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Red Sonja (1985)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 3.1/10
Reviews Counted: 21
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 17

Dull, poorly directed, and badly miscast, Red Sonja is an uninspired conclusion to Schwarzenegger's barbarian trilogy.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 2

Dull, poorly directed, and badly miscast, Red Sonja is an uninspired conclusion to Schwarzenegger's barbarian trilogy.

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Average Rating: 2.6/5
User Ratings: 33,725

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Movie Info

Brigitte Nielsen appears as warrior woman Sonja, who unites with a couple of other gladiator types (including Arnold Schwarzenegger) to overthrow the evil queen Gedren (Sandahl Bergman) and avenge the deaths of Sonja's family. This story descends from the writings of Robert E. Howard (author of Conan). ~ Rovi

PG-13, 1 hr. 29 min.

Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Richard Fleischer

In Theaters: Jul 3, 1985 Wide

On DVD: Jul 6, 2004

MGM/UA

Red Sonja Trailer & Photos

Cast

Brigitte Nielsen
Red Sonja
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Kalidor
Sandahl Bergman
Queen Gedren
Paul L. Smith
Falkon
Ernie Reyes Jr.
Tarn
Ronald Lacey
Ikol
Pat Roach
Brytag
Janet Agren
Varna
Tad Horino
Swordmaster
Hans Meyer
Red Sonja's Father
Terry Richards
Djart
Tutte Lemkow
Wizard
Francesca Romana Coluzzi
Red Sonja's Mother
Kiyoshi Yamazaki
Kyobo
Stefano Mioni
Barlok Red Sonja's Brot...
Lara Naszinski
Gedren's Handmaid
Donna Osterbuhr
Kendra the High Prieste...

Critic Reviews for Red Sonja

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (18) | DVD (9)

The dialogue passages don't exactly play like Noel Coward, but this is a movie that succeeds rousingly well on its own humble, Saturday-night terms.

July 9, 2010 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment (1)

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Red Sonja returns to those olden days when women were women and the menfolk stood around with funny hats on until called forth to be whacked at.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Mr. Fleischer brings absolutely no playfulness to what might, at least, have been enjoyably light. And he brings out the worst in a cast that was ill-chosen to begin with.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

The film is at least as good as Conan the Destroyer. Which is faint praise, indeed.

August 26, 2011 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy

| Comment (1)

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

Sure, there are a few funny moments here and there with several obviously intended jokes, but director Richard Fleischer never milks the elements of self-parody for what they're worth.

July 9, 2010 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Worst of all, there's a charmless brat prince for Sonja to take under her wing.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

It's a truly horrible concoction, filled with stiff, overly serious dialogue, wretched performances, bad lighting and a lazy score by the otherwise great Ennio Morricone.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Unwatchably bad sword-and-sorcery nonsense.

October 6, 2005 Comment (1)

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Red Sonja and Kalidor wear each other out sword fighting. I was worn out trying to stay awake during the film.

August 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...pure silliness, but not silly enough to qualify as amusing. Face it; it's just dull.

August 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Red Sonja is certainly a forgettable flick, but I have to admit: it's entertaining enough while it lasts.

July 8, 2004 Full Review Source: Fantastica Daily

| Comment

Staci Layne Wilson

Fantastica Daily

Hilariously awful

May 21, 2004 Comment

Jon Niccum

Lawrence Journal-World

No, he's NOT Conan this time!

September 11, 2003 Comment

Kevin A. Ranson

MovieCrypt.com

Horrible spawn of the mediocre Conan the Barbarian.

April 14, 2003 Comment (1)

Alex Sandell

Juicy Cerebellum

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Red Sonja

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Terrible flick, but fun to watch and snicker at.

December 24, 2007

Tim Salmons

Super Reviewer

It's sad to find out that this movie came out as late as 1985. Other films of superior quality such as Willow had already come out, leaving this movie to look like it came from the 70's. Still, pretty cool sets for sure. The story was pretty shallow and it mostly dribbles down to a bunch of sword fights (yawn).

October 1, 2007