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Poster for The Return of Swamp Thing

The Return of Swamp Thing

Seen it?

1989 | 84 min | Horror, Science Fiction

Weeknight Watch

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With middling reviews (44% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a lukewarm 46% audience score, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for superhero fans and anyone building a Halloween watchlist. Comic-book roots, so expect big stakes and bigger set pieces. Spooky-season viewing, made for October nights.
The mood
Scary.
The pace
Builds dread steadily, at 1 hr 24 min. An easy one to fit in on a school night.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • It picked up 1 Razzie, the "worst of the year" awards.
  • Skip it if you scare easily or watch alone at night.

The Swamp Thing returns to battle the evil Dr. Arcane, who has a new science lab full of creatures transformed by genetic mutation, and chooses Heather Locklear as his new object of affection.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsBelow par

    44% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesBelow par

    Our audience score: 46%

  • AwardsNot counted

    No real honors on record. "Won" 1 Razzie, the "worst of the year" awards. Razzies don't count toward the rating.

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $6 million worldwide on a $4 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 50K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Jim Wynorski

  • Louis JourdanDr. Anton Arcane
  • Heather LocklearAbby Arcane
  • Sarah DouglasDr. Lana Zurrell
  • Dick DurockSwamp Thing
  • Joey SagalGunn
  • Ace MaskDr. Rochelle
  • Monique GabrielleMiss Poinsettia
  • RonReaco LeeOmar
  • Daniel Emery TaylorDarryl Hallenbeck
  • Ralph PaceSheriff Beaumont