Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lots of fantasy violence in cheesy '80s action movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Conan the Destroyer
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In CONAN THE DESTROYER, Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his faithful servant Malak (Tracey Walter) survive the wilds of Shadizar through thievery. Soon, they are summoned by Queen Taramis (Sarah Douglas) to go on a mission. He's to escort her niece, Princess Jehna (Olivia d'Abo) to restore the jeweled horn of the dreaming god Dagoth. In order to do this, they must first retrieve a magic gem heart in a mystical realm. A ragtag group is assembled to join Conan, Malak, and Jehna, including the guard Bombaaata (Wilt Chamberlain), the wizard Akiro (Mako), and the warrior Zula (Grace Jones). Their quest takes them through many unexpected trials and tribulations, and when the horn is finally retrieved, Conan realizes that he has been betrayed. Wiith those who remain by his side, he must fight to rescue Princess Jehna and restore peace to Shadizar.
Is It Any Good?
It's hilariously bad, but it's not without entertainment value. Conan the Destroyer has all the hallmarks of a bad '80s fantasy movie -- cheesy special effects, unintentionally funny dialogue, and sets that look like they were left over from bad heavy metal music videos. It's a B-movie sequel, and a chance to see pre-Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger wrestle with weird monsters in gorilla masks, among other things.
There's some innuendo, and the women tend to be more scantily clad than necessary, as the leisure wear doesn't seem particularly well-suited for, you know, fighting wizards and the like. Nonetheless, for parents who have had the experience of seeing how poorly a beloved '80s movie has aged, this has, surprisingly, more or less held up. It's still as bad of a movie as it was when released in 1984, but for audiences looking for the laughs generated from B-movies, you could do a whole lot worse.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sequels. Why do movie studios make them? Are they ever as good as the original? Why or why not?
How does the violence here compare to that in other fantasy movies you've seen?
How was the movie a "star vehicle" for a young Arnold Schwarzenegger? What are some other examples of movies centered on a well-known actor playing the lead role?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 29, 1984
- On DVD or streaming : July 24, 2007
- Cast : Arnold Schwarzenegger , Olivia d'Abo , Sarah Douglas
- Director : Richard Fleischer
- Studio : Universal
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate