Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Jun 17, 2026 3/4

It's a solid adventure story.

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Mar 26, 2023 3/4

Its pacing could be a little more brisk and its main characters a little more exciting, but Dragonslayer nevertheless earns its place in fantasy filmdom for featuring one of the best fire-breathing creatures ever committed to celluloid.

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Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Mar 22, 2023 4/4

Dragonslayer has withstood the test of time beautifully.

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Alan Jones Starburst Jul 28, 2022

Dragonslayer, with the aid of superior stop-motion animation, hand puppets and hydraulic body mechanisms superbly puts on celluloid one of the most spectacular creatures of myth which in turn totally immerses you in a world of fantasy.

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Kenneth Turan New West/California Nov 3, 2021

As much of a triumph as this creature is, Vermithrax can't carry the entire picture. No creature can, and it is the lapses in the human part of the equation that prevent Dragonslayer from being the picture it might have been.

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Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Aug 16, 2021 4/5

...a quite unconventional story, with lots of kinks that make it anything but Disney in outlook...

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Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Sep 6, 2020 2/10

The action isn't consistent or frequent enough, while the humor and the romance subplot aren't strong enough to make up for the downtime.

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Christopher Lloyd The Film Yap Dec 2, 2019 5/5

If there was one film from the 1970s/80s early heyday of fantasy films that perfectly straddled the divide between kiddie movies and gorefests, it was Dragonslayer.

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Bernard Drew Gannett News Service Oct 4, 2019

It is a lively, fun, suspenseful, beautiful medieval romance what Excalibur tried to be, should have been, and wasn't.

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Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) Jun 18, 2019

A really solid fun fantasy story that I think holds up quite well.

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Richard Schickel TIME Magazine Nov 16, 2014

This movie has two big things going for it -- the dragon and the man who masterminds its slaying.

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Ralph Novak People Magazine Nov 18, 2013

An innocent adventure that's technically slick and lacking in pretense, this film should provide a nice scare for kids, and maybe a few of the grown-ups too.

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John Ferguson Radio Times Nov 18, 2013 3/5

It doesn't take itself too seriously and benefits from a good cast that includes Ralph Richardson and John Hallam. The effects aren't bad either.

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Ian Nathan Empire Magazine Nov 26, 2012 4/5

An unknown treasure of a fantasy film and well worth a look for fans of the genre.

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Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Nov 26, 2012

The film excels as a visual exercise, as a study in adolescent psychology, and even as astute political analysis.

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 22, 2010 4/5

Vintage fantasy epic is great, despite a too-graphic death.

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Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Feb 5, 2010

Saint George and the '80s

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Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009

A well intentioned fantasy with some wonderful special effects, Dragonslayer falls somewhat short on continuously intriguing adventure.

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Jake Euker F5 (Wichita, KS) Feb 18, 2007 3/5

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