allan Scott
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, 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 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 78% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Simon Wincer, shot by Frank Watts. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Barret Oliver and Mary Beth Hurt and Michael McKean carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "He can fly a jet, race a car and outsmart a computer. The government created him and now they want him destroyed.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0088979 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Simon Wincer directs. Frank Watts behind the camera. Marvin Hamlisch scores. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 78% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
241 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Directed by Simon Wincer, shot by Frank Watts. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Marvin Hamlisch. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Barret Oliver and Mary Beth Hurt and Michael McKean carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "He can fly a jet, race a car and outsmart a computer. The government created him and now they want him destroyed.".
8IMDB entry: tt0088979 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 11 themes, including "computer", "autopilot", "forest", "south carolina".

The technical file

Cinematography: Frank Watts
Original score: Marvin Hamlisch
Production design: Alan Cassie
Costume design: Shay Cunliffe
Makeup / hair: Jan Dorman
VFX supervisor: Michael L. Fink
Stunt coordinator: John Moio
Runtime: 100 min · 1h 40m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $10,000,000
Box office: $7,840,873
Return: 78% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: D.A.R.Y.L. (1985)

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Simon Wincer

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Olivergbyrne2017-10-04
This film is a nostalgia fest for me. Am I being a bit selfish to review a film when I am so connected to it , perhaps so I will try to put my love for the film aside and review it for what it is. This film is part of what I would call the Amblin generation of films (although it is not an Amblin film) because it came out in a decade full of wonderful family films (Goonies,Gremlins,Cocoon,Neverending story etc..) . It was a time when adults could watch a so called kids film and enjoy it as much as their rugrats. D.A.R.Y.L is a family drama with a dash of Sci-Fy , it is two film in one.A heart warming film for the first half and a children Sci Fy thriller in it's second half.These two different style works surprisingly well here. There is something so welcoming about the first half when young D.A.R.Y.L superbly played by child actor Barret Oliver is found in the middle of the wood and put into foster care as a test drive for a couple who desperately want to adopt a child. Here he meet his first friend , potty mouthed Turtle (Yeah he his called Turtle) and learn valuable lessons about how to relate to adults (The kid does not know a thing about being a son) There is just something so incredibly warm and fuzzy about the first half of the movie that makes it the perfect choice for a rainy Sunday afternoon.There is that 80's charm.It is also nice to basically watch a family that enjoy the little thing in life like baseball , Ice cream etc..The suburban setting his welcoming and the 80's vibe will bring as much memories to 80's kids as lets say "The Andy Griffith Show" does for children of the 50's. It was a simpler time and this film shows that. Barret Oliver as D.A.R.Y.L is a great main character , he his curious , oddly different and curiously smart...way too smart. The second half reveal something is different about D.A.R.Y.L and that is when the Sci-Fy elements kicks in. I am not going to say what it is just in case the person who is reading this know nothing about this film (The cover of the DVD reveals way too much unfortunately). This film is a great film for the all family.If you feel to escape the grim reality of life lol you could do far worse then putting this charming film on! I give D.A.R.Y.L a 8 out of 10.

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