The Shadow

PG-13

Released Jul 1, 1994

1 hr. 42 min.

Action

Adventure

List

37%

52 Reviews

Tomatometer

44%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Set in 1930s New York, a reformed criminal becomes a superhero. With the aid of a beautiful female friend, a playboy millionaire with a dark past sets out to bring the evil Shiwan Khan to justice. His quarry, who is determined to attain world domination, is a deadly descendant of Genghis Khan and will not surrender without a fight.

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Critics Consensus

Bringing a classic pulp character to the big screen, The Shadow features impressive visual effects, but the story ultimately fails to strike a memorable chord.

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Alex L

Popcorn flick that has poorly aged

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

Alec B

I think time allows one to appreciate how weird this movie is. Clearly a result of a major Hollywood studio seeing the financial success of Tim Burton's two Batman movies and assuming if they found a dark, Noir, Art Deco, and puply equivalent, they'd also be rolling in money. It's a bit of a mess but a beautiful one filled with memorably imagery and strange characters.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Andrew L

The most underrated superhero film of all time. This movie based on the famous pulp fiction and radio superhero (who came almost a full decade before Superman and was the inspiration behind Batman) is an absolute gem with an all-star cast featuring Alec Baldwin, Peter Boyle, Tim Curry, and Ian McKellen, only The Shadow knows why other people didn't like it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

Full Review

Shadowman4710

A much better film than it's reputation suggests. Alec Baldwin is pretty good as Lamont Cranston, aka The Shadow and he's supported by an excellent cast. Yeah, the script could have been tighter but overall it's a highly entertaining "superhero" film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/09/23

Full Review

Zander W

This has to be the most underrated movie in history It is so good that it should have been the first of many more films staring this character It's soundtrack is mind blowing gothic rock and The film itself sticks with you after you've watched it It's score is haunting and breathtaking in its crafting It's the best tribute to the finest era of cinema the pulps Alec Baldwin is stunningly handsome his eyes seeming as if they were special effects in there own right He wears a tux better then bond and the the character is just chilling Without this character there is no Batman the shadow pulls of a script that is high fantasy art and crime gangster tale all rolled in to one If you've never seen it you have missed out on an epic stick with it right up to the end and like me you will come back to it again and again Sam rami made dark-man because he wanted to make this character he knows what I think many know that if this character was given the dark knight treatment we would have a blockbuster unlike anything we have ever seen Who knows what the best movie made in 1994 is the shadow knows and you too should discover this diamond for itself It is my favourite film of all time and if I could give it an extra star I would It's hybrid use of multi themes and genres is like no other Packed with Crime /superhero heroics /exotic locations /beautiful dames with a hearts of gold /supernatural powers and magic there never will be another film like the shadow Until somebody remakes this movie and shows to the world what the greatest superhero in fiction truly looks like hahahahahah

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/06/23

Full Review

Josh M

This is a great movie version of a classic comic and radio mystery character.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/29/23

Full Review

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Russell Mulcahy

Director

Alec Baldwin

Lamont Cranston

John Lone

Shiwan Khan

Penelope Ann Miller

Margo Lane

Peter Boyle

Moe Shrevnitz

Ian McKellen

Dr. Reinhardt Lane

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The Shadow: Official Clip - The Living Shadow

3:47

The Shadow: Official Clip - The Evil in the Hearts of Men

3:04

The Shadow: Official Clip - To Fight A Shadow

3:40

The Shadow: Official Clip - Join Me or Die

2:53

The Shadow: Official Clip - You Can't Run From The Shadow

2:44

The Shadow: Official Clip - The Nightmares of Heroes

2:11

The Shadow: Official Clip - A Water Filled Hell

3:43

The Shadow: Official Clip - You're Finished, Khan

3:09

The Shadow: Official Clip - Showing Claymore the Exit

2:47

The Shadow: Official Clip - You Know I'm Gonna Stop You

3:18

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Jack Yeovil

Empire Magazine

A pleasant, eye-pleasing movie.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 16, 2010

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

The movie has all the coherence of a bad acid flashback.

Rated: D

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

It has enough of the innocent exoticism and splendor of silent thrillers to suggest a continuity with the past missing from most other movies; all that's required is a capacity to sit back and dream.

Apr 25, 2007

Full Review

Gary Wolcott

Tri-City Herald

Like Batman, Dick Tracy and The Crow, The Shadow is more of a mood than an interesting yarn... But the film possesses a warmth and humor missing from the others.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 1, 2024

Full Review

Steven Alan McGaw

Texas Triangle/TXT

What makes Baldwin's performance, and the film, so enjoyable is the refreshing absence of angst. Cranston Is no tortured hero... He's a good guy and he knows it, and he's not afraid to enjoy the high life when he's not fighting crime.

May 8, 2023

Full Review

Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

The Shadow seeks to be another Batman. It is more likely to be another Doc Savage or Flash Gordon - both lackluster attempts to translate past pulp heroes into big-screen money.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 25, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Set in 1930s New York, a reformed criminal becomes a superhero. With the aid of a beautiful female friend, a playboy millionaire with a dark past sets out to bring the evil Shiwan Khan to justice. His quarry, who is determined to attain world domination, is a deadly descendant of Genghis Khan and will not surrender without a fight.

Director: Russell Mulcahy
Executive Producer: Louis A. Stroller, Rolf Deyhle
Distributor: Universal
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Bregman/Baer Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 1, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.0M
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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