Heavy Metal | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Gerald Potterton |
Screenplay by | |
Based on | Original art and stories by
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Produced by | Ivan Reitman Leonard Mogel |
Starring | |
Edited by |
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Music by | Elmer Bernstein |
Color process | Metrocolor |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 minutes[1] |
Country | Canada[2] |
Language | English |
Budget | $9.3 million |
Box office | $20.1 million[3][4] |
Heavy Metal is a 1981 Canadian adult animated science fantasy anthology film directed by Gerald Potterton (in his director debut) and produced by Ivan Reitman and Leonard Mogel, who also was the publisher of Heavy Metal magazine, which was the basis for the film. It starred the voices of Rodger Bumpass, Jackie Burroughs, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Don Francks, Martin Lavut, Marilyn Lightstone, Eugene Levy, Alice Playten, Harold Ramis, Percy Rodriguez, Susan Roman, Richard Romanus, August Schellenberg, John Vernon, and Zal Yanovsky. The screenplay was written by Daniel Goldberg and Len Blum.
The film is an anthology of various science-fiction and fantasy stories tied together by a single theme of an evil force that is "the sum of all evils". It was adapted from Heavy Metal magazine and original stories in the same spirit. Like the magazine, the film features a great deal of graphic violence, sexuality, and nudity. Its production was expedited by having several animation houses working simultaneously on different segments.
Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics. But was however a moderate commercial success and has since achieved a cult following.[5] Its soundtrack was packaged by music manager Irving Azoff and included several popular rock bands and artists, including Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Sammy Hagar, Don Felder, Cheap Trick, DEVO, Journey, and Nazareth, among others.[2]
A sequel titled Heavy Metal 2000 (2000) was released in 2000.
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