Spawn

Spawn (1997)

  • 20% of critics liked it
    (40 reviews)

  • 46% of users liked it
    (167,924 ratings)

One of the most popular independent comic books of its decade was transformed into this dark, bloody adventure intended to launch a profitable superhero franchise. Michael Jai White stars as Al Simmons, a corrupt assassin betrayed and murdered by his evil government supervisor, Jason Wynn (Martin… More

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PG-13, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By
Mark Dippé, Mark A.Z. Dippé
Written By
Alan McElroy
Genres
Action & Adventure, Horror, Animation, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
In Theaters
Aug 1, 1997 Wide
On DVD
Apr 22, 1998
New Line Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

    The film gives you the pleasurably junky sensation of living inside an apocalyptic videogame.

  • Todd McCarthy, Variety

    A moodily malevolent, anything-goes revenge fantasy that relies more upon special visual and digitally animated effects for its intended appeal than any comics-derived sci-fier to date.

  • Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

    This hopelessly redundant action gross-out aspires to a form of hip vacuousness -- and may achieve it.

  • Rita Kempley, Washington Post

    The nonsensical screenplay can barely stand-up to the hellzapoppin,' Beelzebubbin' effects mustered by first-time director Mark Dippe.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    As a visual experience, Spawn is unforgettable.

Read all 18 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Eric A


    I thought Spawn was such a cool film as a kid, but remembering it now and having to review it, it is very flawed.....it has poor acting and a poor plot. One thing that is still cool to this day is when Spawn drops in the ballroom at the end and starts fighting......bad ass.

  • Phil H


    I really liked this despite many problems with the film. The look is great, like the comic its very dark, gothic and grim. The rain comes down in sheets and the mist swirls around about the night whilst Spawn leaps around in his fantastic looking 'living' suit. The other… More

  • Jeff "


    I remember seeing this in the theatre and liking it. However as the years past by, I realized how lame this film really is. Spawn is the perfect example of a film that was a missed opportunity. By today's standards, the film looks dated like hell. I think its really too bad that… More

  • EightThirty .


    19/06/2010 (DVD) Back in 1997 this flick was shockingly cool, a real "for the boys" type of film and I probably would of rated it higher. Even though it was quickly forgotten, watching it again got me remembering what a hit it was and how during that time, nothing looked… More

  • KJ P


    Did not like this movie at all! One of the worst hero/anti-hero films ever made!

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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Trailers & Clips

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