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 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 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.