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Howard the Duck

  • 1986
  • PG
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
52K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,129
116
Howard the Duck (1986)
On this IMDbrief, we break down the totally tubular blockbusters releasing in the Summer of 1985!
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99+ Photos
Alien InvasionDark ComedySuperheroActionAdventureComedyRomanceSci-Fi

A sarcastic humanoid duck is pulled from his homeworld to Earth where he must stop an alien invasion with the help of a nerdy scientist and a struggling female rock singer.A sarcastic humanoid duck is pulled from his homeworld to Earth where he must stop an alien invasion with the help of a nerdy scientist and a struggling female rock singer.A sarcastic humanoid duck is pulled from his homeworld to Earth where he must stop an alien invasion with the help of a nerdy scientist and a struggling female rock singer.

  • Director
    • Willard Huyck
  • Writers
    • Steve Gerber
    • Willard Huyck
    • Gloria Katz
  • Stars
    • Lea Thompson
    • Jeffrey Jones
    • Tim Robbins
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    4.7/10
    52K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,129
    116
    • Director
      • Willard Huyck
    • Writers
      • Steve Gerber
      • Willard Huyck
      • Gloria Katz
    • Stars
      • Lea Thompson
      • Jeffrey Jones
      • Tim Robbins
    • 380User reviews
    • 103Critic reviews
    • 28Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 4 nominations

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:23
    Trailer
    Late-Breaking Summer of '85 Movie News
    Clip 3:07
    Late-Breaking Summer of '85 Movie News
    Late-Breaking Summer of '85 Movie News
    Clip 3:07
    Late-Breaking Summer of '85 Movie News

    Photos125

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    Top cast64

    Edit
    Lea Thompson
    Lea Thompson
    • Beverly Switzler
    Jeffrey Jones
    Jeffrey Jones
    • Dr. Walter Jenning
    Tim Robbins
    Tim Robbins
    • Phil Blumburtt
    Ed Gale
    Ed Gale
    • Howard T. Duck
    Chip Zien
    Chip Zien
    • Howard T. Duck
    • (voice)
    Tim Rose
    Tim Rose
    • Howard T. Duck
    Steve Sleap
    • Howard T. Duck
    Peter Baird
    • Howard T. Duck
    Mary Wells
    • Howard T. Duck
    Lisa Sturz
    • Howard T. Duck
    Jordan Prentice
    Jordan Prentice
    • Howard T. Duck
    Paul Guilfoyle
    Paul Guilfoyle
    • Lieutenant Welker
    Liz Sagal
    • Ronette
    Dominique Davalos
    Dominique Davalos
    • Cal
    Holly Robinson Peete
    Holly Robinson Peete
    • K.C.
    • (as Holly Robinson)
    Tommy Swerdlow
    Tommy Swerdlow
    • Ginger Moss
    Richard Edson
    Richard Edson
    • Ritchie
    Miles Chapin
    Miles Chapin
    • Carter
    • Director
      • Willard Huyck
    • Writers
      • Steve Gerber
      • Willard Huyck
      • Gloria Katz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to reports at the time of the movie's release, George Lucas had just built the $50-million Skywalker Ranch complex, and was counting on this film to get him back in the black. When it bombed, he was forced to start selling off assets to stay afloat. His friend Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple Computer, offered to help by buying Lucasfilm's newly-launched CGI animation division for a price well above market value. Lucas, in dire straits and thankful for the assistance, agreed. That division eventually became Pixar Animation Studios.
    • Goofs
      Palm trees in Cleveland, Ohio.
    • Quotes

      [Together in bed, Beverly seducing Howard]

      Howard T. Duck: [flustered] I've got a headache...

      Beverly: And I've got the aspirin!

      Howard T. Duck: Be gentle.

    • Alternate versions
      In the UK two cuts totalling 46 secs were made to secure a PG rating. One is of Lea Thompson pulling a condom out of Howard's wallet, the other is of the bad guy sticking his tongue in a car cigarette lighter socket to recharge himself. The scene with the condom was left intact on the film's television premiere on the BBC. Although the cuts were fully restored in 2008 for the 12-rated Metrodome release the same company reissued the film later in the year with a PG certificate, and this release lost 52 secs of cuts to photo shots in a sex magazine and a scene where Howard works in a sleazy sauna parlour.
    • Connections
      Edited into Nostalgia Critic: Max Payne (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Hunger City
      Performed by Lea Thompson, Dominique Davalos, Liz Sagal, Holly Robinson Peete (as Holly Robinson)
      Produced by Thomas Dolby
      Written by Thomas Dolby and Allee Willis

    User reviews380

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    It's not that terrible! Really!

    "Howard the Duck" was a critical and commercial failure when it was first released in the summer of 1986. Since that time, the movie has become synonymous with one word: BOMB. However, while it is not a very good film, I feel "Howard the Duck" is not nearly as bad as many people seem to believe.

    How can you dislike a film about a midget duck from another planet who (with the help of Lea Thompson and her gigantic '80s hair) saves Earth from impending doom? Not only that, but the menace threatening Earth is the Dark Overlord of the Universe, an evil force that has invaded the body of Jeffery Jones! "Howard the Duck" is one of those movies that is enjoyable in a mindless way. It is by no means classic cinema, but if you are in the right frame of mind, it is very fun to watch.

    And don't miss the musical number at the end, when Howard and the cast do the "duck waddle"!
    • app354
    • Jan 20, 2003
    • Permalink

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Howard the Duck?Powered by Alexa
    • What are the differences between the old British BBFC PG and the Uncensored Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Howard el pato
    • Filming locations
      • Petaluma, California, USA(Petaluma River is used for almost all waterway scenes, with takeoff from Western Avenue)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Lucasfilm
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $37,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $16,295,774
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,070,136
      • Aug 3, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $37,962,774
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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