Spawn

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Spawn

PG-13

1997

1h 37m

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

18%

Tomatometer

44 Reviews

37%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Covert government assassin Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) is killed after being double-crossed by his boss, Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen). Upon arriving in Hell, Simmons is offered an opportunity to return to Earth if he's willing to lead an evil army. He accepts, and is reincarnated as a "Hellspawn" -- a twisted, horribly disfigured version of his former self. However, Spawn serves as a force of good, much to the dismay of the Devil's henchman, a wicked clown (John Leguizamo).

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Critics Consensus

Spawn is an overbearing, over-violent film that adds little to the comic book adaptation genre.

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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

May 6, 2016

This barely coherent hunk of junk is like a cheap horror film with only a suggestion of the grisliness that appeals to fans of cheap horror films.

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Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

Jul 12, 2010

1/5

It's simply a parade of toys and tricks, without a jot of playfulness, knowing humour or campery to endear itself.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Jul 6, 2010

B-

The film gives you the pleasurably junky sensation of living inside an apocalyptic videogame.

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Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

Oct 7, 2025

3/5

Spawn may have a rather dark, morbid narrative, filled with over-the-top performances and ridiculously cheesy special effects, but taken altogether, it makes for a somewhat amusing & entertaining comic book outing.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 1, 2022

F

If it’s meant to snare the uninitiated, I must say it failed to hook me.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 24, 2020

2/10

Unfortunately, as a product of the '90s, the film relies heavily on dated, primitive, terribly unconvincing computer graphics.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Sep 10, 2026

Success in 01 hour: 37 minutes: and 00 seconds. Rated PG-13.

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Jonathan O

@RT41230270 Aug 28, 2026

This is hell from the clown play by John Leguizamo and John is a good actor but playing the clown is absolutely tormented of hell is absolutely annoying and unfunny and the opening scene felt like music video from Prince and really horrible and laughable vfx and the heavy metal songs doesn't suit in this movie.

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Brian H

@Brian0965 Jun 18, 2026

AWESOME for it's time! Better than a lot of this TRASH we're getting now😂

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Chuck H.

@GodzillaDestroysTheMovies May 23, 2026

LOVE THIS MOVIE!! It may be the most underrated movie of all time. Way ahead of it’s time! Before the MCU, before DC… THERE WAS SPAWN!!!! Great special effects, make-up, actors, action, comedy, soundtrack, dark gritty tone. They nailed it. Never a dull moment with this one! Remember these reviews only reflect a generation that was never into comics or into those movies. This paved the way. 100%.

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Nathan H

@RT05290795 May 14, 2026

Spawn is a gritty, ambitious 90s superhero film that takes a very different approach from the glossy comic book movies that followed it. It leans heavily into dark fantasy and horror elements, giving the story a brooding atmosphere that still stands out today. Spawn also benefits from a solid central performance by Michael Jai White, who brings real weight and intensity to Al Simmons’ transformation and internal conflict. The villain, The Clown, is chaotic and memorable, adding a twisted sense of personality to the film’s darker tone. The story itself can feel a bit rushed and uneven, especially in the second half where the plot juggles too many ideas at once. But underneath that, there’s a surprisingly emotional core about betrayal, loss, and choosing what kind of monster you become. Overall, Spawn isn’t perfect, but it’s bold, weird, and visually distinctive enough to earn its place as a cult favorite.

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Nick R

@NocturnalWalrus May 12, 2026

Much like the subject matter of the movie, its hell.

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Mark A.Z. Dippe

Director

John Leguizamo

Clown

Michael Jai White

Al Simmons

Martin Sheen

Jason Wynn

Theresa Randle

Wanda Blake

Melinda Clarke

Jessica Priest

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Synopsis

Covert government assassin Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) is killed after being double-crossed by his boss, Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen). Upon arriving in Hell, Simmons is offered an opportunity to return to Earth if he's willing to lead an evil army. He accepts, and is reincarnated as a "Hellspawn" -- a twisted, horribly disfigured version of his former self. However, Spawn serves as a force of good, much to the dismay of the Devil's henchman, a wicked clown (John Leguizamo).

Director: Mark A.Z. Dippe
Producer: Clint Goldman
Screenwriter: Alan B. McElroy
Distributor: New Line Home Video [us], New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Juno Pix
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 1, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.0M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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