The Sword and Sorcery Movies of the 80s
For whatever reason, the 1980s saw a boom in Sword and Sorcery / Dark Fantasy type movies. The whole "X as an 80s Dark Fantasy" is a meme for a reason. It really was the decade when those kinds of movies were prominent. I wish I could say they were all gems...but I'd be lying. While some were definitely better than their often lukewarm responses at the time would suggest, others were just plain bad. This list includes both kinds.
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- DirectorRon HowardStarsVal KilmerJoanne WhalleyWarwick DavisA young farmer is chosen to undertake a perilous journey in order to protect a special baby from an evil queen.
- DirectorJohn BoormanStarsNigel TerryHelen MirrenNicholas ClayMerlin the magician helps Arthur Pendragon unite the Britons around the Round Table of Camelot, even as dark forces conspire to tear it apart.
- DirectorJim HensonFrank OzStarsJim HensonKathryn MullenFrank OzOn another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal, and to restore order to his world.
- DirectorMatthew RobbinsStarsPeter MacNicolCaitlin ClarkeRalph RichardsonA young wizarding apprentice is sent to kill a dragon which has been devouring girls from a nearby kingdom.
- DirectorTed BermanRichard RichStarsGrant BardsleyFreddie JonesSusan SheridanA young boy and a group of misfit friends embark on a quest to find a dark magic item of ultimate power before a diabolical tyrant can.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsVictor BuonoJames GregoryJames Earl JonesA young Boston writer goes back in time into an era where wizards and dragon reign and science is just barely known.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsJeff BridgesMia FarrowAngela LansburyA beautiful unicorn sets out to learn if she truly is the last of her kind in this sparkling animated musical.
- DirectorRalph BakshiStarsRandy NortonCynthia LeakeSteve SandorAt the end of the ice age, an evil queen and her son are set on conquering the world using magic and warriors. The lone survivor of a crushed village fights back as does the king of Fire Keep.
- DirectorJohn MiliusStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerJames Earl JonesMax von SydowA powerful warrior seeks to avenge the genocide of his people and the murder of his parents at the hands of a snake cult.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsTom CruiseMia SaraTim CurryA young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.
- DirectorTerry MarcelStarsJack PalanceJohn TerryBernard BresslawWith the aid of his companions, a man seeks to defeat his evil brother who has taken a nun hostage.
- DirectorDon CoscarelliStarsMarc SingerTanya RobertsRip TornA sword-and-sorcery fantasy about a young man's search for revenge. Armed with supernatural powers, the handsome hero and his animal allies wage war against marauding forces.
- DirectorRichard FleischerStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerBrigitte NielsenSandahl BergmanThe fearless warrior Red Sonja sets out to avenge her family's murder and rid her kingdom from the tyrannical rule of evil Queen Gedren.
- DirectorGary GoddardStarsDolph LundgrenFrank LangellaMeg FosterThe heroic warrior He-Man battles against the evil lord Skeletor and his armies of darkness for control of Castle Grayskull.
- DirectorJames SbardellatiStarsRick HillBarbi BentonRichard BrookerA lone warrior nicknamed Deathstalker is sent by a witch on a quest to find a sword, a chalice, and an amulet, two of which are held by the wicked king and sorcerer, Munkar.
- DirectorJim WynorskiStarsJohn TerleskyMonique GabrielleJohn LazarIn this parody of the sword and sorcery films, a princess is deposed by an evil sorcerer. She enlists the aid of Deathstalker to battle the forces of evil, including a clone of the princess, and win back her kingdom.
- DirectorAlfonso CoronaStarsJohn Allen NelsonCarla HerdTerri TreasThe third thrilling saga of Deathstalker pits him against the evil wizard and ruler of the Southland, Troxartes, and his band of undead warriors.
- DirectorPeter YatesStarsKen MarshallLysette AnthonyFreddie JonesA prince and a fellowship of companions set out to rescue his bride from a fortress of alien invaders who have arrived on their home planet, Krull.
- DirectorLuigi CozziStarsLou FerrignoBrad HarrisSybil DanningThe story of the Greek mythological figure, updated in this '80s version.
- DirectorLuigi CozziStarsLou FerrignoMilly CarlucciSonia VivianiHercules searches for the Seven Thunderbolts of Zeus, which have been stolen by renegade gods.
- DirectorAlejandro SessaStarsMindi MillerPenelope Reed-WoodsJoseph WhippAn evil king made a deal with the devil and received a deadly power that will defeat anyone standing in his way. It's up to a fearless warrior to find a magical sword, which's the only weapon that could stop him.
- DirectorRuggero DeodatoStarsDavid PaulPeter PaulRichard LynchTwo twin barbarians seek revenge from the warlord who massacred their tribe and captured them when they were small children.
- DirectorHéctor OliveraStarsLana ClarksonKatt SheaFrank ZagarinoA sword-wielding warrior, Amethea, and a few companions embark on a life-or-death mission to liberate her people from the clutches of a brutal monarch who destroyed her village and enslaved her people.
- DirectorAlbert PyunStarsLee HorsleyKathleen BellerSimon MacCorkindaleA mercenary with a three-bladed sword rediscovers his royal heritage's dangerous future when he is recruited to help a princess foil the designs of a brutal tyrant and a powerful sorcerer in conquering a land.
- DirectorRatno TimoerStarsBarry PrimaGudi SintaraAdvent BangunThe Devil's Sword lies hidden in a secret cave inside Devil's Mountain. Four warriors attack the keeper and force him to hand over the map but he manages to escape and runs to Mandala who sets off on his journey to save the Devil's Sword.
- DirectorRichard FleischerStarsArnold SchwarzeneggerGrace JonesOlivia d'AboConan leads a ragtag group of adventurers on a quest for a princess.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsOrson BeanJohn HustonTheodore BikelTwo Hobbits struggle to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom while their friends desperately fight evil Lord Sauron's forces in a final battle.
- DirectorHéctor OliveraAlan HollebStarsBo SvensonVidal PetersonThom ChristopherWhen evil screams throughout the world. When all the galaxies converge. When all that's fair and fine seems lost. A Hero will emerge.
- DirectorCharles B. GriffithStarsMel WellesBobby JacobyDavid CarradineThree kingdoms have been overtaken by three evil lords and only a teenage boy with magical powers can restore peace to the land.
- DirectorJack HillStarsLeigh HarrisLynette HarrisRoberto NelsonSword and sorcery story of the cosmic struggle between white magic and black magic.