hercules movie review and rating

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors.

Now streaming on:

In Greek mythology, Heracles was the product of Zeus getting his Mt. Olympus freak on with a mortal woman. Heracles was named to honor his philandering daddy’s angry wife, Hera, but her vengeance had dire consequences for the future hero. Hera drove him insane, at which point Heracles murdered his wife and children. After regaining his sanity and realizing the horrible nature of his crime, Heracles accepts as penance the famous labors most of us know about from high school English class. These included defeating the Nemean Lion, the hydra and the Erymanthian boar.

This was the legend I expected from Brett Ratner ’s “ Hercules .” Instead, I and the 12 other people who showed up for last night’s screening were treated to yet another comic book adaptation by studios desperate to hang on to its stereotypical core market of men in states of arrested development. I know nothing about the Radical Comics series upon which this is based, but I sincerely hope it is not the half-assed, warmed over “300” rip-off its cinematic counterpart is. Watching “Hercules,” you can feel your intelligence being insulted in almost every frame.

Shorn of the graphic violence and blatant homoeroticism that made “300” gore-soaked camp, the PG-13 rated “Hercules” is left with poorly rendered CGI battles and a fear of any semblance of darkness. There’s also the potentially interesting idea of how one man’s legend can shape the minds and actions of many, but “Hercules” is afraid of that too. For all its violence, “Hercules” coddles you, protecting you from any kind of complex or sad emotion the material might inspire. It’s so afraid of upsetting you that it can’t even give its most interesting character the noble death it so beautifully sets up for him. Even the character is pissed off about this.

Ratner dispatches with the labors in the pre-credits sequence of the film, turning them into a story told by Hercules’ nephew Iolaus ( Reece Ritchie ). Iolaus is being held hostage by a band of pirates who suspend him over a long, jagged spear of rock aimed at his nether regions. “Hercules” posits that the legends of its titular hero have the power of scaring men into submission, but these pirates temporarily prove the exception. “That’s bulls—t,” one of the pirates exclaims after hearing of the Nemean lion.

Of course, Hercules ( Dwayne Johnson ) makes his entrance wrapped in the lion’s hide. Ratner shoots this as if Johnson were on the runway of a fashion show at Ernest Hemingway ’s house. Clad in fur and covered in smoke, Hercules announces his new role as mercenary for anyone willing to pay his price. He is joined by a crew of people including Amphiaraus the Oracle ( Ian McShane ) and an Amazonian archer ( Ingrid Bolsø Berdal ) who should have “Katniss Everdeen” tattooed across her beautiful forehead.

After dispatching the pirates and saving his nephew from a stalagmite-like enema, Hercules’ next job for hire is at the behest of Lord Cotys ( John Hurt , putting a much hammier spin on his " Snowpiercer " character). Cotys wants to stop the terrible reign of Rhesus ( Tobias Santelmann ), a leader who supposedly possesses otherworldly powers of persuasion and an animal-like appearance that, in a case of missed opportunity, is not that of a monkey. Hercules complains that Cotys’ army is far too untalented to face Rhesus, but a payment worth twice Hercules’ weight in gold changes Hercules’ mind. Cue numerous scenes of The Rock as Hercules as General Patton, speechifying and pacing before leading his hapless motley  crew of an army into war.

Mythological heroes have undergone numerous changes throughout history, so there’s barely a shred of justification in complaining about how far away a story strays from its most well-known incarnation. However, I must grasp that shred to illustrate my point about how depressingly infantile “Hercules” is. Out of nowhere, Ratner and his editors suddenly insert bloody images of children and women being murdered. This flashback is so poorly edited that it’s never clear what’s happening, though it ends with a direct rip-off of Kubrick’s " The Shining ."

Since “Hercules” had strayed so far from the legend, I was surprised the film would include Hera’s horrific revenge on Hercules’ family. These images torture Hercules whenever they appear, threatening to give the character some complexity. To Johnson’s credit, he attempts to play these moments in agonized fashion—he believes he has murdered his family. It’s all for naught: Screenwriters Ryan Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos work out an absurd loophole of absolution, pinning the murders on a three-headed dog instead of Hercules. The three-headed dog also turns out to be a hallucination; it’s actually three separate dogs. Responding to this development, the guy behind me at the theater let out a fierce snore. I envied him.

Like Arnold Schwarzenegger before him, Dwayne Johnson was born to play Hercules. Like Ah-nuld, he’s muscular and not without an onscreen chemistry that’s at times perfectly mythological. And Johnson is a welcome change from the Nordic ideal mythical movies usually employ. It’s too bad that Hercules comes off as a supporting character in his own story. The armies do most of the fighting, and when there’s quiet, Johnson has to share the screen with his team. The movie is stolen by McShane’s oracle, who is the recipient of the aforementioned noble near-death scene, and Tydeus ( Aksel Hennie ), a warrior so scarred by violence that he is more animal than human. Tydeus’ backstory, which “Hercules” only hints at, is far more interesting than anything we’re following in the present.

The CGI is absolute garbage, and Dante Spinotti ’s cinematography is depicted as a muddy mess through the 3D glasses. Yet, there’s one moment that not only proves how little the filmmakers gave a damn but also saves this film from the no-star review it truly deserves. One of the villains is hit by the gigantic head of a statue of Hera that crumbles when Hercules pulls it down. The camera gives us a great look at the impact which, had physics been consulted, would have resulted in a juicy, delicious splatter. Instead, the villain not only remains intact after impact, he also rides the head off a cliff into oblivion. I laughed so hard I woke up the guy behind me. He was not happy.

Odie Henderson

Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire  here .

Now playing

Kaiya Shunyata

Simon Abrams

Under the Bridge

Cristina escobar.

Christy Lemire

The Listener

Matt zoller seitz, film credits.

Hercules (2014)

Rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences, violence, suggestive comments, brief strong language and partial nudity

Dwayne Johnson as Hercules

John Hurt as Cotys

Ian McShane as Amphiarus

Rufus Sewell as Autolycus

Aksel Hennie as Tydeus

Ingrid Bolsø Berdal as Atalanta

Joseph Fiennes as King Eurystheus

• Brett Ratner
• Ryan Condal
• Evan Spiliotopoulos

Latest blog posts

He's Got Something Going On: David Proval on Mean Streets, and Acting for Martin Scorsese

Girl Shy and the Birth of the Romantic Comedy

New 2025 Oscar Rules Specify New Composer Eligibility, Inclusion Requirements, No More Drive-In Eligibility

Luca Guadagnino Is Love

Film Review: ‘Hercules’

The mythical Greek strongman gets a refreshingly human spin in Brett Ratner's grandly scaled, solidly entertaining popcorn pic.

By Scott Foundas

Scott Foundas

• Film Review: ‘Black Mass’ 9 years ago
• Film Review: ‘The Runner’ 9 years ago
• Film Review: ‘Straight Outta Compton’ 9 years ago

On paper, Brett Ratner sounds like such an improbable choice to direct a large-scale ancient Greek epic that, going into his “Hercules,” one could only hope for a less aggressively preposterous affair than Renny Harlin’s bargain-basement “The Legend of Hercules” from earlier this year. The happy surprise is that Ratner’s “Hercules” is more than a mere improvement on its predecessor. It’s a grandly staged, solidly entertaining, old-fashioned adventure movie that does something no other Hercules movie has quite done before: It cuts the mythical son of Zeus down to human size (or as human as you can get while still being played by Dwayne Johnson ). The result is a far classier pic than Paramount’s frenetic trailer — and decision to hide the film from reviewers until the 11th hour — foretold, albeit one that will struggle to find its sea legs at a crowded and underperforming summer box office. Overseas prospects look sunnier.

Ratner’s film owes its counter-canonical premise to the late author Steve Moore, whose five-issue Radical Comics series “Hercules: The Thracian Wars” proffered a Herc who was markedly more man than god, his supposedly divine paternity a useful legend but perhaps no more than that. Screenwriters Ryan J. Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos have sanded down many of Moore’s rougher edges (including his Hercules’ volatile temperament and bisexuality) for this more family-friendly enterprise, but they’ve built on the idea of the warrior hero as a self-conscious mythmaker, inventing practical, real-world explanations for all of his seemingly superhuman feats. If the gods exist, they’re nowhere to be seen here. The multiheaded hydra Hercules reputedly slayed during the second of his storied 12 labors has become a band of marauders disguised with serpentine masks. And what of a supposed army of half-human, half-equine centaurs? Or Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hades? All can be explained as mere tricks of the light, or the mind, while Hercules’ dutiful nephew and self-appointed biographer Iolaus (Reece Ritchie) transfigures the narrative into legend as he spreads it up and down the Greek countryside.

Popular on Variety

The stories prove good for business, Hercules being in the mercenary-for-hire trade, which he practices in concert with a quartet of trusted confidants: Autolycus (Rufus Sewell), a childhood friend who rose with the orphaned Hercules through the ranks of the Athenian army; the fearsome Amazonian warrior Atalanta (Ingrid Bolso Berdal); shell-shocked mute Tydeus (the impressive Norwegian actor Aksel Hennie, from “Headhunters”); and mystical seer Amphiaraus (a superbly hammy Ian McShane), who sees much but is at a loss to unravel the mystery of the violent incident in Hercules’ past that turned him from conquering hero into restless wanderer. The group has a relaxed, Hawksian interplay with touches of humor — Amphiaraus, who claims to have presaged his own death, keeps misjudging the timing of the fated event. They also have one sole objective: a last big score that will allow them to settle into early retirement. (Civilization, Hercules muses, has become too much to bear — which, considering we’re still in the Iron Age, is really saying something.)

Opportunity knocks in the form of Princess Ergenia (Rebecca Ferguson), who implores Hercules and his cohorts to come to the aid of her embattled father, the kindly King Cotys (John Hurt), whose kingdom of Thrace finds itself at war with the powerful sorcerer Rhesus (Tobias Santelmann). So off to Thrace they go, with the objective of turning Cotys’ population of tenant farmers into a skilled fighting army.

In terms of sheer scale and craftsmanship, “Hercules” represents something of a quantum leap for Ratner, who until now has seemed most comfortable at the helm of lightly diverting, ’80s-style buddy comedies (“Money Talks,” “Rush Hour,” “Tower Heist”), and who appeared profoundly out of his element on the profitable but incomprehensible “X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006). But Ratner has clearly learned a lot about large-scale action directing since then. “Hercules” consists primarily of three elaborate battle scenes held together by some quickly dispatched exposition, and the first — and grandest — of them is a genuine stunner. Arriving at the smoldering remnants of a village seemingly destroyed by Rhesus’ army, Hercules’ troops find themselves ambushed by legions of steely-eyed warriors in camouflaged body paint (think several thousand Col. Kurtzes from “Apocalypse Now”), and the violent rumble that ensues is staged by Ratner and ace cinematographer Dante Spinotti in clean, coherent pieces of action that build steadily in intensity.

We’re a long way away here from the disorienting whiplash effect of most modern action movies, as sweeping overhead vistas give way to carefully framed medium shots and closeups that hone in on specific bits of action. Bone and sinew smash against swords and chariot wheels. Arrows rain down from the skies (and, in the unusually good 3D conversion, right into the audience). Shields and armor clang resoundingly on the Dolby Atmos soundtrack. And while the battle proves devastating for those on both sides, viewers may find themselves exhilarated and slightly giddy at the end of it.

If “Hercules” isn’t quite as compelling off the battlefield as on, it certainly never dawdles, clocking in at just under 90 minutes (sans credits) and keeping ever mindful that the audience for a movie like this is there for the big guns (or, in this case, the big swords) and not the small talk. Ratner holds his ambitions in check: He isn’t trying to make his “Gladiator” or “Fall of the Roman Empire” here, and for all the handsome craftsmanship, he never tries to deny the Hercules story’s intrinsic schlock value. At its best, the movie harks back to the unpretentious fantasy adventures of an earlier era, chiefly Columbia Pictures programmers like “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963) and “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” (1958), right up to a fiery pit of doom finally complete with flaming torches, plummeting iron gates and one character enthusiastically bellowing “Unleash the wolves!” (All this before someone gets crushed by a giant stone bust of Hera.)

Ratner was smart to stack the cast with the kind of classically trained British pros who can make a line like “Unleash the wolves!” sound faintly Shakespearean. But “Hercules’” strongest asset is surely Johnson, who continues to foster one of the most affable, guileless screen personas in movies today. Johnson may have been born with screen presence wired into his DNA, but he’s gradually cultivated the skills of a canny actor who knows just how to play to the camera and whose brute physical prowess is cut with a sly self-awareness. More than anything else, it’s he who gives this Hercules his human-sized soul.

Among the uniformly top-drawer craft contributions, longtime James Cameron collaborator John Bruno merits special mention for his wonderfully tactile, detailed visual effects work, as does production designer Jean-Vincent Puzos (“Amour”) for his sprawling storybook sets.

Reviewed at AMC Loews Lincoln Square, New York, July 23, 2014. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 97 MIN.

• Production: A Paramount release presented with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures of a Flynn Picture Co. production in association with Radical Studios. Produced by Beau Flynn, Barry Levine, Brett Ratner. Executive producers, Ross Fanger, Jesse Berger, Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey.
• Crew: Directed by Brett Ratner. Screenplay, Ryan J. Condal, Evan Spiliotopoulos, based on Radical Comics’ “Hercules” by Steve Moore. Camera (color, Arri Alexa HD widescreen), Dante Spinotti; editors, Mark Helfrich, Julia Wong; music, Fernando Velazquez; production designer, Jean-Vincent Puzos; supervising art director, Jason Knox-Johnston; senior art director, Robert Cowper; art directors Tom Still, Bence Erdelyi; set decorator, Tina Jones; costume designer, Jany Temime; sound (Datasat/Dolby Atmos), Mac Ruth; sound designers, Tim Chau, Clayton Weber; supervising sound editor, Tim Chau; re-recording mixers, Tim Chau, Chris Burdon; visual effects supervisor, John Bruno; visual effects producer/supervisor, Dean Wright; visual effects, Double Negative, Cinesite, Method Studios, Prime Focus World, Milk VFX, Utopia VFX, Nvizible, Halo, Perpetual Motion Pictures; special effects supervisor, Neil Corbould; supervising stunt coordinator, Greg Powell; stunt coordinator/fight coordinator, Allan Poppleton; associate producer, Hiram Garcia; assistant directors, Jeff Authors, Chris Carreras; second unit director/camera, Alexander Witt; casting, Amanda Mackey Johnson, Cathy Sandrich (U.S.), Lucinda Syson (U.K.).
• With: Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Joseph Fiennes, Peter Mullan, John Hurt, Aksel Hennie, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Reece Ritchie, Tobias Santelmann, Rebecca Ferguson, Isaac Andrews, Irina Shayk.

More From Our Brands

Marshmello, pinkpantheress to perform at 2024 mls all-star concert, charlie puth relists his rex lotery-designed home for $14 million, ftc noncompete ban looms over sports execs, coaches, nil, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, neuromancer: callum turner to lead apple’s series adaptation of sci-fi classic, verify it's you, please log in.

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

‘hercules’: film review.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays the mythical Greek hero in Brett Ratner's action-packed epic.

By Stephen Farber

Stephen Farber

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Email
• Show additional share options
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Pinit
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Print
• Share this article on Comment

A movie based on a comic book or a graphic novel cries out for brevity, yet this year’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier is 136 minutes, while The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is 142 minutes and the new Transformers runs almost three hours.

COVER STORY  The Drive (and Despair) of The Rock

The Bottom Line Arrows fly, monsters attack and heads roll in this schlocky but entertaining sword-and-sandals epic.

You’ll have to say one thing for Brett Ratner ‘s production of Hercules : This movie has a sense of proportion. Running just over 90 minutes, the movie is often clunky, but at least it’s fast and unpretentious. And its likable star,  Dwayne Johnson , manages to murder legions without ever seeming sadistic. Less violent than 300 , less compelling than Gladiator , this new addition to the sword-and-sandals genre seems likely to please the fanboy audience and stir up some impressive box-office numbers.

Related Stories

Dwayne johnson surprises cinemacon with sneak peek of 'moana 2', conor mcgregor brags that he's the highest-paid first-time action star. dwayne johnson may beg to differ..

The film begins by recounting the legend of Hercules, with snippets of his famous 12 labors. But this is not the Steve Reeves version of the tale. Johnson’s Hercules (as envisioned by comic book author Steve Moore ) is a flawed hero. Bereft over the murders of his wife and children, Hercules has joined up with a band of loyal comrades who will basically sell their services to the highest bidder. In other words, they’re mercenaries. But you can bet it won’t be too long before Hercules rediscovers a noble purpose. That happens when he is enlisted by the lovely daughter of the lord of Thrace to save her kingdom from civil war. Let the mayhem begin.

PHOTOS  Exclusive Portraits of ‘Hercules’ Star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

The story has a few twists up its sleeve, as heroes turn out to be treacherous and villains are more complex than first appearances suggest. There’s just enough plot to keep the movie lurching forward, and there are plenty of battle scenes to delight connoisseurs of carnage. (The movie’s PG-13 rating seems fairly lenient.) One problem with these battle scenes is the frenetic editing, an unfortunate staple of contemporary action pictures. On the positive side, the sets (by production designer  Jean-Vincent Puzos , who also designed one of Ratner’s favorite movies, Amour ) are impressive, and the crowd scenes, even if enhanced by CGI, stir happy memories of films like Spartacus and Ben-Hur .

The classy cast also elevates the picture. Ian McShane gives a droll performance as a soothsayer who’s always surviving predictions of his own death. John Hurt is working in the glorious tradition of Claude Rains in The Adventures of Robin Hood  while  Joseph Fiennes is doing a Basil Rathbone as his venal confederate. As the one woman in the troupe of mercenaries, Ingrid Bolso Berdal wields a mean bow and arrow. Tobias Santelmann (star of the Norwegian Oscar nominee  Kon-Tiki ) has an imposing presence as Hercules’ antagonist-turned-ally.

Some of these actors have won awards, but a trip to the dais is not likely to be in the future for our star. Still, Johnson plays his role with good humor and more conviction than Steve Reeves could ever muster. When he finally breaks free of his chains and bellows, “I am Hercules,” the audience responds with just the right degree of childish glee.

PHOTOS  The Redemption of Brett Ratner: Photos of the ‘Hercules’ Helmer

There are some neat 3-D effects, but as with so many recent 3-D offerings, the format doesn’t seem absolutely essential. The cinematography by Ratner’s frequent collaborator  Dante Spinotti  is vibrant, and the musical score by Fernando Velazquez is rousing. Most important, the pacing is snappy. It may sound like a backhanded compliment to praise this sometimes cheesy movie for never taking itself too seriously, but in a summer of bloated spectacles, this modesty should not be underestimated.

Production: Paramount, MGM, Flynn Pictures Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, John Hurt, Rufus Sewell, Joseph Fiennes, Tobias Santelmann, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Peter Mullan, Rebecca Ferguson Director: Brett Ratner Screenwriters: Ryan J. Condal, Evan Spiliotopoulos; b ased on the graphic novel by Steve Moore Producers: Brett Ratner, Beau Flynn, Barry Levine Executive producers: Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey, Ross Fanger, Jesse Berger Director of photography: Dante Spinotti Production designer: Jean-Vincent Puzos Costume designer: Jany Temime Editors: Mark Helfrich, Julia Wong Music: Fernando Velazquez

Rated PG-13, 98 minutes

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Box office: the lupita nyong’o-voiced ‘wild robot’ makes small change to september release date, jerry bruckheimer recalls bruce willis being “so generous” to crew on ‘armageddon’ set, channing tatum is a tech billionaire with a secret in trailer for zoë kravitz’s directorial debut ‘blink twice’, clue film and tv rights land at sony, how quentin tarantino’s ‘the movie critic’ fell apart, zendaya says she finds conversations around her kissing scenes “very odd”.

Hercules (I) (2014)

• User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

• Parents say (16)
• Kids say (51)

Based on 16 parent reviews

Back in Disney's Glory Days

This title has:

Report this review

Great movie….overly sexualized girls but still good, this movie has meaning you won't regret as long as you watch it at the right age you won't be disappointed at the message (except for the inappropriate stuff and of course it won't please the myth purists will hate it) hercules is reimagined through both the best and not-so-great our culture has to offer., very epic gaming, doesn't hold up, misogyny despite "girl power", nice movie but a few scenes are inappropriate, does not worth your time, cool concept, but why vegas.

• Become a Critical Movie Critic
• Movie Review Archives

Movie Review: Hercules (2014)

• Aaron Leggo
• Movie Reviews
• 6 responses
• --> July 26, 2014

Walking the hero walk.

In the battle of the 2014 Hercules flicks, Brett Ratner’s sly little smash-em-up, Hercules clearly emerges the victor over Renny Harlin’s unintentionally hilarious blunder, “ The Legend of Hercules ” from earlier in the year. This should come as no surprise to anyone who’s so much as glimpsed a shot from the cheapo origin pic or even just taken stock of Harlin’s sinking career lately, but what does come as a surprise is that hack extraordinaire Ratner has made something so delightfully refreshing in the narrative department. His Hercules , based on Steve Moore’s similarly titled comic book with a screenplay credited to Ryan Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos, marks a novel approach to the character, spinning a tale about the truth behind the legend and letting this revisionist angle sink into every corner of the story.

Having fun with the concept right from the start, Ratner’s Hercules gives us a sort of Cliff Notes version of the usual tale, with quick flashes of the snakes being strangled by the hero as a little boy and action shots of the beefy adult edition (a long-haired Dwayne Johnson) dispensing of several of his infamous twelve labors foes, including the impressively CGI’ed Erymanthian Boar and the Nemean Lion. It’s basically the trailer reel for a traditional Hercules movie all packed into a trailer-friendly couple minutes, giving off the sense that the movie is ready to wrap things up before most movies have even finished with the opening credits.

It’s all a ruse, of course, as we soon discover that we’re simply an audience for storyteller and Hercules relative Iolaus (Reece Ritchie), who is in a sticky situation with some nasty pirates and trying to get out the only way he knows how: By spinning an intimidating yarn. The pirates doubt the truth of Iolaus’ tale, but soon find themselves face-to-face with Hercules himself. When Johnson enters the scene, he’s wearing the supposed head of the Nemean Lion as a bit of battle garb, except this lion is a more realistically sized creature compared to the mammoth beast we saw Hercules grapple with a moment ago. The difference boils down to a playful gag, a wink that speaks to a cinematic fascination with hyperbole and also doubles as an amusing image, reminding us that this Hercules may be just a man, but he’s still crazy enough to wear a lion on his scalp.

This sense of pinpointing where the Hercules legend meets reality essentially becomes the movie, which is always more interesting as a commentary on mythological status than it ever is as a straightforward action romp complete with silly villains. The plot itself isn’t particularly novel, involving Hercules being employed by the withering King of Thrace, Lord Cotys (John Hurt) to mold his men into soldiers in hopes of putting an end to a brewing civil war. With the training of an army comes the dreaded training montage and Ratner doesn’t miss a beat here. It’s a low point of Hercules , though thankfully a brief and easily digestible one.

Ordinarily the king of mediocrity, Ratner dragging out such a tired device from his uninspired arsenal is to be expected, but the rest of Hercules finds the director sharper and more tuned in than usual. While the plot allows the movie to dash through an easy buildup/action/repeat pattern, it also cleverly contributes to the commentary on the myth versus the man. Johnson’s Hercules has worked hard alongside his band of merry mercenaries, including a comical seer (Ian McShane) who’s always awaiting his death and an exacting Amazonian archer (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal) whose prowess on the battlefield is nearly unmatched, to support his larger-than-life reputation. It’s clear that the legend of our hero is no accident, so now that he’s surrounded by wide-eyed newbies looking to the pseudo-demi-god for guidance, Hercules has to be especially careful to hide the truth.

Everyone seems to be a skeptic in this group too, constantly questioning the legitimacy of various claims attributed to the legend. Just keeping the facade from crumbling is an uphill battle, but there’s great excitement in watching an experienced Hercules and his partners working the crowd at every turn. This is Hercules as the ultimate con man, a charming beefcake whose showmanship is as toned as his biceps. It’s a fun way to enliven the twist because it puts us in the shoes (or sandals) of both parties, allowing us to be wowed by the great feats and apparent indestructibility of the heroes one moment and then letting us in on a trick or a fib afterwards.

Battle crying.

So the plot rushes along in simplistic fashion, its main focus ensuring that Hercules and his pals always have a foe to face once the obligatory few minutes between action sequences runs out. Ratner keeps the pace quick and upbeat, handling the downtime and the set pieces with a consistent coolness that benefits from the cast chemistry and pretty locales that look lovely on the towering IMAX screen. This is also Ratner’s first movie to get the 3D treatment and while it’s a conversion (for comparative purposes Harlin’s take was shot in native 3D), the stereoscopic effect is fine enough, not always immersive, but not exactly distracting. A fitting result for a Ratner first, perhaps.

Action sequences are well handled here and since Ratner generally fared better than his American counterparts when it came to capturing Jackie Chan’s acrobatic movements in his Hollywood roles, it’s only fair to admit that competent action geography has probably never been Ratner’s problem. Blazingly loud and chaotic battles in his Hercules are generous to the senses and to the characters, giving each hero a chance to shine and really showcasing how they work as a team.

This Hercules has all of the pieces in place to make a rousing B-actioner, with its handsome lead, concise running time, and love of heroic clichés. But the sum is also a bit more than its parts would suggest, a smart little non-fantasy myth flick that provides glimpses of multiple mythological creatures before quickly debunking everything from centaurs to the multi-headed hydra. From start to finish, Ratner and everyone involved remain entirely committed to the commentary on myth-making and the intriguing ways that legend and reality can overlap. Like the hero of his pic, Ratner has spent most of his career as a sort of con artist himself, hocking his hackneyed products for Hollywood treasure. Hercules doesn’t exactly upgrade Ratner’s status, but at least this time, for once, he has something worthwhile to sell.

Tagged: comic book adaptation , god , king , warrior

You and I both know the truth. You just don't admit it.

Movie Review: Favourites (2019) Movie Review: Uncut Gems (2019) Movie Review: Onward (2020) Movie Review: The Invisible Man (2020) Movie Review: Cats (2019) Movie Review: Frozen II (2019) Movie Review: Corporate Animals (2019)

'Movie Review: Hercules (2014)' have 6 comments

July 26, 2014 @ 11:22 pm Shock McQueen

I want my Hercules to be a God among Men, not a shyster who relies on luck to complete his tasks.

Log in to Reply

July 27, 2014 @ 2:06 am ChallengeS

With its awful CGI this is a perfect film to compliment Sharknado on SyFy

July 27, 2014 @ 3:48 am TwoYaks

Well it least it isn’t a respin of Clash of the Titans with Hercules thrown into it. Still won’t see it though.

July 27, 2014 @ 8:31 am Lorenzo

The Rock makes me feel inadequate.

August 2, 2014 @ 6:48 am Reyon

I thought it was an interesting spin on a genre that has been beaten to death.

August 4, 2014 @ 4:00 am Ayush Chandra

I watched it, the characters and detailing is superb, but their is a big lack of a good climax and story ……

Privacy Policy | About Us

 |  Log in

Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

• DVD & Streaming
• Action/Adventure , Drama , Sci-Fi/Fantasy , War

Content Caution

In Theaters

• July 25, 2014
• Dwayne Johnson as Hercules; Ian McShane as Amphiaraus; John Hurt as Lord Cotys; Rufus Sewell as Autolycus; Aksel Hennie as Tydeus; Ingrid Bolsø Berdal as Atalanta; Reece Ritchie as Iolaus; Joseph Fiennes as King Eurystheus; Tobias Santelmann as Rhesus

Home Release Date

• November 4, 2014
• Brett Ratner

Distributor

• Paramount Pictures

Movie Review

Back in the day, you might’ve been able to make a heroic name for yourself with just some muscle, a little charisma and maybe a magic weapon or two. Perseus, Theseus and all those other Greek heroes whose names ended in “eus” did just fine for themselves, after all. Back then, get yourself a flying horse or defeat a Minotaur and, Boom! Bards would fall all over themselves to sing your praises.

But times have changed. Ancient Greece is no longer the wide-open Peloponnesus it once was. No, it’s all hoity-toity and pre-classical now. There are cities and kings and wars and theatrical performances to attend to. The five-and-dime stores are probably full of winged sandals. The average Cretan or Athenian isn’t going to be bowled over by just any ol’ dude supposedly fathered by Zeus. No, these days, you gotta have a brand.

Just ask Hercules.

Oh, the guy’s not all just chrome and polish, mind you. He can bench-press a chariot, curl a good-sized goat. He’s got more muscles than most SEC teams. Need a giant boar killed? Call Hercules. Some dirty stables need cleaning? Yeah, the guy can do that, too. Maybe there are those stubborn rumors that he killed his wife and kids in a drunken rage. But give Herc a break: That’s ancient gossip. Like, literally.

Still, a good work ethic and biceps the size of Mini Coopers only get you so far. If you want to be a legend, the second thing you need is a team.

Hercules has just such a team. Autolycus is his chief financial officer and snide business advisor. Wiley old Amphiaraus, what with his strange herbs and mystical portents, serves as vice president of strategy and trends. Good-looking young nephew Iolaus? Chief public relations officer, of course—in charge of (ahem) embellishing the hero’s many exploits. Former Amazon huntress Atalanta serves nicely as a little extra muscle. And Tydeus, Hercules’ über-loyal and mute companion, is the quietest yes-man around.

For ages, it seems, Hercules and his mercenary cohorts have sailed the Aegean Sea, killing enemies and collecting coin. Now, Autolycus says, they need just one more big payday to retire in style. Sort of like The Italian Job … only with more mythological flare.

And just like that, a pretty princess saunters through the door and tells Hercules she’s in need of a big, strapping hero. Seems her father, Lord Cotys, is knee-deep in war, fighting a guy named Rhesus. If Hercules comes to Cotys’ aid and knocks Rhesus to pieces, well, Hercules will earn his weight in gold. And with all that muscle, our man Herc weighs quite a bit.

It’s a gig too good to pass up. Conquer an army? Save a kingdom? Why, Hercules has performed more daunting labors in his sleep. What could possibly go wrong?

Positive Elements

For the last few millennia, the ancient demigod Hercules has served as a mythological template for the word “hero” in much of the Western world. And while we in the 21st century aren’t as impressed with someone killing preternaturally large lions as our predecessors were, this version of Hercules still manages to be pretty heroic.

It’s more than his strength: After all, jerks can be mighty tough, too. But Hercules is also strangely self-effacing and unambitious. When rabid Athenians chant his name as though he were a god, he reassures the Athenian king, “I only want to be a husband and a father.” He clearly loves his wife and kids in the brief times we see them together. He’s surprisingly fair to his fallen enemies. And even though he claims to be just a mercenary—way more interested in a paycheck than glory—he’s extraordinarily principled in the end, doing his best to right a grievous wrong.

Hercules has been good to his team, too. We learn that he took in Tydeus when he was just a child after finding him at the site of a slaughter. He helped Atalanta find justice (albeit violently) for her murdered family. He practically coddles Iolaus, making sure the kid stays out of danger. And in return, his mates are fiercely loyal to him—putting their own lives on the line for their leader and for one another.

Spiritual Elements

Hercules is reputedly the son of Zeus, the chief god in the ancient Greek pantheon. And while Hercules doesn’t quite believe that origin story himself, there are still scads of references to classical pagan deities throughout this story.

In flashback, we see Hercules juxtaposed with a picture of his famous father, grabbing for the lightning bolt that Zeus always holds. We learn that Hera, Zeus’ wife, hated Hercules from the very beginning. We see several statues of the goddess, including a gigantic one in Cotys’ capital city of Thrace, where she’s the metropolis’s patron diety.

Amphiaraus claims to receive visions from the gods, though not all are accurate. Similarly, Hercules has recurring visions about the three-headed dog Cerberus, who guards the gates of Hades. Soldiers are told that if they fight bravely, they might end up in either the Grecian heaven of Elysium or the shadier underworld of Hades (where we’re told the “fun people” are).

Atalanta appears to pray before battle. Hercules tells a king that his beautiful palace makes him think of Elysium. Soldiers and heroes alike claim to be favored by the gods. Conversations revolve around prophecies. During the closing credits, we hear Jamie N Commons’ song “Jungle,” which includes these lyrics: “Ain’t no god on my streets in the heart of the jungle.”

Sexual Content

In flashback, Hercules’ mother is seen wearing a flimsy, semi-transparent dress through which her breasts are visible: The cloth nearly slips off her shoulder at one point, revealing much of one breast (stopping just shy of full nudity). Hercules’ wife lets her own flyaway garments drop to the floor. And while her body is in shadow, audiences see her backside.

Statues of Hera are bare-breasted. Iolaus nearly has his privates skewered by a sharp stick, prompting Hercules to quip, “The girls would finally be safe from your attentions.” Atalanta snidely compares Autolycus’ tongue with his “manhood.” Autolycus shoots back, saying that both have the power to “pleasure” in different ways. The camera repeatedly focuses on Hercules’ bare-chested physique.

Violent Content

Ancient Greeks were never known for their pacifistic tendencies, and Hercules and his crew are currently laboring in the middle of a huge war. Hoards of people (mostly soldiers, some civilians) are killed in a variety of ways: arrows, spears, swords, clubs, scythes, chariot wheels, horses, flames, chains, falling statues, snake-bone whips and other bizarre contraptions. Casualties number in the hundreds or even thousands. Corpses thickly cover fields of battle (including dead, bloodstained children), and decaying heads are mounted on pikes. (Someone rubs his finger around one corpse’s lips, then licks the blood off his fingers.)

Hercules mows down multiple victims with a single blow of his mighty club, kills a man by punching him in the forehead (with an arrowhead and is not adverse to killing those he feels have wronged him, even when they beg for mercy.

As we’re told about Hercules’ legend, we see him kill a huge boar, a lion and a multi-headed hydra. We later learn some of these stories were embellished a bit and catch a glimpse of the hydra heads in a bloody bag; it turns out they’re human heads wearing lizard-like helmets. Hercules is haunted by Cerberus, and he sees the three-headed dog pull at his dead wife and children. In flashback, we also catch glimpses of that terrible night when Hercules’ wife and kids were killed: Their dead and blood-streaked bodies sprawl on the floor, and Hercules’ hands are covered in blood.

Hercules gets attacked by wolves. They bite deeply into his shoulder and calf, attaching themselves to him like leeches as he tries to fight them off. One is killed when hurled against a cave wall, another dies when Hercules pulls its mouth apart, and a third is bloodily stabbed in the head with a tooth.

Crude or Profane Language

One f-word, three s-words and a smattering of other profanities, including “b–tard” (twice) and “h—” (once).

Drug and Alcohol Content

Someone drinks wine that has apparently been spiked with a drug. People drink in a tavern. One character burns herbs in an attempt to commune with the gods.

Other Negative Elements

People lie, twist facts and embellish the truth.

The story of Hercules, no matter how you slice it, is chock-full of classical pagan elements. Accordingly, almost every take on this legendary Greek hero, from1963’s Jason and the Argonauts (featuring all those marvelous Claymation critters from Ray Harryhausen) to Disney’s G-rated Hercules , overflows with dialogue and backstory about Mount Olympus’ famous gods and goddesses.

As Dwayne Johnson takes the lead, though, there’s some question about whether the gods are really involved in characters’ lives at all.

It’s hard to say, the film suggests.

Hercules can flip horses over his shoulder and mow down five men at a pop with his club—clearly demigod-style exploits. He even has some Sampson-esque moments, pulling himself free of chains and taking down an entire temple thanks to superhuman strength. Still, almost everything these characters actually say suggests that the gods either aren’t around or don’t care to get involved. Tales of Hercules’ labors are mostly myth, we’re told. Prophetic visions fail to materialize. Herc himself shies away from claims of semi-divinity, simply saying he never knew his father. Religion, conversation suggests, is an opiate for the masses—effective propaganda useful to inspire soldiers before an epic battle. Belief itself, we’re told, is what matters. But it doesn’t really matter whether the object of our belief actually exists or not.

“Nobody has any faith anymore,” says a Thracian princess. But if Hercules manages to save Thrace, she tells our hero that she’ll believe in him … whatever that means.

It’s a very contemporary take on religion and faith, I suppose. For some Christians, such cynicism toward these pagan gods and myths might seem like a point in the movie’s favor. For others who’d see these Olympian deities as stand-ins for faith of other kinds (of a certain kind), though, the movie becomes more philosophically problematic.

No matter how you parse these spiritual musings, though, there’s no getting around Hercules’ sexual allusions and flirtations with nudity. Or its wall-to-wall tapestry of blood and violence. Or its profanities.

Plus, let’s be honest: The movie just isn’t very good.

Hercules, the Western world’s first über-buff superhero, has been the subject of many a movie, and likely will be for many more. The guy’s legacy is as wide as his shoulders.

But this particular tale will be—and should be—quickly forgotten.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

Latest Reviews

Spy x Family Code: White

Villains Inc.

Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Weekly reviews straight to your inbox.

Find Family Movies, Movie Ratings and Movie Reviews

Hercules Parent Guide

A hero prepared to go the distance..

Hercules represents the classic recipe of 1990s' Disney animations: A hero, a sexy girl, a seemingly unbeatable wicked enemy, and the world's fate hanging in the balance.

Release date June 27, 1997

Run Time: 92 minutes

Official Movie Site

Get Content Details

The guide to our grades, parent movie review by rod gustafson.

Hercules represents the classic recipe of 1990s’ Disney animations: A hero, a sexy girl, a seemingly unbeatable wicked enemy, and the world’s fate hanging in the balance.

The story begins when baby Hercules (voice of Tate Donovan) is kidnapped by the evil Hades (voice of James Woods), the god of death. A poisonous potion is fed to the little lad, but alas, he misses the last drop, thereby becoming mortal but maintaining his super strength. All Herc can do now is be a big help on the farm of his foster parents. But one day he discovers that his real father is the super god Zeus (voice of Rip Torn), and that he can become a god again if he does something truly heroic. With Philoctetes (voice of Danny DeVito) as a coach, Herc learns how to fight an assortment of evil beasts. But his greatest challenge is Meg (voice of Susan Egan), a bombshell of a babe, who is a secret agent of Hades.

Sex plays a prominent role in this movie, too. Meg tries to seduce Herc and keep him from doing anything heroic, while Hades completes his plan of world domination. She’s a curvy vixen who seems to be the next link in Disney’s evolving depictions of increasingly scantily clad women. See Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Pocahontas (1995) and Jasmine from Aladdin (1992).

Although Zeus tries to teach Herc what a true hero is, all young viewers are likely to learn is that (quoting Herc’s own words):“A hero is only as good as his weapon.” But as a parent, I expect more from Disney. With the studio’s preoccupation with needless violence and sultry females, and with other companies producing animated features (such as Toy Story from Pixar, An American Tail from Universal, and Sinbad from Dreamworks), Hercules’s fall from godhood may be ironic foreshadowing of Disney’s fate as the god of animation.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Hercules parents' guide.

Learn more about the Greek and Roman demi-god Hercules .

The most recent home video release of Hercules movie is August 12, 2014. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes:

Release Date: 12 August 2014

Disney is releasing Hercules to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) with the following extras:

- The Making of ‘Hercules’

- ‘No Importa La Distancia’ Music Video with Ricky Martin

- ‘From Zero to Hero’ Sing-Along

Related home video titles:

Hercules has many incarnations on the big screen. Look for this mythological character in the live-action The Legend of Hercules and Hercules .

"The Making of A Hero"

What You Need To Know:

(B, FR, C, L, V, N, D, M) Ultimately moral worldview set in a world of false religions & gods with prayer to Zeus, statements that this story is “the gospel truth” & christological allegory; one “lets kick some butt” & one “Oh my God”; mild slapstick violence including falling pillars, silly physical training sequences & a few scary, bloodless battle sequences where Hercules fights a Minotaur, a Cyclops, an army of Titans, & cuts the heads off a multi-headed Hydra; buxom heroine acts flirtatious & reference to man being unfaithful to woman; no nudity, but dresses slit up the side; and, cigar smoking.

More Detail:

While POCAHONTAS revised history and promoted New Age ideas and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME promoted redemption and Christian values during a dark time in French history, HERCULES plays with ancient Greek myths involving gods and half-gods and creates a story that is flippant spoof of American merchandising wherein young Hercules realizes that merchandising and beating up hydras do not make a hero.

Like ALADDIN and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the movie starts with a narration introducing the backstory. Here, it is given by a group of singing muses who originate as paintings on Grecian urns and sing like the Supremes with ample exposure of their long legs . They tell about the gods who live on Mt. Olympus including Zeus, regrettably telling the audience that the story is “the gospel truth.” (One little girl at the press screening kept asking, “Mommy, is this a true story?”) In particular, the muses tell of Zeus’s baby boy, the immortal half-man/half-god Hercules, who fascinates all the inhabitants of Mt. Olympus.

At a baby shower for Hercules, the god of the dead, Hades (James Woods), shows up, causing the party guests to be uncomfortable. Flippant and humorous, but completely evil, he figures that if he can kill Hercules, he can rule the universe.

Back in the underworld, where human souls float about in perpetual agony, Hades sends two demons named Pain and Panic to kidnap baby Hercules and give him a potion which will make him mortal. The kidnapping is a success, but the demons do not administer all of the potion to Hercules. Hence, Hercules is still immortal and still has his enormous strength.

Young Hercules is adopted by a mortal couple in Athens who raise him as their own child, but he quickly realizes he is a little different from the other children when he unintentionally knocks down everything in his path. Hercules is told by his earthling parents that he was born from Zeus. Hercules seeks out Zeus, who tells him that he can return to Mt. Olympus if he proves himself truly heroic.

Hercules seeks a physical trainer who can help him become heroic. He finds Phil, a satyr who has trained all the heroes of the past, including Achilles. Soon, Hercules is mightier, swifter and more agile than anyone in the land. He returns to civilization and battles a Centaur who is antagonizing a young maiden, named Meg and then a Hydra, a Cyclops and various other mythological creatures. Hercules informs Zeus that he has become a true hero, but Zeus says that there is more to being a hero than just defeating your foes on the field of battle.

Between battles, Hercules falls in love with Meg, who is really an agent of the god of the underworld ever since Meg sold her soul to Hades in exchange for his promise that he would turn the heart of her boyfriend towards her. Regrettably, the boyfriend ran off with another woman. Hades believes that he can use Meg to capture Hercules, and he does, but Hades fails to take into account that Meg will fall in love with Hercules, too.

Lovesick, Hercules promises Hades that he will give up his strength for a day in exchange for Meg’s freedom. As soon as Hercules relinquishes his strength, Hades releases four Titans, who torment Mt. Olympus and temporarily capture Zeus. Hercules risks his life to save Meg. Hades breaks his deal with Meg when she gets hurt and dies. Hercules travels to the underworld to save Meg, and through his willingness to sacrifice himself, he becomes a real hero.

Greek myths are important educational tools in Western culture. Though completely fictional, these myths help students to understand heroes and archetypes. Many other tales in Western culture are retellings of these Greek myths. A proper Christian understanding of these stories is that they are just stories and that the Bible is the ultimate source for faith and moral instruction. Regrettably, the introductory song makes the mistake of telling the audience that this story is “the gospel truth.”

Having said that, HERCULES can be shown to children and appreciated by families as a primer in Greek mythology − a fictional tale based on ancient stories passed down from ancient Greece. In this regard, it is very important to tell children that there is only one true God and not multiple anthropomorphic gods as shown in HERCULES. HERCULES doesn’t endorse false religion, but it does place its entire worldview on this mythological premise. Likewise, Hercules deals with the devil, rather than rebuking and defeating the devil as Jesus Christ did.

HERCULES does give a scary and nasty picture of what hell may be like. While it is popular today to believe in heaven and angels, few contemporary movies picture hell as a real place containing demons. HERCULES shows the leader of hell, Hades, giving commands to his demons to torment earthlings while gaunt souls float about in darkness separated from all that is good. Also, within the mythological setting, Hercules trusts in prayer to a so-called supreme god, Zeus, to get through difficulties. Finally, there is a christological allegorical element in the story of a god-man whose sacrificial death saves his beloved from the death and the devil. Even those who are not used to incarnational allegory may remember that some of the most prominent Christian apologists, including C.S. Lewis, came to Jesus Christ by studying redemptive myths. Mr. Lewis testified that studying incarnational myths at Oxford led him to look for the true story behind the myths which was the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Biblical values are taught, stating that heroism isn’t measured by your prowess, or victories or the size of your marketing deal, but by selfless behavior. Hercules thinks he is a champ because of the amazing “stats” he is able to rack up. He is a sort of Greek Michael Jordan. Greek citizens adore him and put his name and face on everything imaginable from urns to footwear. (Wisely, Disney is lampooning its own excesses in marketing.) HERCULES also spoofs training movies like ROCKY and KARATE KID.

Some parents may be alarmed by the “come hither” flirting by the heroine, and some women might be upset that Meg is so easily manipulated by the devil. In fact, Meg is the first Disney heroine who is jaded and “used.” While Belle had a point-of-view, Meg has an attitude. Although Meg is not as sexy as Pocahontas, she is cheap, sassy and has been around the block. Also, she does not value life nor men. However, when she falls in love with Hercules, she sacrifices herself for him even though she knows that she will incur the wrath of Hades.

Of most concern to parents will be some of the battle scenes, where Hercules gets thrown about as he faces some very scary looking monsters. He wields his sword on several occasions, but no blood shedding is shown. Furthermore, Hades is a very weird, scary villain.

In recent years, Disney has come under attack for abandoning a Judeo-Christian moral outlook in its movies. HERCULES doesn’t contain a lot of heavy handed morality, or questionable immorality such as political-correctness or revisionist history. It is the lightest Disney movie since ALADDIN, and it has the same flippant attitude of ALADDIN with lots of action and little substance. The songs are sweet but forgettable, though the animation is top-notch.

Fifty years ago, when nobody in their right mind believed that myths were true, HERCULES would have been accepted as light-weight Disney entertainment. Today, with the culture wars raging and Christians sensitized to false religions, HERCULES may not fare so well.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Challengers Link to Challengers
• Abigail Link to Abigail
• Arcadian Link to Arcadian

New TV Tonight

• The Jinx: Season 2
• Knuckles: Season 1
• The Big Door Prize: Season 2
• THEM: The Scare: Season 2
• Velma: Season 2
• Secrets of the Octopus: Season 1
• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story: Season 1
• We're Here: Season 4

Most Popular TV on RT

• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• Ripley: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• Under the Bridge: Season 1
• Sugar: Season 1
• A Gentleman in Moscow: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Under the Bridge Link to Under the Bridge
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

DC Animated Movies In Order: How to Watch 54 Original and Universe Films

The Best TV Seasons Certified Fresh at 100%

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Watch An Exclusive Pixar Studio Tour, Plus Inside Out 2 Secrets From The Set

Weekend Box Office Results: Civil War Earns Second Victory in a Row

• Trending on RT
• Rebel Moon: Part Two - The Scargiver
• The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
• Play Movie Trivia

The Legend of Hercules

Where to watch.

Watch The Legend of Hercules with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Cheap-looking, poorly acted, and dull, The Legend of Hercules is neither fun enough to qualify as an action movie nor absorbing enough to work on a dramatic level.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Renny Harlin

Kellan Lutz

Scott Adkins

King Amphitryon

Liam McIntyre

Liam Garrigan

Johnathon Schaech

Best Movies to Stream at Home

Movie news & guides, this movie is featured in the following articles., critics reviews.