Why is the original Highlander movie considered goofy?

The original 1986 Highlander movie is described as goofy due to its bizarre amalgamated accent, an over-the-top performance by Clancy Brown, and a tonally disjointed feel, despite its serious premise.

What were the later installments of the Highlander franchise like?

Later Highlander franchise entries included Highlander II: The Quickening, which revealed immortals as aliens, and Highlander III: The Sorcerer, which ignored the previous sequel. Many of these sequels were critically panned.

What can be expected from the new Highlander reboot directed by Chad Stahelski?

The new Highlander reboot, directed by Chad Stahelski, is anticipated to feature visceral, gritty, R-rated action, similar to his work on the John Wick film series.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Cavill's Highlander: Can It Escape Franchise's Kooky Past?

Cavill's Highlander: Can It Escape Franchise's Kooky Past?

9 Feb

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Summary

The original 1986 Highlander movie is surprisingly goofy despite its serious premise.
The franchise later included aliens, ignored sequels, and critical failures.
Director Chad Stahelski aims for gritty, R-rated action in the new reboot.

Cavill's Highlander: Can It Escape Franchise's Kooky Past?

The original 1986 Highlander film, despite its premise of immortals battling for a mysterious Prize, is surprisingly goofy and tonally inconsistent. The movie featured a bizarre accent from Christopher Lambert, an over-the-top Clancy Brown as The Kurgan, and a Queen-powered soundtrack.

Following this, the Highlander franchise veered into kookier territory, with Highlander II: The Quickening revealing immortals as aliens, a plot point so poorly received that an alternate cut removed it. Later installments, including Highlander III: The Sorcerer, failed to achieve critical success.

However, the franchise has seen some acclaim, notably the anime film Highlander: The Search for Vengeance and a dedicated fanbase for the 1992-1998 live-action TV series. Recognizing the franchise's more numerous lows than highs, a reboot is now in development.