Heavy Metal (1981): cast, story & where to watch
1981 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1981, Heavy Metal is a fantasy, adventure, animation and science fiction film directed by Gerald Potterton, running about 90 minutes. “A Step Beyond Science Fiction” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The embodiment of ultimate evil, a glowing orb terrorizes a young girl with bizarre stories of dark fantasy, eroticism and horror.
Who’s in it. Heavy Metal stars Rodger Bumpass as Hanover Fiste / Dr. Anrak (voice), Jackie Burroughs as Katherine (voice), Joe Flaherty as Lawyer / General (voice) and Harold Ramis as Zeke (voice), among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, Heavy Metal has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $20.1M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Heavy Metal page.
If you liked it. Fans of Heavy Metal tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Heavy Metal (1981)?
- In US, Heavy Metal is available to stream on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Heavy Metal worth watching?
- Heavy Metal holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy fantasy, adventure, animation and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Heavy Metal?
- Heavy Metal stars Rodger Bumpass, Jackie Burroughs, Joe Flaherty, Harold Ramis and John Candy.
- When was Heavy Metal released?
- Heavy Metal was released in 1981, with a runtime of about 90 minutes.