Heavy Metal

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Heavy Metal

R

1981

1h 30m

Fantasy

Adventure

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Adventures from deep space to futuristic New York, and beyond. Each world and story is dominated by the presence of the Loch'nar -- the sum of all evils manifest as a glowing green sphere whose power infects all times, all galaxies, all dimensions. To some, it appears as treasure, a green jewel they must possess. Others worship it as a god. Few escape it. Even in death and through death its powers continue. From war to war and world to world it seems invincible.

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Critics Consensus

It's sexist, juvenile, and dated, but Heavy Metal makes up for its flaws with eye-popping animation and a classic, smartly used soundtrack.

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

Apr 26, 2022

A cult film receives a sterling AV transfer from Sony, while its miscalculation of a sequel makes its high-def debut on home video.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

Initial segments have a boisterous blend of dynamic graphics, intriguing plot premises and sly wit that unfortunately slide gradually downhill.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Apr 16, 2007

Some of the animation is first-rate, particularly in the more modest comedy segments, and even the heavy set pieces have greater flash and dazzle than anything Ralph Bakshi mustered around the same period.

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John Brosnan

Starburst

Jul 27, 2022

Heavy Metal is a mind boggling, mind blowing animation extravaganza.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Apr 30, 2022

2.5/4

A mixed bag of a movie.

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Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Apr 18, 2022

4/5

Heavy Metal didnt win any awards and the movie certainly isnt for everyone (neither is Heavy Metal 2000) but it has a certain charm that allows it to have a cult-like following.

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Stefon D. S.

Feb 8, 2025

Insane, creative as hell, wicked animation

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Robert P

@Superbad 2 days ago

Heavy Metal = a 3.5 star Movie

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Pipe Smoking L

@RT92467537 Jul 5, 2026

A Classic. OG fap-material for Edgelord nerds. Cartoons. Mostly nude cartoons. Satanic cartoons. Confusing cartoons. Gorey cartoons... All to early, incredibly mild Heavy Metal music that isn't really that metal... (Accept not on soundtrack huh? No Biff Byford? No Saxon... no Judas Priest... mmkay then).

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Gaelan W

@RT77067970 Jun 28, 2026

The only flaw (and don't let anyone tell you otherwise), is that they didn't play the killer songs long enough or loud enough.

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CRAIG M

@Craig.muth Jun 8, 2026

Didn't like it when it originaly came out when I was 13 and was sort of in the target audience of "where else can you see this level of gratuitist nudity." Tried to watch in my mid 50's after having seen some descriptions of it's "avante garde" nature and attempts to depict important social issues in a means that could be subliminally consumed by the impressionable segment of the public... No. It's still not worth watching

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Russell B.

@rbishop1usa Jun 6, 2026

Best animated movie of its time, by a mile! The soundtrack alone is a win!

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Gerald Potterton

Director

Harvey Atkin

Alien, Henchman

Thor Bishopric

Boy

Rodger Bumpass

Hanover Fiste, Dr. Anrak

Jackie Burroughs

Katherine

John Candy

Desk Sergeant, Dan, Den, Robot

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Synopsis

Adventures from deep space to futuristic New York, and beyond. Each world and story is dominated by the presence of the Loch'nar -- the sum of all evils manifest as a glowing green sphere whose power infects all times, all galaxies, all dimensions. To some, it appears as treasure, a green jewel they must possess. Others worship it as a god. Few escape it. Even in death and through death its powers continue. From war to war and world to world it seems invincible.

Director: Gerald Potterton
Producer: Ivan Reitman
Screenwriter: Len Blum, Daniel Goldberg, Cornelius Cole, Dan O'Bannon
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures, Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC), Guardian Trust Company
Rating: R
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 1981, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 25, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $204.7K
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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