--- title: "Howard the Duck" year: 1986 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/howard-the-duck" fi1m_score: 43 critics_score: 50 critics_reviews: 11 published: "2026-09-16T14:25:57.075612+00:00" updated: "2026-09-16T14:25:57.437119+00:00" region: "US" 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." --- # Howard the Duck (1986) Directed by Willard Huyck · 1h 50m · MPA PG · Comedy, Adventure, Science Fiction **Fi1m score: 43** · Critics 50 from 11 reviews *In a sentence:* A talking duck ought to have better things to do than get stuck in a chase film > Lea Thompson gives *Howard the Duck* a warmth its jokes rarely earn. The awkward costume and relentless changes of tone make this a poor comedy, though the friendship at its centre suggests a better one. ## Synopsis An extraterrestrial duck, Howard T. Duck (Ed Gale, voiced by Chip Zien), tries to fit into human society. The people he encounters include Beverly Switzler (Lea Thompson) and Phil Blumburtt (Tim Robbins), and his friendship with her offers some comfort amid the awkward introductions. Everyday human behaviour is unfamiliar territory for a newcomer whose appearance makes him difficult to overlook. As he negotiates the business of getting along with people, his closeness to her adds another complication: the attraction between a human woman and a duck. ## Review *Howard the Duck* is a poor comedy with a likeable friendship trapped inside it. Willard Huyck seems to hope that putting a talking duck among human actors will become funnier once enough other kinds of entertainment have been added. The screenplay by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz tries risqué jokes, slapstick and science-fiction adventure, without giving any of them enough attention. The opening, with its awkward business of a duck trying to fit into human society, offers the most promising material. Lea Thompson gives Beverly Switzler enough warmth to make that unlikely friendship matter. She does not need to make the situation seem ordinary; her willingness to take her companion seriously gives us a reason to try. We warmed to them together because her affection makes the duck briefly seem like someone whose company might be welcome. That is a considerable service to a comedy whose jokes too often depend on our finding his mere presence funny. The costume makes her work harder than it should. Ed Gale is among the performers credited as Howard T. Duck, with Chip Zien supplying the voice, and their efforts deserve to be distinguished from the limitations of the suit. The voice can suggest an attitude that the face struggles to express, so even simple exchanges seem to require extra patience. There is pleasure in watching a physical creature occupy the space beside the actors, but we spend too much of that time noticing the creature’s construction. Richard H. Kline’s cinematography leaves the central problem exposed whenever a human face and the duck share the screen. Peter Jamison’s production design provides surroundings for the social comedy and the science-fiction action, but neither setting makes the costume more persuasive. The ordinary encounters work better because there is at least a human response to watch. Once the effects become the attraction, the duck has less to contribute. John Barry’s score supplies a generosity the writing often lacks, taking the adventure seriously enough to give it some feeling. It is a good choice for a film that would become unbearable if the music kept reminding us how silly everything was. Editors Michael Chandler and Sidney Wolinsky have less success making the changes of tone feel like parts of the same story. The trouble is not simply pace: a risqué joke, a slapstick routine and a chase ask for different responses, and the film keeps moving on before one has properly registered. Jeffrey Jones provides some welcome energy, and the effects contain enough invention to make the enthusiasm for this film understandable. We can see why viewers who enjoy its sheer oddness are willing to forgive the lumbering stretches. But the accumulating chases make the central character less interesting rather than giving him more to do that matters. By then, the film has largely abandoned the small social embarrassments and tentative friendship that gave us something to care about. A comedy about an outsider needs curiosity about the people he meets, and this one keeps becoming distracted by the next piece of action. At 110 minutes, it also asks for more goodwill than its scattered pleasures can sustain. The affection between Beverly Switzler and her feathered companion suggests that Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz had a workable starting point. If the duck costume already looks like a joke that will wear thin, there is little reason to give it the full evening. *Fi1m score 43, published 16 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews split sharply on Howard the Duck, with a narrow majority negative and little middle ground. Praise clusters around the special effects, which even several detractors admire, and the performances of Lea Thompson and Jeffrey Jones. Supporters enjoy the risqué humour, slapstick and deliberate silliness, while some also single out the music. For these critics, its odd choices are part of the appeal rather than evidence that it has gone wrong. The main complaints concern weak comedy, muddled tone and chase sequences that crowd out the more promising scenes of Howard adjusting to human society. Even the duck costume divides opinion, finding both defenders and detractors. Collider offers the strongest defence, treating the film as knowingly goofy entertainment and praising its effects and cast. The AV Club rejects precisely that route to enjoyment, finding it unrewarding even as camp, with only the monster effects offering relief. ### Reviews we read (11) - **Empire**, Kim Newman (70/100, inferred): The film is not as bad as its reputation despite the flawed duck costume and some dull performances. It offers a few types of fun through its risque jokes, slapstick and monster movie elements, with strong work from Jeffrey Jones. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/howard-duck-review/) - **The AV Club**, Scott Tobias (D): The critic deems the film unsalvageable as camp, '80s curio, or so-bad-it's-good entertainment, calling it a black hole where entertainment goes to die. The sole redeeming element noted is the Phil Tippett monsters in the climax. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/howard-the-duck-1798205833) - **Los Angeles Times**, Sheila Benson (30/100, inferred): The critic notes that the movie's initial delight from little ducky jokes and the friendship with Lea Thompson is wiped out by escalating car crashes and monster effects. The opening is the best part for its view of our world from another angle, but the rest is numbing waste of effects and chases. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-08-01-ca-18936-story.html) - **Slant Magazine**, Glenn Heath Jr. (30/100, inferred): The critic labels the film a cinematic atrocity and misguided failure of comedy, sci-fi, and noir, with bad puns, inconsistent logic, and poor execution. It is nevertheless called a fascinating car-wreck must-see for cinephiles to witness how far a film can fall. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/summer-of-86-tarred-and-feathered-howard-the-duck/) - **The New York Times**, Caryn James (30/100, inferred): The critic finds that Howard becomes dispensable in his own movie as it shifts midway to horrifying demons and dazzling special effects. The film is a broad farce mixing elements of The Exorcist, Ghostbusters and Raiders, with the second half's visual tricks standing out but the whole feeling like half a movie. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/01/movies/screen-from-george-lucas-howard-the-duck.html) - **Time Out**, SGo (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film aimless and criticizes the cheap transformation of the comic-strip character into a polyester duck suit filled by multiple short actors. Some wonderful special effects are noted as eventually taking over in the climax. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/howard-the-duck-1) - **Variety**, Jane Galbraith (30/100, inferred): The film turns the comic character into a wide-eyed cutesy extraterrestrial and features some amusing sequences of Howard fitting into society, but it lapses into formulaic chase scenes and effects that are not unique enough to stand out from other sci-fi thrillers. [Read](https://variety.com/1986/film/reviews/howard-the-duck-1200427011/) - **Collider**, Eli (A+): The critic fondly recalls loving the film since childhood and defends it as unapologetically silly, goofy fun that knows exactly what it is. They single out the beautiful pre-CGI special effects from ILM and strong performances by Jeffrey Jones and Lea Thompson for praise. [Read](https://collider.com/howard-the-duck-special-edition-dvd-review/) - **Digital Spy**, Ben Rawson-Jones (80/100, inferred): The piece defends the film as a misunderstood, subversive experiment and riotously entertaining experience that takes bold creative risks, including interspecies elements, rather than a straightforward family blockbuster. It singles out Lea Thompson's confident, spunky performance and John Barry's lush score for praise. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a566686/in-defence-of-howard-the-duck-george-lucass-80s-mega-flop/) - **Eye for Film**, Gator MacReady (80/100, inferred): The critic defends the film against its reputation as a flop, arguing it was unfairly targeted by critics and noting its box office was not as bad as claimed. He praises the physical duck suit and voice work, recommending viewers clear preconceptions and enjoy it. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/howard-the-duck-film-review-by-gator-macready) - **Den of Geek**, Chris Cummins (70/100, inferred): The critic argues that the infamous 1986 Marvel adaptation is far more entertaining than its reputation suggests and deserves reappraisal as a fun, goofy romp with tonal shifts and strong performances. They single out the excellent soundtrack, including Thomas Dolby tracks and Lea Thompson's vocals, for particular praise. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/howard-the-duck-deserves-another-chance/) ## Details - **Director:** Willard Huyck - **Director:** Willard Huyck - **Screenplay:** Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz - **Cinematography:** Richard H. Kline - **Editor:** Michael Chandler, Sidney Wolinsky - **Music:** John Barry - **Production design:** Peter Jamison - **Costume design:** Joe I. Tompkins - **Producer:** Gloria Katz - **Cast:** Lea Thompson as Beverly Switzler; Jeffrey Jones as Dr. Walter Jenning; Tim Robbins as Phil Blumburtt; Ed Gale as Howard T. Duck; Chip Zien as Howard T. Duck (voice); Timothy M. Rose as Howard T. Duck; Steve Sleap as Howard T. Duck; Peter Baird as Howard T. Duck - **Runtime:** 1h 50m - **Certificate (MPA):** PG - **Release (the US):** 1 August 1986 - **Genres:** Comedy, Adventure, Science Fiction - **Budget:** $37 million - **Box office:** $38 million ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd - Apple TV: buy $14.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-16.* Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, US, VN. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director 1987: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director (nominated) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star 1987: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star (won) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song 1987: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song (nominated) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture 1987: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture (won) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay 1987: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay (won) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award 1987: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award (nominated) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Visual Effects 1987: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Visual Effects (won) ## If you liked this - *The Brother from Another Planet* (1984): An alien outsider encounters human absurdity, with more patience and sharper observations. - *The City of Lost Children* (1995): Grotesque inventions and an unlikely friendship make the strangeness worth staying with. - *Galaxy Quest* (1999): Affectionate science-fiction comedy that gives its ridiculous predicament proper characters and consequences. - *A Town Called Panic* (2009): Absurd creatures cause escalating trouble, and the frantic comedy keeps earning its speed. - *The Shape of Water* (2017), Fi1m 83: Another woman finds an unusual companion, in a romance that takes both seriously. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-shape-of-water.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/howard-the-duck