
Howard the Duck
1986, Adventure/Action, 1h 51m
78 Reviews 50,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
While it has its moments, Howard the Duck suffers from an uneven tone and mediocre performances. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Beverly Switzler
Dr. Walter Jenning
Phil Blumburtt

Lieutenant Welker
Ronette
News & Interviews for Howard the Duck
Critic Reviews for Howard the Duck
All Critics (78) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (68)
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There are a few good jokes along the way, but the final effect is that we've been here rather too many times before.
December 15, 2020 | Full Review… -
Sound the horns, light the speakers, and cue the marching band, because Howard the Duck is here -- and bad movie historians could not ask for a more mallard-droit venture than this.
December 15, 2020 | Full Review… -
This creature with a mobile bill, scrawny body, and with a voice like Humphrey Bogart proves irritating beyond belief. Also, Howard has the glassy eyes of a doll and an artificiality that even his brusque, wise-quacking manner cannot quite conceal.
December 15, 2020 | Full Review… -
There must have been a terrible moment, many millions of collars into the production of Howard, when everyone realised it was not going to work either as comedy or thriller, as kid's stuff or sophisticated fore.
December 15, 2020 | Full Review… -
The plot might have provided a pleasant little fable if done with cartoon characters. But with live actors and a star duck that is not terribly convincing, the film just doesn't make it.
December 15, 2020 | Full Review… -
The sophisticated tone of the project is set early on by its array of puns. Our hero reads Playduck magazine and has a wallet bursting with credit cards like Mallardcard and Bloomingducks. The problem is that these are the funniest things in the film.
December 14, 2020 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for Howard the Duck
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May 25, 2014Goofy film (oh, sorry - he was a dog)Red L Super Reviewer
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Nov 09, 2013From George Lucas comes the atrociously awful comic book film Howard the Duck. Seemingly lacking in plot and direction, the film is essentially a mishmash of a duck-out-of-water story and an alien invasion story. Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, and Tim Robbins lead the cast, but with a script this bad there's nothing that they can do to make it work. Additionally, the duck suit for Howard looks extremely fake, and the voice work does nothing to bring the character to life. The comedy also fails, consisting mostly of lame puns and crass jokes. A truly appalling film, Howard the Duck is so incredibly stupid, it's unbelievable.Dann M Super Reviewer
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Apr 22, 2012[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 only 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.Directors C Super Reviewer
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Jun 18, 2011If you're looking for some gripping Hollywood drama in "HOWARD THE DUCK", then you should just go pluck yourself. This isn't your movie... Get over it and go away... While the duck suit used for the titular character is an embarrassing disaster, the comedic talents of Lea Thompson, Tim Robbins, Chip Zien, Ed Gale, and Jeffery Jones pull off the impossible: They make "HOWARD THE DUCK" a charming and laugh-out-loud movie that is hated simply because it is misunderstood. Maybe I'm biased because I like the comic-book character, but to me this movie is just good old fashioned fun from start to finish. It's not particularly for kids, but I think that kids would understand this movie better than most adults: "HOWARD THE DUCK" is a screwball comedy for the ages that mocks itself incessantly and dares its audience to accept its outrageous premise without going out of its way to achieve that reaction. The spirit of the movie is literally this: "Isn't this ridiculous? We're gonna push the 'ridiculous-factor' as far as it will go and it's gonna be hilarious! Screw you if you don't agree, we're gonna have some fun!" Take it or leave it, this is the movie for everyone out there with a self-discerning mind and self-deprecating sense of humor. It's "HOWARD THE DUCK". Deal with it...Michael R Super Reviewer
Howard the Duck Quotes
Dr. Jenning: | If you can't take the heat, get out of that kitchen! |
Howard T. Duck: | That's it! No more mister nice duck! |
Dr. Jenning: | I don't have a license. My name is not Jack. |
Howard T. Duck: | Where am I? |
Beverly Switzler: | Oh, well...the bus stop is on the corner of Powell, and... |
Howard T. Duck: | No, no no...I'm asking 'what is this place'? |
Beverly Switzler: | Uhhh...Cleveland? |
Howard T. Duck: | CLEVE-LAND? Uh huh! That's a perfect name for this WEIRD planet! |
Beverly Switzler: | No, no...you...you don't know the name of the planet? Well, the planet's called Earth...I think. And I'm obviously in some weird nightmare. |
Howard T. Duck: | Oh yeah? YOUR nightmare...or MINE? |
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