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Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins, Ed Gale, Chip Zien ... see more see more... , Paul Guilfoyle , Tim Rose , Steve Sleap , Peter Baird , Mary Wells , Lisa Sturz , Jordan Prentice , Tommy Swerdlow , Lee Anthony , Virginia Capers , Debbie Lee Carrington , Miles Chapin , Paul Comi , Dominique Davalos , Richard Edson , Sheldon Feldner , Nancy Fish , John Fleck , Monty Hoffman , Ed Holmes , Richard Kiley , Steve Kravitz , James Lashly , Gary Littlejohn , Kristopher Logan , Richard McGonagle , Wood Moy , David Paymer , Holly Robinson Peete , Liz Sagal , Miguel Sandoval , Felix Silla , Thomas Dolby , Marcia Banks , James Brady , Maureen Coyne , Denny Delk , Margarita Fernandez , Martin Ganapoler , Ted Kurtz , Jeanne Laruen , Wanda McCaddon , Jorli McClain , Carol McElheney , Reed Kirk Rahlmann , Tom Rayhall , Michael Sandoval , Anne Tofflemire , William Hall , Tom Parker , William McCoy

In this sci-fi comedy from executive producer George Lucas, Howard the Duck is an extra-terrestrial fowl who is accidentally beamed to earth by physicist Dr. Jenning (Jeffrey Jones) and his assistant ... read more read more...Phil (Tim Robbins). The two go looking for Howard and find him in the home of Beverly Switzer (Lea Thompson), who was rescued by the interstellar duck from some mean-looking thugs. Beverly and Phil are friends, and when the government finds out about Howard, she helps Phil and Dr. Jenning hide him from the authorities until they can zap him back home. In the meantime, several wild chases and spectacular special effects keep the picture rolling along. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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42% liked it

52,971 ratings

Critics

16% liked it

32 critics

PG, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Willard Huyck

Release Date: August 1, 1986

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DVD Release Date: March 10, 2009

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Stats: 3,113 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,113)

  • aquateen2
    April 27, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    Due to the plot and nostalgic visual style, it was always going to be a misfire if it's primary intention was to become a summer blockbuster and unsurprisingly the film was a box office disaster. Not onl... read morey that, but it's famous for being cited as one of the worst films ever made and even had to be cut because censors reacted badly to the jokes about ducks and condoms but even the most uneven and messy films like Howard the Duck have the power to inspire a fandom. I think the choice to use live action as opposed to animation was a good idea. Howard in animatronics isn't as unconvincing as everyone says, the dialogue matches his facial movements and he looks attractive and stylishly art house. However the people in the film are dull, boring and underdeveloped and are portrayed awfully with even worse performances than the horrible cast of Transformers. I'm certain that the film is likely to dissappoint it's target audience more than any kids movie i've seen in my viewing life. It has quite a few scenes with smoking, swearing and some that I suspect are somehow promoting beastiality to people. But I embraced it for all it's weirdness and art house style of storytelling. I believe it's a surreal, strangely likable and sometimes witty failed picture and it appealed to me. I dont think there's any reasons to loathe it. I had a smile on my face all the way through, I think its a very strange, subversive, funny film. I unlike most most unfair critics actually looked at the positives of the film. So sue me. I enjoyed Howard the Duck.
  • spielberg00
    October 13, 2011
    spielberg00
    It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Daffy! No, it's Donald! NO, YOU IDIOT IT'S HOWARD! (Just thought I could use humor similar to that of this film to start a review.)

    Cheerfully dumb urban quest for love (with some monsters and ducks on the way!) is a true waste of George Luca... read mores's talent. Based on the short-lived Marvel comic saga (yeah, I know, it's sad: a duck becomes a superhero; it's not even funny), HOWARD THE DUCK is one stupid, stupid film (duck, yeah!). But worse, they have made it clear that they all were trying to make it horrible.

    I have to wonder what the duck George Lucas was thinking when he decided to sign on to this project. My guess is that he read only the very end of the screenplay. G.L.: "Hmm...this robot-alien doohickey scene (or however that man speaks) reminds me of Jabba the Hutt in STAR WARS!" (?) Screenwriter: "So you'll do the project?" G.L.: "Duck, yeah!"

    From the scene in the very beginning with the "full duck-al nudity" (hoarse, excruciating chuckles) to the end when What's-her-face writes and performs a song called "Howard the Duck" in honor of the "hero", this is a very bad movie. Howard, go duck yourself. 'Nuff said.
  • phubbs1
    October 11, 2011
    phubbs1
    This is cult stuff haha I loved it as a kid and I love it now, its so cool and the lead character is so original. The story is basic but works in a typically cute fantasy type way, the effects are pretty cool too and hold up well today, probably down to Mr Lucas' influence. Its a... read morectually pretty tense here and there with some gross moments which were cut for TV, it made me cower abit when I was young haha.
    Jones transforming into a dark overlord was actually quite scary for kids. Its all based on a comic and as usual the comic is much darker and more risky but this still hits the right note and backs up its comic cousin, its also pretty funny too, almost a spoof. Well worth the viewing.
  • FrizzDrop
    June 22, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    The film that killed Lea Thompson's career, made it apparent that George Lucas is a quack (no pun intended), and ruined feather boas for everyone, Howard the Duck is a movie that never should have been made. The logic behind this eye raping of epic proportions is muddled, the mat... read moreerial being based off a comic strip. Though the acting by Thompson, and a really weird transformation by Jeffery Jones, was solid, they were playing characters that interacted with a talking duck. Robbins, strangely cast, is both moronic and yet entertaining as his goofiness is otherworldly at times. The movie was grounded, the action, though done by a freaking duck, wasn't terrible, and the shooting was fine. Those all make the viewing tolerable, but when you have a duck making puns every other minute, bird nipples (not an exaggeration), and quotable moments of stupidity, you get...whatever this is. Watch to sate your curiosity, else beware!
  • ajv2688
    January 27, 2011
    ajv2688
    Yes, it was a bomb at the box office, yes, it's cheesy and the idea of a duck from space crash landing on Earth and joining a rock band is nuts, but this movie is fun anyway. It's not great, but I enjoy it okay? Lea Thompson is great as usual, so that's another plus for this mo... read morevie.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 27, 2010
    FilmFanatik
    Sigh, what can I saw about this movie other than "What the hell was George Lucas thinking?"
  • fb733768972
    October 16, 2010
    fb733768972
    This is a marvel movie? When I was watching this movie, it wasn't even amusing, because it actually was one of the worst films I've ever seen. It has it's stupid little gags that made me chuckle, but in the end, I absolutely hated every little detail of this movie, and scenes jus... read moret made me want to turn away. Who ever thought this was a good idea must have been on something, because this is a disgrace to cinema. Absolutely nothing good is present here, and it is far to long to keep your attention!
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    I don't care what people say, this film is great and I love it!
  • sononothing
    March 25, 2009
    sononothing
    From the people that brought you American Graffiti...

    Yes, the same people that brought you American Graffiti brought us Howard the Duck. Howard the Duck, that legendary bomb that caused George Lucas to sell a little company he owned called Pixar (yes THAT Pixar. Could you imagi... read morene his power if he still had it?). Between this, Superman III and IV, The Punisher (Dolph), and Captain America comic book adaptations were set back ten years.

    Basic plot: Duck is sucked from his planet to Earth, meets Beverly (Lea Thompson), who leads Howard to a lab assistant (Oscar winner Tim Robbins- I bet he wished this never had a DVD release), who leads Howard to a real scientist (Jeffrey Jones) who ends up sucking a dark overlord who wants to take over the world. Yowza. Even the cop from CSI is in this. Not William Petersen.

    Now I've seen worse movies.Not many, but I have seen worse. It's hard to attack plot holes, overacting, and such when you're dealing with a talking duck. It's a nice '80's time capsule, mainly for Lea Thompson's hair and the Thomas Dolby soundtrack. Holy shit, John Barry did the score for this! I thought it sounded like a recycled A View To A Kill soundtrack. No wonder.

    Yeah, we can all bash Howard the Duck (and future generations will). It has to be done. When a monumental dud is released we all have to look at why. Of course with Howard the Duck we already have our answer to that now don't we.
  • romy861
    October 12, 2008
    romy861
    Somehow I got right through the 80's and up until now without seeing this one. What can I say, aside from the icky suggestion that Lea Thompson was somehow "on" with the duck (hinted at rather than seen), it is no worse than any other action 80's film. Fashions were great, Lea,... read more of course - not exactly great acting, but suited the whole movie which you just can't take seriously. Duck kind of fake looking, but what else would you expect. Fans of the 80's or just bad movies in general should enjoy it.

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Critic Reviews

Pat Graham
April 25, 2007
Pat Graham, Chicago Reader

The duck doesn't fly, but did anyone ever really think it would? Full Review

April 25, 2007
Variety

Daffy Duck will be pleased to hear he didn't miss any career opportunities when he wasn't chosen to star in Howard the Duck, although producers certainly could have benefited from his talents. Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Choose the part that suits your taste, but this is a case where half a movie -- either half -- is apt to be better than the whole. Full Review

Keith Phipps
July 6, 2010
Keith Phipps, Slate

As bad as you've heard. Actually, it's worse. Full Review

David Nusair
July 13, 2009
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...a hopelessly uneven and needlessly frenetic piece of work that's unlikely to hold much appeal for viewers over a certain age... Full Review

Bill Gibron
March 10, 2009
Bill Gibron, Filmcritic.com

It really is that bad. Full Review

Christian Toto
March 4, 2009
Christian Toto, Washington Times

Howard the Duck is the first clear sign that George Lucas, who exec produced this mess, ran out of pixie dust after wrapping "Return of the Jedi. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
February 22, 2009
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

Howard the Duck isn't quite the booming nightmare its reputation suggests, but I defy most viewers out there in DVD land to sit through the entire feature without maintaining a sweaty, alert finger on... Full Review

April 25, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Everyone concerned with this should have been seated on a ducking stool and drenched. Full Review

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

[An] aimless movie. Full Review

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    • Dr. Jenning: In the lab that night, we saw a single feather fall. We weren't aware that the rest of you, Howard, had landed in that alley just two miles away. Any questions?
    • Howard T. Duck: Yeah. Where are my pants?
    • Howard T. Duck: No one laughs at a master of Quack Fu!
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  • Which two actors had the leads in "Howard the Duck"?  Answer »
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  • What actress has starred in these films? The Beverly Hillbillies Back To The Future 1,2,and 3 Howard The Duck The Little Rascals   Answer »
  • What movie had a talking duck in Clevland, Ohio?  Answer »
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