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Heavy Metal (1981)

R  |   |  Animation, Adventure, Fantasy  |  7 August 1981 (USA)
6.7
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Ratings: 6.7/10 from 21,907 users  
Reviews: 145 user | 57 critic

A glowing orb terrorizes a young girl with a collection of stories of dark fantasy, eroticism and horror.

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Writers:

(screenplay) (as Dan Goldberg) , (screenplay), 10 more credits »
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Title: Heavy Metal (1981)

Heavy Metal (1981) on IMDb 6.7/10

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3 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Grimaldi (segment "Grimaldi") / Co-Pilot (segment "B-17") / Barbarian (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Caroline Semple ...
Girl (segment "Grimaldi") (voice)
...
...
Girl (segment "Harry Canyon") / Satellite (segment "Harry Canyon") (voice)
Al Waxman ...
...
Alien (segment "Harry Canyon") / Henchman (segment "Harry Canyon") (voice)
...
Desk Sergeant (segment "Harry Canyon") / Dan (segment "Den") / Den (segment "Den") / Robot (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice)
Glenis Wootton Gross ...
...
Whore (segment "Harry Canyon") / Queen (segment "Den") (voice)
...
Katherine (segment "Den") (voice)
Martin Lavut ...
...
Norl (segment "Den") / Taarak (segment "Taarna") (voice)
...
Prosecutor (segment "Captain Sternn") (voice)
...
Sternn (segment "Captain Sternn") / Male Reporter (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") / Edsel (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice)
...
Lawyer (segment "Captain Sternn") / General (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice)
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Storyline

A sweeping story of the battle of good against evil is told through an anthology of short animated films about a glowing green orb (the Loc-Nar) that is the personification of ultimate evil in the universe. Based loosely on the American magazine "Heavy Metal," and the French magazine "Métal Hurlant". Written by Christopher E. Meadows <cmeadows@nyx.cs.du.edu>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Louder And Nastier Than Ever See more »


Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

7 August 1981 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Heavy Metal: Universo em Fantasia  »

Box Office

Budget:

$9,300,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (premiere)

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

As the barbarians overrun the city of Kraan, the structure where the council chamber is located resembles the helmets worn by the two men on the cover of Black Sabbath's album Never Say Die - the last album the band recorded with lead singer Ozzy Osbourne before he left to start his successful solo career in. Black Sabbath, with Ronnie James Dio singing, are featured on the soundtrack with their songs E5150 and the title track from their album The Mob Rules. See more »

Goofs

The color of the spaceship's thrusters in "So Beautiful and So Dangerous" changes from green to red between shots. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: A shadow shall fall over the universe, and evil will grow in its path, and death will come from the skies.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The rolling text of the credits stutter upwards in rhythm with the machine sound that opens the song "Working In A Coal Mine" performed by Devo. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Brazil (1985) See more »

Soundtracks

Veteran of the Psychic Wars
Performed by Blue Öyster Cult
Written by Eric Bloom, Michael Moorcock
Publisher: B.O. Cult Songs, ASCAP
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

TAKE A RIDE...ON HEAVY METAL
26 April 2001 | by (Buffalo, NY USA) – See all my reviews

One of my all-time favorite flicks is this animated anthology of stories all bound together by this glowing green "Locnar," an orb of evil unmatched in all of time and space. The animations are terrific: "Harry Canyon" about a futuristic cabbie in NYC, "DEN" about a nerd who is transported to a far off land as a hulking muscleman, "Taarna" about mankinds last stand against the power of the "Locnar," and others. My personal favorite is the short "B-17" about a bomber in WWII and the horrible power of the "Locnar." As I mentioned previously, the animation is spectacular...reminding me of a day when not everything was computer-generated. Features Cheap Trick, Riggs, Nazareth, Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Devo and others on the kicking soundtrack. Overall, a classic of the 80's: one that shouldn't be missed at any cost. My Highest Recommendation.


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B-17 segment... the lost script that became Alien barbieri_f
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