Howard the Duck (1986)

A sarcastic humanoid duck is pulled from his homeworld to Earth where he must stop a hellish alien invasion with the help of a nerdy scientist and a cute struggling female rock singer who fancies him.

Director:

Willard Huyck

Writers:

Steve Gerber (Marvel comics character: Howard the Duck), Willard Huyck

Stars:

Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lea Thompson	...	Beverly Switzler
Jeffrey Jones	...	Dr. Walter Jenning
Tim Robbins	...	Phil Blumburtt
Ed Gale	...	Howard T. Duck
Chip Zien	...	Howard T. Duck (voice)
Tim Rose	...	Howard T. Duck
Steve Sleap	...	Howard T. Duck
Peter Baird	...	Howard T. Duck
Mary Wells	...	Howard T. Duck
Lisa Sturz	...	Howard T. Duck
Jordan Prentice	...	Howard T. Duck
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Lieutenant Welker
Liz Sagal	...	Ronette, Cherry Bomb
Dominique Davalos	...	Cal, Cherry Bomb
Holly Robinson Peete	...	K.C., Cherry Bomb (as Holly Robinson)

Storyline

A scientific experiment unknowingly brings extraterrestrial life forms to the Earth through a laser beam. First is the cigar smoking drake Howard from the duck's planet. A few kids try to keep him from the greedy scientists and help him back to his planet. But then a much less friendly being arrives through the beam...

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Plot Keywords:

red panties | woman wearing panties | mini skirt | microskirt | nubile woman | 

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Taglines:

Trapped in a world he never made.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Howard

Filming Locations:

California Academy of Sciences, Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,070,136, 3 August 1986, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$16,295,774

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$21,667,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures,Lucasfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Cusack and Martin Short auditioned for the voice of Howard.

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Goofs

During the final scene, in which Beverly's band is playing on stage, there is a mirror as part of the stage in which the crew and camera can be seen occasionally.

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Quotes

Beverly: [Picks up a handful of feathers] What's this in my bed?
Howard T. Duck: Ah, souvenirs?
Beverly: I'm gonna miss you a lot, Duckie.

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Connections

References Late Night with David Letterman (1982)

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Soundtracks

Duckworld Television Muzak
(uncredited)
Written and Produced by Thomas Dolby and John Barry
Performed by the Universal Studios Digital Gratification Consort and San Francisco Symphony as The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra)

User Reviews

Best Marvel Movie Ever Made

Howard was an inspiration. A hero. Best Marvel film ever. Best film of 1986. Best performance of Tim Robbins' career. Cherry Bomb was the best 80's band of them all. Howard sharing a bed with Lea Thompson's Beverly was more life changing than Slave Leia. '86 Howard (along with Ed Gale's signature voice) should have been there in the stinger for that well-received but lackluster 2014 film. Very dark day for all ducks on all planets.