--- title: "Highlander" year: 1986 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/highlander" fi1m_id: "highlander" imdb_id: "tt0091203" tmdb_id: 8009 wikidata_id: "Q156539" fi1m_score: 75 critics_score: 63 critics_reviews: 6 published: "2026-09-15" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:36.157417+00:00" region: "SA" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Highlander (1986) Directed by Russell Mulcahy · 1h 56m · Adventure, Action, Fantasy ## Identity Highlander - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/highlander - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** highlander - **IMDb ID:** tt0091203 - **TMDB ID:** 8009 - **Wikidata ID:** Q156539 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091203/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/8009, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q156539 **Fi1m score: 75** · Critics 63 from 6 reviews *In a sentence:* Immortality gives these men centuries to calm down, and none of them takes the opportunity > Russell Mulcahy’s immortal sword fighters are better company than the muddled storytelling deserves. Clancy Brown supplies an enjoyably excessive villain, and the fights make *Highlander* worth an evening for anyone inclined towards extravagant fantasy. ## Synopsis Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) is an immortal caught in a conflict that stretches across centuries. Moving between Scotland’s past and modern America, *Highlander* follows rivals who settle their differences with swords. MacLeod faces the Kurgan (Clancy Brown), while Sean Connery plays Ramirez. Roxanne Hart plays Brenda Wyatt and Beatie Edney plays Heather MacLeod in an adventure that brings an old form of combat into a modern setting. The immortals have more time than most to settle their differences, but their struggle leaves little prospect of peaceful coexistence: there can be only one. ## Review Russell Mulcahy’s *Highlander* asks us to take immortal men with swords seriously, and gets further with that request than its writing deserves. It is good, unruly fantasy, strongest when a fight is imminent and least persuasive when somebody has to explain things. The movement between Scotland’s past and modern America gives the combat a reach that a single adventure could not. Mulcahy wants the old-fashioned grandeur and the modern noise together, and rarely gives either a rest. Christopher Lambert’s Connor MacLeod is not a particularly easy hero to warm to. His reserved performance suits a man set apart by immortality, though it also leaves some scenes short of the feeling the film plainly wants from them. Sean Connery, as Ramirez, is more immediately engaging, bringing enough amusement to his part to make the fantasy feel comfortable to inhabit. He knows how far to push the grand manner before it becomes tiresome, a useful skill in this company. Clancy Brown pushes further as the Kurgan, and the film benefits from having someone so committed to being objectionable. His broad performance remains threatening, which is harder to manage than he makes it look. We laughed at his extravagance, then found ourselves taking him seriously as an opponent. He supplies the hostility that Lambert’s more distant performance needs, and makes the central rivalry easy to grasp. Gerry Fisher’s photography keeps the backdrops prominent in the sword fights, giving the duels a size that the writing has not always earned. The choreography lets us follow the blades and register their threat. Allan Cameron’s production design makes the Scottish and American settings distinct at a glance, a useful service when the storytelling gets tangled. We were properly excited by the sword fights, despite having lost patience with the explanations. Peter Honess’s editing carries the energy of the fights into the jumps between periods, where it is less helpful. The film keeps moving, yet there are passages when that movement leaves us unsure what we are meant to care about. Michael Kamen’s score helps the confrontations feel solemn, though the Queen songs make the stronger impression. They let the feelings swell beyond anything the dialogue can manage, and that excess suits Mulcahy’s determination to take everything seriously. The screenplay, credited to Gregory Widen, Peter Bellwood and Larry Ferguson, leaves too much awkward connective business around a premise that needs little selling. Characters can sound as though they are keeping the story supplied with information rather than talking to someone they know. Fantasy can survive unexplained rules; it struggles when explanations are dull and the action has to win back our attention afterwards. There are stretches here when the next sword fight feels overdue. The sword-and-sorcery pleasure here is fairly simple: grown people commit themselves to extravagant behaviour without constantly signalling that they know it looks absurd. Mulcahy takes the fantasy seriously enough for its grand emotions to have a chance, even when the dialogue is poor. That commitment makes the silliness more enjoyable, though it cannot clear up the plot. Choose it for the fights and the villain; anyone wanting an orderly account of immortality should make other arrangements. *Fi1m score 75, published 15 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The consensus is mixed: most critics find Highlander muddled and excessive, but several enjoy its sword fights, eccentric fantasy premise and willingness to be ridiculous. Praise clusters around the combat, with striking backdrops and energetic direction helping the action survive the storytelling. Sean Connery’s supporting turn is a recurring pleasure, bringing style and camp humour. The Queen soundtrack supplies outsized emotion for some, though it does not make the story engaging for others. The chief reservation is coherence: the jumps between eras and genres leave several critics struggling to care about what happens. There is less agreement about pace, which the reviews describe as both frenzied and plodding. Empire enjoys Clancy Brown’s villain, while Variety finds him unimpressive. The Guardian is notably warmer than most, treating the deadpan comedy and eccentric ambition as reasons to embrace the silliness rather than merely tolerate it. ## Straight answers **Is Highlander worth watching?** *Highlander* is worth an evening for anyone who enjoys extravagant sword-and-sorcery fantasy, and we scored it 75. The fights, Sean Connery's amusement and Clancy Brown's enjoyably excessive villain carry it; the tangled storytelling and dull explanations do not. Anyone wanting an orderly account of immortality should look elsewhere. **How long is Highlander, and what is it rated?** *Highlander* runs 1h 56m. It is an adventure and action film. **Where can I watch Highlander in Saudi Arabia?** *Highlander* is not on any streaming or rental service in Saudi Arabia at the moment. It is available in 28 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily. **How violent or frightening is Highlander, and is it suitable for children?** *Highlander* carries a UK 15 certificate, and its immortals settle their differences with swords, so the violence is frequent and meant to threaten. It is not suitable for younger children. Teenagers of fifteen and over who can take duels fought to the death should find it more rousing than frightening. **What should I watch after Highlander?** After *Highlander*, try [*A Chinese Ghost Story*](https://film.one/film/a-chinese-ghost-story) (1987, Fi1m 82): Supernatural romance and energetic combat, with a more agile sense of humour. Then [*The Green Knight*](https://film.one/film/the-green-knight) (2021, Fi1m 78): A slower journey through myth, with more room for doubt and dread. ### Reviews we read (8) - **The Guardian** (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the preposterous time-romp highly enjoyable if met on its own terms, describing its galloping silliness as uniquely quirky, funny and eccentrically ambitious. They single out the deadpan black comedy and the film's eccentric ambition for praise. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/apr/30/highlander-review-dodgy-accents-no-trouble-to-exciting-epic-and-unashamedly-fun-80s-blockbuster) - **The AV Club**, Scott Tobias (65/100, inferred): The critic finds the film cheesy, plodding, badly written, and showily directed but ultimately not a piece of shit because it delivers on epic swordfights set against striking backdrops, the outsized emotions of the Queen soundtrack, and the grand man-of-destiny sweep of its immortal fantasy concept. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/highlander-1798224759) - **Radio Times**, Tom Hutchinson (3/5): The film is described as so confused as to be hilariously watchable, wavering between sci-fi, horror and music video styles, with strong sword-fighting duels singled out for praise. The story is called out as never fully engaging despite the Queen soundtrack. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-si1t6i/highlander/) - **Time Out**, RR (60/100, inferred): The critic notes that narrative coherence is not Mulcahy's strength in this tale of immortals in combat across eras, with the film hopping between medieval Scotland and modern America. It is praised for its energy, frenzied pace and preposterous fun, even if it does not fully hang together. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/highlander) - **Empire**, Chris Hewitt (50/100, inferred): The critic finds that the film has aged poorly, with a muddled narrative and sub-MTV visuals wasting a fine premise. They single out the enjoyable villain Clancy Brown and well-choreographed fight scenes for praise, despite overall clumsiness. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/highlander-review/) - **The New York Times**, Walter Goodman: The film is an overblown, nonsensical tale told with noise and flash that keeps exploding for nearly two hours with nothing at stake. Sean Connery brings dash and style to his brief role as Ramirez before the proceedings collapse. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/08/movies/screen-highlander-with-sean-connery.html) - **Variety**, Variety Staff (**): The picture is a mishmash as the director jumps genres and eras without coherence, resulting in confusion. Lambert and Brown fail to impress while Connery offers a campy but welcome supporting turn. [Read](https://variety.com/1985/film/reviews/highlander-1200426907/) - **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (60/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's bold attempt to modernize the fantasy genre through energetic direction and strong casting, especially Clancy Brown as the villain, while noting its cult appeal despite a silly plot and uneven execution. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/highlander-1986-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Details - **Director:** Russell Mulcahy - **Director:** Russell Mulcahy - **Screenplay:** Gregory Widen, Peter Bellwood, Larry Ferguson - **Cinematography:** Gerry Fisher - **Editor:** Peter Honess - **Music:** Michael Kamen - **Production design:** Allan Cameron - **Costume design:** James Acheson - **Producer:** Peter S. Davis, William N. Panzer - **Cast:** Christopher Lambert as Connor 'The Highlander' MacLeod; Roxanne Hart as Brenda J. Wyatt; Clancy Brown as Victor 'The Kurgan' Kruger; Sean Connery as Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez; Beatie Edney as Heather MacLeod; Alan North as Lieutenant Frank Moran; Jon Polito as Det. Walter Bedsoe; Sheila Gish as Rachel Ellenstein - **Runtime:** 1h 56m - **First release (Czechia):** 7 March 1986 - **Genres:** Adventure, Action, Fantasy - **Budget:** $19 million - **Box office:** $13 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT13a8KzBRM ## Where to watch in Saudi Arabia Not streaming, renting or buying in Saudi Arabia at the last check. Also available in: AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HU, IN, IT, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *The Duellists* (1977): For sword fights whose danger grows out of patience, pride and obsession - *A Chinese Ghost Story* (1987), Fi1m 82: Supernatural romance and energetic combat, with a more agile sense of humour — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/a-chinese-ghost-story.md) - *Ladyhawke* (1985): Another solemn fantasy romance that makes an unlikely spell worth caring about - *Brotherhood of the Wolf* (2001): Period adventure, extravagant fighting and a similar refusal to keep things modest - *The Green Knight* (2021), Fi1m 78: A slower journey through myth, with more room for doubt and dread — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-green-knight.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/highlander