RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Howard the Duck (1986)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
16 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:31

Fresh:5

Rotten:26

Average Rating:2.5/10

Consensus: While it has its moments, Howard the Duck suffers from an uneven tone and mediocre performances.

Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Howard, a wise-cracking duck from outer space, is brought to earth by a science experiment gone wrong. He attempts to fit in with his new surroundings while romancing a young punk-rock singer, but... Howard, a wise-cracking duck from outer space, is brought to earth by a science experiment gone wrong. He attempts to fit in with his new surroundings while romancing a young punk-rock singer, but finds his new-found happiness threatened by the Dark Overlords who were also freed by the ill-fated experiment. [More]

Starring: Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins, Paul Guilfoyle

Starring: Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins, Paul Guilfoyle, Ed Gale

Director: Willard Huyck

Director: Willard Huyck
Composer: John Barry

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Howard the Duck

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

[An] aimless movie.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Uneasily aiming at both the adult and teenage markets, it is unsure of its tone and fails to cash in anywhere.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

...a hopelessly uneven and needlessly frenetic piece of work that's unlikely to hold much appeal for viewers over a certain age...

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
07/13/09
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

It really is that bad.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
03/10/09
Bill Gibron
Bill Gibron
Filmcritic.com

Howard the Duck is the first clear sign that George Lucas, who exec produced this mess, ran out of pixie dust after wrapping "Return of the Jedi.

Full Review Source: Washington Times | comment Comment
03/04/09
Christian Toto
Christian Toto
Washington Times

Howard the Duck isn't quite the booming nightmare its reputation suggests, but I defy most viewers out there in DVD land to sit through the entire feature without maintaining a sweaty, alert finger on the fast-forward button.

Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com | comment Comment
02/22/09
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
BrianOrndorf.com

The duck doesn't fly, but did anyone ever really think it would?

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
04/25/07
Pat Graham
Pat Graham
Chicago Reader

Everyone concerned with this should have been seated on a ducking stool and drenched.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
04/25/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Daffy Duck will be pleased to hear he didn't miss any career opportunities when he wasn't chosen to star in Howard the Duck, although producers certainly could have benefited from his talents.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
04/25/07
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
10/27/05
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

Actually suprisingly underrated for its... Oh, who am I kidding? A goofy disaster of a movie.

comment Comment
09/10/05
Dan Fienberg
Dan Fienberg
Zap2it.com

No review available.

comment Comment
06/26/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
11/23/04
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

comment Comment
11/12/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
10/17/04
Greg Maki
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

This is a genuine clinker.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
08/25/04
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

No review available.

comment Comment
07/02/04
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

Um grande embaraço para todos os envolvidos, o filme tem um roteiro ridículo, péssimos efeitos visuais e um protagonista patético (ou eu deveria dizer ‘patótico’?).

comment Comment
04/04/04
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

Okay, so I liked it. I'm one of five people on the planet. Sue me, all right?

comment 1 Comment
02/22/04
Widgett Walls
Widgett Walls
Needcoffee.com

Not as bad as you've heard. Just a silly sci-fi adventure.

comment Comment
08/01/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for Howard the Duck

December 23, 2008: Howard the Duck Lands on Hulu Opens in new window
Forget about "A Christmas Story" and "It's a Wonderful Life" -- who needs to watch those again when the whole family can now huddle around the ol' laptop and watch "Howard the... More...

May 14, 2008: Total Recall: Our Favorite Talking Animals
Now that the second film in Disney/Walden's big-budget reimagining of the Narnia series, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, is heading to theaters, we here at RT thought... More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
15% 15% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% Angels & Demons
68% 68% Funny People
25% 25% Four Christmases
45% 45% Shorts

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia

Your first look at the swashbuckler.

Vampires

Vampires

We rank cinema's bloodsuckers.

Avatar

Avatar

The full trailer for Cameron's epic.

2012

2012

12 facts about Emmerich's disaster flick.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
4
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
102
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
64
  • Forbes Names Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors Source: Forbes
20
  • Chris Weitz Says He's (Almost) Done with Directing Source: Film School Rejects
26
  • Spider-Man 4 Casting Rumors Multiply Like Rabbits Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
51
  • McTeigue Says Superman Is "In a Weird Place" Source: MTV
204
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
150
  • Critics Consensus: New Moon Wanes
129
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Twilight's New Moon Dazzle?
97
  • Total Recall: Star-Crossed Lovers
74
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
51
  • Five Favorite Films with Werner Herzog
50
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
31
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
6
  • Ho, ho, ho! It's RT's Great Big Gift Guide!
0
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
8
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
19
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
6
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
16
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
  • Emma Stone talks Zombieland - RT Interview
41
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Howard the Duck at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.