{ "id": "ep6t35d4ms", "slug": "red-sonja-1985-film", "title": "Red Sonja (1985 film)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy", "label": "Science fiction and fantasy films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-2", "label": "Science fiction and fantasy films of the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-2" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-2.yr-1980-1985", "label": "Released 1980 to 1985", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-2.yr-1980-1985" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-2", "label": "United States · 1946 to 2000: Science fiction and fantasy films of the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-2", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946", "label": "United States · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy", "label": "Science fiction and fantasy films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-2", "label": "Science fiction and fantasy films of the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-2" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Red Sonja (1985) is a sword and sorcery film directed by Richard Fleischer, produced by Dino De Laurentiis, starring Brigitte Nielsen, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Kalidor, and Sandahl Bergman as Queen Gedren; a critical flop, later a cult classic, remade in 2025.", "snippet": "Red Sonja (1985) is a sword and sorcery film directed by Richard Fleischer, produced by Dino De Laurentiis, starring Brigitte Nielsen, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Kalidor, and Sandahl Bergman as Queen Gedren; a critical flop, later a cult classic, remade in 2025.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.science-fiction-fantasy.science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-of-the-2.yr-1980-1985", "markdown": "# Red Sonja (1985 film)\n\n**Red Sonja** is a 1985 American sword and sorcery film directed by [Richard Fleischer](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-fleischer), produced by the Dino De Laurentiis Corporation, and starring [Brigitte Nielsen](https://www.edgepedia.org/brigitte-nielsen) as the warrior [Red Sonja](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-sonja), Arnold Schwarzenegger as Kalidor, and Sandahl Bergman as the villainous Queen Gedren. It was released by MGM/UA on 3 July 1985, runs 89 minutes, and carries a PG-13 rating.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58331-RED-SONJA)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 3 July 1985, Los Angeles and New York openings; 89 minutes; PG-13; distributed by MGM/UA Entertainment Co.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58331-RED-SONJA) |\n| Principal cast | Brigitte Nielsen (Red Sonja), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Kalidor, \"Introducing\"), Sandahl Bergman (Queen Gedren), Paul Smith (Falkon), Ernie Reyes Jr. (Prince Tarn)[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58331-RED-SONJA) |\n| Source | Based on the comic-book character created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith, partly derived from Robert E. Howard's Red Sonya of Rogatino, first appearing in the 1934 short story \"The Shadow of the Vulture\"[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58331-RED-SONJA) • [2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/1365464/red-sonja) • [9](https://www.comics.org/character/5567/) |\n| Production | Filmed in Italy from September to 21 December 1984 on a $35 million budget; locations included Rome, Celano, and the Abruzzi Mountains[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58331-RED-SONJA) |\n| Music | Score by Ennio Morricone, coming off his work on *Once Upon a Time in America* (1984)[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/1365464/red-sonja) |\n| Reception | 23% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (31 reviews) and 29% audience score; Metascore 35, \"Generally Unfavorable\"[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/red_sonja_1985) • [4](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/red-sonja/) |\n| Legacy | Schwarzenegger has called it the worst film of his career; a remake directed by MJ Bassett was released in 2025[5](https://as.com/meristation/cine/hace-41-anos-se-estreno-la-terrible-pelicula-de-schwarzenegger-que-muchos-confunden-con-conan-f202610-n/) • [6](https://www.samuelgoldwynfilms.com/red-sonja/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nQueen Gedren's soldiers burn Sonja's home, kill her family, and rape Sonja after she refuses to become the Queen's slave. A vision awakens her and bestows the gift of swordsmanship so she can take vengeance. Later, the High Priestess Kendra attempts to destroy a glowing green talisman that created all life but is now judged too powerful to exist; Gedren attacks, kills Kendra, and seizes the talisman. Varna, the only survivor, is wounded and rescued by the warrior Kalidor, and asks him to find her sister, Red Sonja. Sonja, distrustful of all men, pursues the talisman alone, meeting the child prince Tarn and his footman Falkon along the way, and must cast the orb into darkness before its growing powers destroy the earth.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58331-RED-SONJA) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/red_sonja_1985)\n\nThe [British Board of Film Classification](https://www.edgepedia.org/british-board-of-film-classification) notes that the film contains strong violence, sexual violence, and nudity, including a briefly depicted rape and a scene of a child being tortured by stretching.[7](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/red-sonja-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmzmxntm)\n\n## Production\n\nThe project went through several identities before filming. A March 1983 Daily Variety item announced an open casting call for \"Red Sonia\" and stated that the animator [Ralph Bakshi](https://www.edgepedia.org/ralph-bakshi), known for fantasy films such as *Wizards* (1977) and *[Fire and Ice](https://www.edgepedia.org/fire-and-ice-1983-film)* (1983), would direct, with production set for summer 1983. By April 1984 the trade papers called the picture *Red Sonya* and reported principal photography for September 1984 at Cinecitta Studios in Italy; Richard Fleischer was announced as director in July 1984.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58331-RED-SONJA)\n\nProducer [Dino De Laurentiis](https://www.edgepedia.org/dino-de-laurentiis) negotiated with Cinecitta to relaunch his own studio, Dinocitta, defunct for twelve years, and to co-produce the film. Dinocitta did reopen and was renamed Stabilimenti Cinematografici Pontini, though Cinecitta is not credited onscreen. Casting proved difficult: [Sandahl Bergman](https://www.edgepedia.org/sandahl-bergman), the leading lady of *Conan the Barbarian* (1982), was announced for the title role but was recast as Queen Gedren, and [Eileen Davidson](https://www.edgepedia.org/eileen-davidson) was reported as heavily favored before the Danish model Brigitte Nielsen, discovered by De Laurentiis, took the part.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58331-RED-SONJA) • [2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/1365464/red-sonja)\n\nShooting ran from September to 21 December 1984, a day and a half over the fifty-eight-day schedule, with the delay caused by torrential rains in the Abruzzi Mountains in October. The film came in almost on time and on budget. All special effects were shot in-camera to speed post-production by more than fifty percent, and post-production was moved from Italy to MGM Studios in Culver City so De Laurentiis could oversee it and attend the American Film Market.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58331-RED-SONJA) • [2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/1365464/red-sonja)\n\n## Literary source\n\nLike the Conan films, the picture draws on the work of the Texas-born fantasy writer [Robert E. Howard](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-e-howard). The comic-book Red Sonja character was created by [Roy Thomas](https://www.edgepedia.org/roy-thomas) and Barry Windsor-Smith in 1973, partly based on Howard's Red Sonya, who first appeared in \"The Shadow of the Vulture,\" a 1934 short story in which her name is spelled \"Red Sonya,\" set in the Ottoman Empire.[9](https://www.comics.org/character/5567/) The character remained dormant until the popularity of the Conan comics brought her back in the 1981 paperback epic *The Ring of Ikribu*, with five more books following, and in the process she was moved to the [Hyborian Age](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyborian-age) (Conan's fictional prehistoric fantasy era) of Conan fame, a change retained for the film.[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/1365464/red-sonja)\n\n## Reception and legacy\n\nThe film received a hostile reception from critics. Its Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus calls it \"dull, poorly directed, and badly miscast\" and \"an uninspired conclusion to Schwarzenegger's barbarian trilogy\"; the Tomatometer stands at 23 percent from 31 reviews, with a 29 percent audience score.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/red_sonja_1985) Metacritic records a Metascore of 35 from six critics, with four negative, one mixed, and one positive; the positive review, Dave Kehr's in the Chicago Reader, praised the production design of Danilo Donati and Fleischer's action staging.[4](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/red-sonja/) Movieline dubbed it \"stupefying, pitiful, tacky.\"[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/1365464/red-sonja)\n\nSchwarzenegger later called it the worst film he ever made, joking that he punished his children by making them watch it ten times; his then-wife [Maria Shriver](https://www.edgepedia.org/maria-shriver) reportedly told him on release day that if it did not end his career, nothing would.[5](https://as.com/meristation/cine/hace-41-anos-se-estreno-la-terrible-pelicula-de-schwarzenegger-que-muchos-confunden-con-conan-f202610-n/) The film was intended as a stepping stone to further barbarian adventures for Schwarzenegger, who was then set for a third Conan film, but the success of *The Terminator* (1984) steered his career toward modern action and science fiction.[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/1365464/red-sonja)\n\n[Ennio Morricone](https://www.edgepedia.org/ennio-morricone)'s score was praised from the start and has remained a favorite; its initial limited CD release, paired with his *Bloodline* score, became one of the most valuable collector's items on the soundtrack market.[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/1365464/red-sonja) Like many 1980s genre films, the picture has since found a warmer, nostalgic audience and is described as a cult classic.[2](https://www.tcm.com/articles/1365464/red-sonja) • [8](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/brigitte-nielsen-red-sonja/)\n\nIn the United Kingdom, the 1985 cinema version received cuts during classification; a 2022 reclassification by [StudioCanal](https://www.edgepedia.org/studiocanal) passed the film uncut at 89 minutes with the same content advisories.[7](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/red-sonja-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmzmxntm) A new film adaptation, directed by MJ Bassett and starring Matilda Lutz, was released theatrically on 13 August 2025.[6](https://www.samuelgoldwynfilms.com/red-sonja/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Red Sonja (1985), AFI Catalog of Feature Films](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58331-RED-SONJA)\n2. [Red Sonja, by Nathaniel Thompson, Turner Classic Movies](https://www.tcm.com/articles/1365464/red-sonja)\n3. [Red Sonja (1985), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/red_sonja_1985)\n4. [Red Sonja, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/red-sonja/)\n5. [Hace 41 años se estrenó la terrible película de Schwarzenegger, MeriStation (AS)](https://as.com/meristation/cine/hace-41-anos-se-estreno-la-terrible-pelicula-de-schwarzenegger-que-muchos-confunden-con-conan-f202610-n/)\n6. [Red Sonja, Samuel Goldwyn Films](https://www.samuelgoldwynfilms.com/red-sonja/)\n7. [Red Sonja, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/red-sonja-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmzmxntm)\n8. [Brigitte Nielsen – Red Sonja, Starburst Magazine](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/brigitte-nielsen-red-sonja/)\n9. [comics.org](https://www.comics.org/character/5567/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Science fiction and fantasy films (individual works) › Science fiction and fantasy films of the 1980s › Released 1980 to 1985*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/red-sonja-1985-film", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/red-sonja-1985-film.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Red Sonja (1985 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/red-sonja-1985-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Red Sonja (1985 film)](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-sonja-1985-film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/red-sonja-1985-film](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-sonja-1985-film). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Red Sonja (1985 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/red-sonja-1985-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Red Sonja is a sword and sorcery film directed by Richard Fleischer, produced by Dino De Laurentiis, starring Brigitte Nielsen, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Kalidor, and Sandahl Bergman as Queen Gedren; a critical flop, later a cult classic, remade in 2025." }