Dragonslayer

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Dragonslayer

PG

1981

1h 49m

Fantasy

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

38 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A terrible dragon is terrorizing the medieval land of Urland in the 6th century. Representatives from the kingdom seek the assistance of the wizard Ulrich to defeat the dragon immediately -- Urland has been delivering virgins to appease the dragon, and their princess has rigged the lottery system they use in order to sacrifice herself next. But when Ulrich is killed, the task to confront the dragon falls to the wizard's apprentice, Galen.

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Critics Consensus

Dragonslayer puts a realistic spin -- and some impressive special effects -- on a familiar tale.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Jun 17, 2026

3/4

It's a solid adventure story.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Mar 22, 2023

4/4

Dragonslayer has withstood the test of time beautifully.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Nov 16, 2014

This movie has two big things going for it -- the dragon and the man who masterminds its slaying.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Mar 26, 2023

3/4

Its pacing could be a little more brisk and its main characters a little more exciting, but Dragonslayer nevertheless earns its place in fantasy filmdom for featuring one of the best fire-breathing creatures ever committed to celluloid.

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Alan Jones

Starburst

Jul 28, 2022

Dragonslayer, with the aid of superior stop-motion animation, hand puppets and hydraulic body mechanisms superbly puts on celluloid one of the most spectacular creatures of myth which in turn totally immerses you in a world of fantasy.

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Kenneth Turan

New West/California

Nov 3, 2021

As much of a triumph as this creature is, Vermithrax can't carry the entire picture. No creature can, and it is the lapses in the human part of the equation that prevent Dragonslayer from being the picture it might have been.

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Nicholas T

@nicktalbert2025 Sep 29, 2026

dragonslayer boring movie not much action packed

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 9, 2026

Dragonslayer = A *3.5* movie!

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Pipe Smoking L

@RT92467537 Jul 5, 2026

Bring your pillow. Or a God damn noose.. It's a LONG ONE... Oh my God... remember that commercial back in the 90's? Skip IT! SKIP IT! Skip it to the stupid special effects and the ending and save yourself some confused tears and 4 hours of your life. (There is baby-killing in this movie You have been warned).

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Deckard B

@B26354 Jun 6, 2026

I recall seeing Dragonslayer upon release and only had the opportunity to re-watch it only a few times afterwards, what always struck me is how beautifully dark and rich it still is. This fantasy is on a similar level to films of this era such as Excalibur, with a strong unique level of handcrafted worldbuilding that doesn’t try and explain things, because everything feels natural and lived-in. The film is satisfyingly sophisticated because of this well thought out, or simply honestly realistic, analog mythology, and this is given weight through its cold harsh environments and well rounded characters. Yes it’s a little brittle, like anything of the era but the practical effects of the dragon are frankly breathtaking, even by today’s standards, and the other practical effects feel at home in this magical medieval setting.

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James A

@Droz27 Mar 28, 2026

Absolute essential fantasy classic to rasie your family on. Amazing effects, the dragon looks better than the CGI GOT ones. Great commentary on the transition from the magical Pagan world to the Christian one. Loved it!

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Feb 9, 2026

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Matthew Robbins

Director

Peter MacNicol

Galen

Caitlin Clarke

Valerian

Ralph Richardson

Ulrich

John Hallam

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Synopsis

A terrible dragon is terrorizing the medieval land of Urland in the 6th century. Representatives from the kingdom seek the assistance of the wizard Ulrich to defeat the dragon immediately -- Urland has been delivering virgins to appease the dragon, and their princess has rigged the lottery system they use in order to sacrifice herself next. But when Ulrich is killed, the task to confront the dragon falls to the wizard's apprentice, Galen.

Director: Matthew Robbins
Producer: Hal Barwood
Screenwriter: Matthew Robbins, Hal Barwood
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 26, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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