Some of Disney’s biggest-ever flops have hailed from the fantasy arena – with John Carter, The Lone Ranger, A Wrinkle in Time, and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice to name just four standing out – but one of the Mouse House’s most underrated blockbusters ever to be set in the genre arrived all the way back in 1981 and found widespread acclaim, only for Dragonslayer to bomb hard.
Set in the mystical land of Urland, the narrative follows a familiar “Chosen One” path, but that’s besides the point. Not only does Vermithrax Pejorative boast one of the best names for any dragon across all forms of media, it also ranks as arguably the greatest that’s ever been put to screen, so much so that Guillermo del Toro named it his favorite-ever fire-breathing monster.
Sadly, Dragonslayer took audiences by surprise for all the wrong reasons after making waves as a Disney-backed production that was relentlessly dark, dingy, and grim in tone, not to mention instances of partial nudity and bursts of violence that didn’t fit the company’s family-friendly remit. As a result, it tanked in theaters by way of a $14 million take at the box office.
It’s also heavily indebted to Star Wars, too, and not just because Ian McDiarmid is part of the cast. The basic story beats can be traced back to George Lucas’ seminal sci-fi through a spirited heroine, eccentric wizened sage, a wide-eyed hero, and the presence of both ILM and a galaxy far, far away behind the scenes icons Dennis Muren and Phil Tippett as part of the effects team.
There was controversy along the way due its more overtly mature and adult nature, but Disney’s loss proved to be a gain for fantasy fanatics everywhere, because Dragonslayer is fully deserving of its status as a certifiable cult classic.
Published: Jun 24, 2023 02:52 am