SummaryA government assassin is brought back to life as a black superhero with supernatural powers. (Warner Bros.)
Directed By:Mark A.Z. Dippé
Written By:Todd McFarlane, Alan B. McElroy, Mark A.Z. Dippé
Spawn
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
34
User score
Mixed or Average
5.3
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
24% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
29% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
47% Negative
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
88
It walks and talks like a big budget horror film, heavy on special effects and pitched at the teenage audience, and maybe that's how it will be received. But it's more impressive if you ignore the genre and just look at what's on the screen.
67
Spawn doesn't make a lot of sense, but the imagery whooshes by in glitzy psychedelic torrents.
User score
Mixed or Average
39% Positive
43 Ratings
43 Ratings
32% Mixed
35 Ratings
35 Ratings
29% Negative
32 Ratings
32 Ratings
Mar 15, 2020
10
Um dos melhores filme baseado em Hq ou jogo, o palhaço da uma alivio comico nessa mundo infernal, vale a pena para quem curti o personagem
Jul 25, 2021
9
It's a great movie, as a fan of Todd McFarlane works I loved the comics, but what really sells this movie is the performance of John Leguizamo brings so much charm and humor to the movie, and ofc Martin Sheen. Also Michael Jai White is a great actor that pulls of Spawn's character. Only reason I don't give it a 10 is that the movie should have been 10min longer to flesh out some more of the side characters, especially Nicol Williamson should have been given a much better fight scene before he died.
50
The adventure is vulgar and violent, although the special effects are impressive.
40
It's all one big blur: sound, fury, and Martin Sheen devouring scenery as if it were going out of style (and in Spawn, it's definitely not).
25
Otherwise, the movie, which borrows from a dozen pop sources and improves on none of them, is pretty much a washout.
20
Spawn is 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.
0
The special effects look model-shop cheesy, as if they'd been created using a handful of action figures and MacPaint, and the rest of the picture has the flat visual finish and phoned-in performances of a TV movie.
Nov 18, 2022
8
A movie based on comic Image, about a hero returning from hell. He is "Born of darkness, but sworn to justice." This movie is one of my favorites.
Dec 6, 2025
6
They done destroyed my Goat, I LOVE SPAWN HE'S MY GOAT, but this movie was lowkey buns, giving it 6 just because spawn is my goat
Mar 9, 2025
6
I'll be honest, there are many of them and this is not one of the best comic book movies. Realistically, there are narrative issues in the various finished edits of this movie that prevent the audience from really connecting to Simmons. HOWEVER as a massive Michael jai white fan this movie holds a special place in comic fans core. There are some impressive makeup and vfx in this picture, soundtracks decent too. Its a shame we've never had a truly R rated take on this material instead of yet another studio guided cash grab.
Jul 5, 2017
3
John Leguizmo's performance is good. Some of the special effects are very good. However, most of the other aspects of this movie fall flat. The music seems last minute, Martin Sheen acted like it was a joke, the pace is spotty and the directing is sloppy. Overall, not a movie to buy anytime soon. It is worth it to see it once just for the acting of Leguizmo. There was a lot of potential wasted in this film. Definitely a failed attempt at adapting a comic into a movie.
Aug 10, 2013
3
The over exaggerated performances take away the overall mobility in character depth from the movie, leaving the broad span of violence and moderate special effects the task of bailing it out from near complete disaster.
Production Company:
- McFarlane Films
- New Line Cinema
- Pull Down Your Pants Pictures
Release Date:Aug 1, 1997
Duration:1 h 36 m
Rating:PG-13
Tagline:Born in darkness. Sworn to justice.
Awards
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
• 3 Nominations
Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
