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Red Sonja

  • 1985
  • PG-13
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
47K
YOUR RATING
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen in Red Sonja (1985)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:10
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Sword & SorceryActionAdventureFantasy

The fearless warrior Red Sonja sets out to avenge her family's murder and rid her kingdom from the tyrannical rule of evil Queen Gedren.The fearless warrior Red Sonja sets out to avenge her family's murder and rid her kingdom from the tyrannical rule of evil Queen Gedren.The fearless warrior Red Sonja sets out to avenge her family's murder and rid her kingdom from the tyrannical rule of evil Queen Gedren.

  • Director
    • Richard Fleischer
  • Writers
    • Robert E. Howard
    • Clive Exton
    • George MacDonald Fraser
  • Stars
    • Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Brigitte Nielsen
    • Sandahl Bergman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.1/10
    47K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Fleischer
    • Writers
      • Robert E. Howard
      • Clive Exton
      • George MacDonald Fraser
    • Stars
      • Arnold Schwarzenegger
      • Brigitte Nielsen
      • Sandahl Bergman
    • 151User reviews
    • 81Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    Red Sonja
    Trailer 2:10
    Red Sonja
    Late-Breaking Summer of '85 Movie News
    Clip 3:07
    Late-Breaking Summer of '85 Movie News
    Late-Breaking Summer of '85 Movie News
    Clip 3:07
    Late-Breaking Summer of '85 Movie News

    Photos235

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    Top Cast24

    Edit
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    • Kalidor
    Brigitte Nielsen
    Brigitte Nielsen
    • Red Sonja
    Sandahl Bergman
    Sandahl Bergman
    • Queen Gedren
    Paul L. Smith
    Paul L. Smith
    • Falkon
    • (as Paul Smith)
    Ernie Reyes Jr.
    Ernie Reyes Jr.
    • Prince Tarn
    Ronald Lacey
    Ronald Lacey
    • Ikol
    Pat Roach
    Pat Roach
    • Brytag
    Terry Richards
    Terry Richards
    • Djart
    Janet Agren
    Janet Agren
    • Varna
    Donna Osterbuhr
    Donna Osterbuhr
    • Kendra, the High Priestess
    Lara Lamberti
    Lara Lamberti
    • Gedren's Handmaid
    • (as Lara Naszinsky)
    Hans Meyer
    Hans Meyer
    • Red Sonja's Father
    Francesca Romana Coluzzi
    Francesca Romana Coluzzi
    • Red Sonja's Mother
    Stefano Maria Mioni
    • Barlok, Red Sonja's Brother
    • (as Stefano Mioni)
    Tutte Lemkow
    Tutte Lemkow
    • Wizard
    Kiyoshi Yamazaki
    • Kyobo
    Tad Horino
    Tad Horino
    • Swordmaster
    Ottaviano Dell'Acqua
    Ottaviano Dell'Acqua
    • Gedren Guard
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Richard Fleischer
    • Writers
      • Robert E. Howard
      • Clive Exton
      • George MacDonald Fraser
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews151

    5.147.4K
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    Featured reviews

    Mheywood

    good

    I rather enjoyed red sonja, Conans were better though...It always did bother that this was not officially a conan movie...Same actors! this should of been Conan 3...Just the lesser of the sequel. The film had adequate action, but for an adolescent! this was a very sexy movie, pretty actresses lots of mones and grunts, skimpy outfits, a queen that was attracted to all "parties"...well you get the picture. Just hate to see someone play a same roll in two seperate movies
    Doogie-01

    I'm glad I gave it a chance

    Not really my bag as far as movie types go (not really into the fantastical) but I'm glad I saw this film. There seemed to be very little use of stuntpersons or body doubles in the majority of fight scenes. Bridgette Nielsen clearly worked it off to put on a good showing. How Schwarzanegger got top billing I'm not sure, but his limited part was, of course, excellently portrayed. Film quality was fair, considering the fantasy-esque backdrop and the fact that it was shot in the early 80s. I'll go out wide on a limb and give it a couple of stars.

    My take: 6.5
    6DeathSlayer

    Good Spin Off From Conan Series

    I'm a great fan of the Conan series and of course my favourite is the first of the series "Conan the Barbarian". I bought Red Sonja on DVD for only $9.95 and I was surprised to find as entertaining as the first two Conan films. Arnold Schwarzenegger executed his character outstanding throughout the fight scenes and as Kalidor even though the film was focused on Red Sonja. Brigitte Nielsen was beautiful and played Red Sonja perfectly to heighten the suspense and action through the fight scenes. The Film quality was good into creating a fantasy environment. The Action scenes in this film was the main part that me through this film even though its PG there's enough blood for the warmongers to enjoy. To conclude whoever loves Barbaric films such as the Conan films or Kull the Conqueror this is the film for you.

    Conan The Barbarian (1982) 8/10 Conan The Destroyer (1984) 6/10 Red Sonja (1985) 6/10
    5alvarax

    Entertaining but sometimes awful as well.

    I actually like Red Sonja overall, except for two scenes which were terrible. One of those scenes was the final fight with the queen, it would've been fine except for a plot contrivance where she decides to indicate to Sonja where her ally is, Idiot! The second scene involves water, I won't spoil it but you'll know which scene it is when you see it, absolutely loathed it.

    The supporting characters were fine all though I don't see why the prince and his servant were needed, they did jack all in this film,; it should've just been Sonja and Calidor. The prince is also insufferable, all though I suppose that's the point.
    anya_angie

    I enjoyed it

    The movie came out when I was three, so of course I didn't see it then. I saw it on TV when I was about seven, up late and bored. Unfortunately I kept coming into the middle of it, every time it came on. Finally one day I saw the entire thing, and adored it. I was about thirteen. A few years ago I had the fortune of finding it on video for a cheap price, $6.95. I watched it a lot, and loved it every time. This was a very unique movie, to me. It was the first Swords and Scorcery flick I ever saw, and ever since I fell in love with the genre. Fans of medieval, fantasy, adventure movies will have to check this one out, if they haven't already.

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    Related interests

    Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sandahl Bergman, and Gerry Lopez in Conan the Barbarian (1982)
    Sword & Sorcery
    Bruce Willis and Taniel in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Arnold Schwarzenegger signed up for a glorified cameo as a favor to producer Dino De Laurentiis. Much to his surprise, he was on the set for four weeks, three weeks longer than expected. He discovered after watching a rough cut of the movie that his role had been expanded to co-star, thanks to crafty angles and multiple cameras. Soon after, Schwarzenegger decided to terminate his 10-year contract with De Laurentiis.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h) When Kalidor lifts Prince Tarn into the air with one arm, the wire attached to Tarn's back is visible.
    • Quotes

      Red Sonja: No man may have me, unless he's beaten me in a fair fight.

      Kalidor: So, the only man that can have you, is one who's trying to kill you. That's logic.

      [Red Sonja goes and lies down. Kalidor picks up his sword and holds it to her throat]

      Kalidor: If you yield only to a conqueror, then prepared to be conquered... Little Sonja...

      Red Sonja: Don't be a fool, I don't want to kill you.

      Kalidor: Try it.

    • Alternate versions
      Two brief shots (including a severed head flying through the air) were cut from the Ontario, Canada version of the film in order to reduce the rating from Restricted (no one under 18 admitted) to Adult Accompaniment (anyone under 14 must be accompanied by someone over 18).
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Red Sonja/Back to the Future/Silverado/Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

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    FAQ20

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    • Who is the star of this movie? Arnold Schwarzenegger or Brigitte Nielsen?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 3, 1985 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Netherlands
      • Italy
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El guerrero rojo
    • Filming locations
      • Celano, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Dino De Laurentiis Company
      • Famous Films (II)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $17,900,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,948,633
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,263,553
      • Jul 7, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,951,690
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 29m(89 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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