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IMDbPro

Willow

  • 1988
  • PG
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
127K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,441
216
Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Billy Barty, Warwick Davis, Kevin Pollak, Kate Greenfield, Ruth Greenfield, Jean Marsh, Rick Overton, and Pat Roach in Willow (1988)
Trailer for Willow
Play trailer1:23
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionAdventureDrama

A young farmer is chosen to undertake a perilous journey in order to protect a special baby from an evil queen.A young farmer is chosen to undertake a perilous journey in order to protect a special baby from an evil queen.A young farmer is chosen to undertake a perilous journey in order to protect a special baby from an evil queen.

  • Director
    • Ron Howard
  • Writers
    • George Lucas
    • Bob Dolman
  • Stars
    • Val Kilmer
    • Joanne Whalley
    • Warwick Davis
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    127K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,441
    216
    • Director
      • Ron Howard
    • Writers
      • George Lucas
      • Bob Dolman
    • Stars
      • Val Kilmer
      • Joanne Whalley
      • Warwick Davis
    • 310User reviews
    • 121Critic reviews
    • 47Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 1 win & 12 nominations total

    Videos2

    Willow: Blu-Ray
    Trailer 1:23
    Watch Willow: Blu-Ray
    Ron Howard Recalls Wild Parties on the Set of 'Willow'
    Clip 0:50
    Watch Ron Howard Recalls Wild Parties on the Set of 'Willow'

    Photos332

    Warwick Davis and Jack Purvis in Willow (1988)
    Warwick Davis in Willow (1988)
    Val Kilmer in Willow (1988)
    Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis in Willow (1988)
    Kevin Pollak and Rick Overton in Willow (1988)
    Warwick Davis, Kate Greenfield, and Ruth Greenfield in Willow (1988)
    Val Kilmer in Willow (1988)
    Warwick Davis in Willow (1988)
    Jean Marsh in Willow (1988)
    Warwick Davis in Willow (1988)
    Val Kilmer in Willow (1988)
    Warwick Davis, Tony Cox, Phil Fondacaro, Mark Northover, and David Steinberg in Willow (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Val Kilmer
    Val Kilmer
    • Madmartigan
    Joanne Whalley
    Joanne Whalley
    • Sorsha
    Warwick Davis
    Warwick Davis
    • Willow
    Jean Marsh
    Jean Marsh
    • Queen Bavmorda
    Patricia Hayes
    • Raziel
    Billy Barty
    Billy Barty
    • High Aldwin
    Pat Roach
    Pat Roach
    • Kael
    Gavan O'Herlihy
    Gavan O'Herlihy
    • Airk
    David Steinberg
    David Steinberg
    • Meegosh
    Phil Fondacaro
    Phil Fondacaro
    • Vohnkar
    Tony Cox
    Tony Cox
    • Vohnkar Warrior
    Robert Gillibrand
    • Vohnkar Warrior
    Mark Northover
    Mark Northover
    • Burglekutt
    Kevin Pollak
    Kevin Pollak
    • Rool
    Rick Overton
    Rick Overton
    • Franjean
    Maria Holvoe
    Maria Holvoe
    • Cherlindrea
    • (as Maria Holvöe)
    Julie Peters
    • Kiaya
    Mark Vandebrake
    • Ranon
    • (as Mark Vande Brake)
    • Director
      • Ron Howard
    • Writers
      • George Lucas
      • Bob Dolman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Warwick Davis, the film had the largest ever casting call for "little people" at the time. Between 225 and 240 actors were hired for the film.
    • Goofs
      Just after Willow's wagon goes over the fallen tree during the cart chase, one of the horses steps on the tree and leaving an imprint showing that it is made of foam.
    • Quotes

      Willow: What are you doing?

      Madmartigan: I found some blackroot. She loves it.

      Willow: Blackroot? I'm the father of two children, and you never, ever give a baby blackroot.

      Madmartigan: Well my mother raised us on it. It's good for you! It put's hair on your chest, right Sticks?

      Willow: Her name is not Sticks! She's Elora Danan, the future empress of Tir Asleen and the last thing she's gonna want is a hairy chest!

    • Crazy credits
      Although he played the title role, Warwick Davis took just third billing. Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley took first and second billing respectively.
    • Alternate versions
      In order to obtain a PG certificate by the BBFC in the UK, 34 seconds were edited for the theatrical version.
      • The boars killing the midwife early in the film was cut entirely.
      • The scene of Bavmorda turning people into pigs was toned down. One shot of Madmartigan's transformation was cut, and a shot of Sorsha collapsing to the ground was cut.
      • Also, during the fight at the castle towards the end, Willow zaps the troll with his wand, and 2 creatures emerge from its skin. In the UK version of this film, the bit where the creatures quickly rip the skin off of the troll is missing.
      • General Kael's stabbing of Airk was shortened.
      • Some of the bloodiest moments in the fight between Madmartigan and Kasel were cut. Also, cut was the second sword thrust into General Kael when Madmartigan steps on the sword and drives it through him.
      • Shots of Raziel punching Bavmorda in the face was cut and Bavmorda strangling Raziel was shortened.
      • The distributors also reduced the redness of the blood in some fight scenes and toned down certain sound effects. The film was only available in the UK in this censored form until 2002, when the BBFC passed the film uncut with a PG rating.
    • Connections
      Edited into No Feat But What We Make: 'Terminator 2' and the Rise of Digital Effects (2003)

    User reviews310

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Well worth a watch if you want some pure, and somewhat silly, entertainment.
    For its day, Willow was one of the better fantasy movies. The effects look a little dated now (especially the two-headed beastie) but it has enough humour and action to keep most satisfied. It's no LOTR, but then it was made 14 years ago.

    Warwick Davis plays Willow, a Nelwynn, a race of hobbit-sized folk who don't have anything to do with "The Big People" as they call humans. Basically, it's the Shire transplanted into this movie, but without the budget. Billy Barty is the village's wizard and basically plays the character Gweldor again (from Masters of the Universe) but without the silly make-up and stupid musical key.

    Val Kilmer is Madmartigan, a human warrior who befriends Willow and helps him on his journey with varying degrees of ulterior motive.

    The acting is all reasonably good. Warwick Davis was only 18 when this film was released so his performance is very good considering his age and lack of experience (prior to this he'd played a goblin in Labyrinth and an ewok in Return of the Jedi). It's also interesting to see Pat Roach here. Pat was a former wrestler and has carved out a little niche for himself playing villains and tough guys. Here he plays General Kael, the right-hand henchman of Queen Bavmorda, played with gusto by Jean Marsh. That woman is truly frightening.

    It's all good fun and the two funniest characters in the movie are Franjean and Rool, two Brownies, who "help" Willow regardless of the latters wishes. They have the funniest double act and reminded me more than a little of Merry and Pippin in LOTR.

    All in all well worth a watch if you want some pure, and somewhat silly, entertainment.
    helpful•52
    22
    • Rob_Taylor
    • Dec 24, 2002

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    FAQ4

    • How long was Willow gone on his journey?
    • What is Willow about?
    • How does the movie end?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 20, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Willow en la tierra del encanto
    • Filming locations
      • Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, Southland, New Zealand(Lake Kayaking Scene)
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Lucasfilm
      • Imagine Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $57,269,863
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,300,169
      • May 22, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $57,269,863
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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    Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Billy Barty, Warwick Davis, Kevin Pollak, Kate Greenfield, Ruth Greenfield, Jean Marsh, Rick Overton, and Pat Roach in Willow (1988)
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