Legend

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Legend

PG

1986

1h 29m

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

34%

Tomatometer

109 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Darkness seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns. Jack and his friends do everything possible to save the world and Princess Lily from the hands of Darkness. Entering a world of unicorns, magic swamps, dwarfs and rainbows.

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Critics Consensus

Not even Ridley Scott's gorgeously realized set pieces can save Legend from its own tawdry tale -- though it may be serviceable for those simply looking for fantasy eye candy.

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Louis B. Parks

Houston Chronicle

Apr 18, 2026

Legend dares to be different. Audacious, silly and exciting, it goes strange places in a way few modern films risk. Most of the trip is fun.

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Eric Shorter

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Apr 18, 2026

[Legend] manages to merge every sort of nursery myth with every sort of cinematic trick to catch the eye. The make-up and the special effects are dazzling.

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Michael Healy

Denver Post

Apr 18, 2026

Perhaps it has not been conveyed how utterly boring this movie is, how devoid of cleverness, of characterization, plot and theme.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Aug 29, 2026

2.5/4

... something of an Adam and Eve rock video (Tangerine Dream did the score), set in a land that J.R.R. Tolkien forgot.

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Bob Campbell

Arizona Daily Star

Apr 18, 2026

Legend is a triumph of rococo style with moments of incomparable film magic, but it dies of oxygen-starvation. It winds up as the most expensive department store window display in history.

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Noel Taylor

Ottawa Citizen

Apr 18, 2026

Legend tries, with all the guile that Ridley Scott commands, to be an occasion for wonderment. What it turns out to be is a monument to artifice, with all the immobility that that implies.

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Brendan D

@ConnecticutComicFan203 Sep 9, 2026

Legend is whimsical, surreal, and even nightmarish at times and Tim Curry is on point playing Darkness. He scared the crap out of me as a kid with that unbelievable costume and the gigantic horns. In my opinion, Ridley Scott knocked it out of the park with this gem.

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Ari V

@RT59419633 Aug 31, 2026

3.25/5 for some strangely resonant elements despite its fluffiness.

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Jeremy B

@Cubs_N_Bears1978 Aug 30, 2026

Never even heard of this film til this week when Tim Curry died. Pretty good fantasy film. Glad I watched it.

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Matthew D

@OceanSage Aug 28, 2026

A breathtaking fantasy spectacle and cute journey in dreaded danger. Director Ridley Scott’s dark fantasy adventure Legend (1985) is a dreamy fable from a masterful director at his most visually creative. I was immediately struck by the falling flowers and snow in the wind of the forest. The idyllic forestry and snowy trees both look incredible for Scott’s outstanding sets. Cinematographer Alex Thomson shoots Legend with a stunning glowing light and majestic framing. Tom Cruise is touching and compelling as Legend’s fantasy hero Jack O’ the Green. He’s a green man of the most stunningly cinematic forest you’ll ever see. Mia Sara is effervescent as Princess Lili. Her peerless beauty here makes her look like she’s glowing. Tim Curry is phenomenal as the imposing Lord of Darkness. His deep booming voice is iconic just like make-up artist Rob Bottin’s striking demon lord design.

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james H

@RT43481780 Aug 27, 2026

This movie gets kicked around too much. It is a fun fantasy world where good and evil duke it out. I think people take it WAY TOO SERIOUSLY...I saw it in the theater, completely by accident, and raved about to all of my friends the following day. If you are still in touch with your inner child, then I think you will love it. It is also before Tom Cruise became an egomaniac.

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Rick H

@RT13652306 Aug 17, 2026

How the hell this gets a 33% rotten tomatoes is stunning. Excellent film, had me captured from beginning to end. Wonderful good vs evil. Tim Curry hits it out of the park as the devil.

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Ridley Scott

Director

Tom Cruise

Jack

Mia Sara

Princess Lily

Tim Curry

Darkness

David Bennent

Gump

Alice Playten

Blix

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Synopsis

Darkness seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns. Jack and his friends do everything possible to save the world and Princess Lily from the hands of Darkness. Entering a world of unicorns, magic swamps, dwarfs and rainbows.

Director: Ridley Scott
Producer: Arnon Milchan
Screenwriter: William Hjortsberg
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Embassy International Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 18, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 3, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.3M
Runtime: 1h 29m
Sound Mix: Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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