So what - we've got Frenchman (Christopher Lambert) playing a Scotsman; a Scotsman (Sean Connery) playing a Spaniard and an American (Clancy Brown) playing a maniacal Russian - what could possibly go wrong? Well, actually despite the odd casting, this isn't an half bad fantasy adventure that introduces us to a group of immortals who are having to deal with the "quickening" - a process that has driven them throughout history to combat (and decapitate) others of their race in search of the ultimate "prize". Lambert is "Connor McLeod" who has come a bit late to this party and is ostracised from his Highland village after he miraculously survives battle wounds that would have slain an elephant. Luckily, he encounters and gets a bit of training from the thousand year old wily and flamboyant "Ramirez" (Connery) so he can be fit to fight the 'Kurgen" (Brown) - their mightiest (if not brainiest) warrior. The script is pretty dreadful, to be honest - but the story is fun. It's got loads of action, some of the best sword fights since Errol Flynn, and even a soupçon of romance as modern day science tries to explain his longevity. It is infinitely better than any of the derivatives it spawned - and a great Queen soundtrack makes for an enjoyable couple of hours of escapism with some fine Scottish scenery thrown in too.
He fought his first battle on the Scottish Highlands in 1536. He will fight his greatest battle on the streets of New York City in 1986. His name is Connor MacLeod. He is immortal.
Quick Stats
6.9
TMDB Rating
2,961
Votes
1h 56m
Runtime
$19.0M
Budget
$12.9M
Box Office
68%
Return
Key Crew
DirectorRussell Mulcahy
WriterGregory Widen
CinematographyGerry Fisher
ComposerMichael Kamen
EditorPeter Honess
Production DesignAllan Cameron
Produced by
Davis-Panzer ProductionsThorn EMI Screen EntertainmentHighlander Productions
Where to Watch
Streaming
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Critics & Reviews
1 featuredCast

Christopher Lambert
Connor 'The Highlander' MacLeod

Roxanne Hart
Brenda J. Wyatt

Clancy Brown
Victor 'The Kurgan' Kruger

Sean Connery
Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez

Beatie Edney
Heather MacLeod

Alan North
Lieutenant Frank Moran

Jon Polito
Det. Walter Bedsoe

Sheila Gish
Rachel Ellenstein

Hugh Quarshie
Sunda Kastagir

Peter Diamond
Aman Fasil

Billy Hartman
Dugal MacLeod

James Cosmo
Angus MacLeod

Celia Imrie
Kate MacLeod

Christopher Malcolm
Kirk Matunas

Ian Reddington
Bassett







