Conan the Barbarian

Play trailer

Conan the Barbarian

R

1982

2h 9m

Adventure

Action

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Orphaned boy Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is enslaved after his village is destroyed by the forces of vicious necromancer Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones), and is compelled to push "The Wheel of Pain" for many years. Once he reaches adulthood, Conan sets off across the prehistoric landscape of the Hyborian Age in search of the man who killed his family and stole his father's sword. With beautiful warrior Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) and archer Subotai (Gerry Lopez), he faces a supernatural evil.

Critics Consensus

Though Conan the Barbarian may take itself too seriously for some, this adventure film about a former slave seeking vengeance is full of quotable Schwarzenegger lines and gritty action.

Read Critics Reviews

Scott Cain

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

11/09/2021

4/5

A dynamite movie for comic book fans... The moment Thulsa Doom turns into a snake will either thrill you or make you squirm, but you will watch in fascination.

Go to Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

03/26/2009

There is a real anticipation as Schwarzenegger is unveiled as the barbarian and sets off on the road to independence. But for whatever reasons, the actor has a minimum of dialog and fails to convey much about the character through his actions.

Go to Full Review

Chris Petit

Time Out

06/24/2006

Match verdict: no goals, slow build-up, but much absorbing action off the ball.

Go to Full Review

Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

6d

With a script originally by Oliver Stone and then rewritten by director John Milius, the economy of storytelling—simple third-person narration over Conan’s sweeping journey—leaves the movie pleasantly light on exposition.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 25

2/4

A wooden Arnie is not yet seasoned enough to work up the charisma that would serve him well in later roles.

Go to Full Review

Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 6

In the ongoing Sword-and-Sorcery Sweepstakes, while "Conan" is marginally -- less offensive than "Excalibur," it's nowhere near as good as "Dragonslayer."

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Sophie

Jan 9

I loved it so much and I love Conan

See more

Anita M

Jan 8

Too violent. Didn’t like seeing nudity and sex.

See more

Peter T

Jan 8

Classic fantasy flick and with Arnold Schwarzenegger!

See more

kyle

Jan 8

Wow I heard 80s movies were sort of a low point of Hollywood. Arnold delivers here he scores with three baddies and chops like 100 people into bits. Everything wraps up nicely. Pure cinema

See more

HT

Jan 8

The sword and sorcery prototype that helped Arnold become a star, this movie holds up surprisingly well! Growing up watching it via VHS on square formatted TVs at home, I was blown away by the cinematography in widescreen, and by the score in theater sound. The pacing starts a bit slow, but quickly picks up pace.

See more

Neil R.

@RT50772705 5d

Gritty realism meets strongman Aanald kicking butt and getting the ladies. James Earl Jones as the bad guy is cool.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

John Milius

Director

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Conan

James Earl Jones

Thulsa Doom

Sandahl Bergman

Valeria

Gerry Lopez

Subotai

Mako

The Wizard

View more videos

Circle of Iron

43%

58%

Circle of Iron

Watchlist

Highlander

69%

79%

Highlander

Watchlist

The Punisher

24%

33%

The Punisher

Watchlist

Immortals

50%

49%

Immortals

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rank Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 10 Best Movies

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 10 Best Movies

View more photos

Synopsis

Orphaned boy Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is enslaved after his village is destroyed by the forces of vicious necromancer Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones), and is compelled to push "The Wheel of Pain" for many years. Once he reaches adulthood, Conan sets off across the prehistoric landscape of the Hyborian Age in search of the man who killed his family and stole his father's sword. With beautiful warrior Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) and archer Subotai (Gerry Lopez), he faces a supernatural evil.

Director: John Milius
Producer: Raffaella De Laurentiis, Buzz Feitshans, Edward R. Pressman
Screenwriter: Robert E. Howard, John Milius, Oliver Stone, Edward Summer
Distributor: MCA, Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Dino De Laurentiis Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 14, 1982, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 30, 2015
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now