Willow
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The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow, a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he's entrusted with delivering her from evil.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics in 1988 were broadly underwhelmed, finding the special effects impressive but the story generic and the characters thin — a disappointment given Lucas's pedigree. Audiences, especially younger ones, responded far more warmly, and the film has built a devoted following over the decades that sits well above the contemporary critical verdict.
“There can be no true suspense in a movie where even the characters seem to be inspired by other movies.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“It's a sad thing to be faulting Lucas, maker of the Star Wars trilogy and Raiders of the Lost Ark, for forgetting the tricks of entertainment.”
Desson Thomson·The Washington Post
“any 6–13-year-old who sees this may be bitten by the 'movie bug' for life.”
Mike Clark·USA Today
Accolades
Genres
Action, Adventure, Drama
Cast & Crew
Ron HowardDirector
Warwick DavisWillow
Val KilmerMadmartigan
Joanne WhalleySorsha
Patricia HayesRaziel
Gavan O'HerlihyAirk
Phil FondacaroVohnkar
Pat RoachGeneral Kael
Rick OvertonFranjean
Kevin PollakRool
Billy BartyHigh Aldwin
Jean MarshQueen Bavmorda
David SteinbergMeegosh
James HornerComposer
Bob DolmanWriter
George LucasWriter
Adrian BiddleCinematographyFrom the studio
Willow
The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow, a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he's entrusted with delivering her from evil.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics in 1988 were broadly underwhelmed, finding the special effects impressive but the story generic and the characters thin — a disappointment given Lucas's pedigree. Audiences, especially younger ones, responded far more warmly, and the film has built a devoted following over the decades that sits well above the contemporary critical verdict.
“There can be no true suspense in a movie where even the characters seem to be inspired by other movies.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“It's a sad thing to be faulting Lucas, maker of the Star Wars trilogy and Raiders of the Lost Ark, for forgetting the tricks of entertainment.”
Desson Thomson·The Washington Post
“any 6–13-year-old who sees this may be bitten by the 'movie bug' for life.”
Mike Clark·USA Today
Accolades
Genres
Action, Adventure, Drama
Cast & Crew
Ron HowardDirectorWarwick DavisWillowVal KilmerMadmartiganJoanne WhalleySorshaPatricia HayesRazielGavan O'HerlihyAirkPhil FondacaroVohnkarPat RoachGeneral KaelRick OvertonFranjeanKevin PollakRoolBilly BartyHigh AldwinJean MarshQueen BavmordaDavid SteinbergMeegoshJames HornerComposerBob DolmanWriterGeorge LucasWriterAdrian BiddleCinematographyFrom the studio
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Rent & Buy