Legend (1985)
69%RT Audience Score: 73%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
18 wins & 60 nominations total
Not even Ridley Scott’s gorgeously realized set pieces can save Legend from its own tawdry tale — though it may be serviceable for those simply looking for fantasy eye candy
Legend is a movie that’s so bad, it’s almost good. With its thin plot and lack of humor, it’s like a beautiful painting that’s missing a few brushstrokes. But hey, at least it’s visually stunning and a lot more fun than some of those serious movies out there. Plus, it’s got Tom Cruise in it, so that’s something, right? Overall, it’s a disaster, but it’s a disaster that’s worth watching just for the sheer spectacle of it all.
Production Company(ies)
Apple Original Films, Cartoon Saloon Mélusine Productions,
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and language
Year of Release
1985
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 29m
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Language(s):English, Mandarin
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Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 1985 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 21, 2002
Genre(s)
Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, Tim Curry, David Bennent, Alice Playten, Billy Barty, directed by Ridley Scott, written by William Hjortsberg, fantasy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kevin Thomas, Jay Boyar, Gene Siskel, Tom Shales, Geoff Andrew, Kevin Carr, Allison Rose, Matt Brunson, PG, unicorns, magic swamps, dwarfs, rainbows, Arnon Milchan, produced by Universal Pictures, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Surround, Dolby Stereo, Scope (2.35:1)
Worldwide gross: $432,243,292
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $470,110,710
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 305
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 51,266,162
US/Canada gross: $224,543,292
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $244,214,794
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 266
US/Canada opening weekend: $75,388,688
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $81,993,244
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 105
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $200,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $217,521,344
Production budget ranking: 74
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $117,135,244
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $135,454,121
ROI to date (est.): 40%
ROI ranking: 1,194
Mia Sara – Princess Lily
Tim Curry – Darkness
David Bennent – Gump
Alice Playten – Blix
Billy Barty – Screwball
Director(s)
Ridley Scott
Writer(s)
William Hjortsberg
Producer(s)
Arnon Milchan
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
18 wins & 60 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (26)
Legend is not without whimsical touches, but it surely could have used more humor and invention.
March 27, 2019
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
You are caught up in a morality play… the deepest significance of which the makers of this PG movie are apparently betting the adolescents of America will instinctively comprehend.
March 27, 2019
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
I don’t want to remember any more about Legend than to make sure I include it in my ”worst films of 1986” list and never rent it when it comes out as a video cassette.
March 27, 2019 | Rating: 0.5/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Legend may turn out to be legendary, but not in the way the filmmakers intended.
March 27, 2019
Tom Shales
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Legend is a fairytale produced on a grand scale… At the same time, the basic premise is alarmingly thin, a compendium of any number of ancient fairytales.
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Beautifully shot and designed, but in a cloyingly self-conscious manner, the film lacks narrative drive.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
This is a fantasy painting come to life as a movie. If you know anything about fantasy paintings, you’ll also know that most fantasy paintings don’t have a story or plot to them.
October 15, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
Kevin Carr
Fat Guys at the Movies
The film has glaring faults that cannot be overlooked so while Arrow does a superb job packaging this release, the movie itself could use a makeover.
October 12, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Allison Rose
FlickDirect
The deficits remain as voluminous and ghastly as ever.
October 9, 2021 | Rating: 2/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Legend is a disaster in a lot of ways, but it’s an attractive one that’s a lot more fun than many other serious movies.
March 25, 2020
Jessica Mason
The Mary Sue
It’s all flash and no flesh. But in the hands of a visual director like Scott, sometimes that’s enough.
March 27, 2019
Roger Hurlburt
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Best known as the movie that was filming at Pinewood when the James Bond stage burned down, this is probably one of the few films on director Ridley Scott’s CV that he would prefer to forget.
March 27, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Jo Berry
Radio Times…
Plot
Shang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Tim Curry’s performance as Darkness, calling it “phenomenal” and his costume “amazing.”
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