The infamous Howard the Duck is set to get an in-depth documentary this Fall (2025)

One of the biggest flops of the 1980s is getting a feature-length documentary. Back in 1986, Howard the Duck was such a box office disaster that it might have cost Universal production head Frank Price his job, and it single-handedly dispelled the notion that George Lucas was infallible as far as his projects went. On a massive budget of over $30 million (the same amount Return of the Jedi cost), the movie only grossed $38 million worldwide, and swept the year’s Razzies. Yet, it has an essential place in the pop culture as the first theatrical adaptation of a Marvel Comics character ever to hit the big screen, and it remains a nostalgic favourite of many folks who grew up in the era (including the writer of this article).

Now, Anchor Bay Entertainment has acquired Howard the Doc or: How I Learned to Start Quacking and Love the Bomb, a feature-length deep dive into the making (and unmaking) of the box office bomb turned cult classic. Directed by Ernesto Trinidad, this doc aims to re-examine a movie that’s all too often dismissed as a flop. With home video and cable airings included, it likely turned a solid profit for the studio and has remained one of Universal’s more popular catalogue titles (we also did a much-viewed WTF episode on it’s making). Here’s part of the press release:

“Featuring exclusive new interviews with key cast members, the film reunites audiences with Lea Thompson, the beloved star of the Back to the Future trilogy and one of the most iconic leading women of the 1980s, and Jeffrey Jones, the celebrated character actor known for unforgettable roles in pop culture staples like Beetlejuice and Sleepy Hollow. Also featured is Ed Gale, whose physical performance as Howard made the character’s performance on-screen possible. The documentary further includes insights from legendary visual effects supervisor Phil Tippett, whose groundbreaking work includes Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. These firsthand accounts offer fresh insight into the movie’s radical creative vision, on-set experiences, and enduring legacy. Together, they help paint a revealing portrait of a film that, despite early skepticism, carved out a lasting place in the canon of comic book cinema.”

sponsored content

The Howard the Duck documentary is set to hit theaters this fall. I can’t wait to see this, and I hope they focus on some of the things that really work in the film, such as John Barry’s score, and the terrific songs by Thomas Dolby, which Thompson sings in the movie. The inclusion of Jones among the interviewees might prove to be controversial for some (here’s why), but it would be hard to do a legit doc about the movie without him. I wonder if George Lucas is going to weigh in on one of his biggest flops (but not the only one, with Radioland Murders, which has the same writers as Howard the Duck, another fiasco).

Check out the poster:

The infamous Howard the Duck is set to get an in-depth documentary this Fall (1)

Are you excited to see this Howard the Duck deep dive? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Tags: George Lucas, Howard the Duck, Lea Thompson, Marvel

Latest Movie News

Movie News

The Highlander remake moved from Lionsgate to Amazon MGM because the studio is banking on nostalgia IP

Posted 3 minutes ago

Amazon MGM collected the rights to properties like Highlander, Masters of the Universe and Voltron to attract a Gen-X-geared audience

JoBlo Originals

Mission: Impossible 2 – The Movie That Turned Tom Cruise Into An Action Hero?

Posted 11 minutes ago

While Cruise had dipped his toe into the genre with Top Gun and the first Mission: Impossible, this John Woo flick reinvented his image.

Movie News

Final Destination: Bloodlines scares up $4.6 million in early Thursday box office totals

Posted 1 hour ago

Final Destination: Bloodlines finally hits the screen after years of development and Warner Bros. may see another hit this week.

Horror Movie News

Sinners sets July 4K Blu-ray release; will feature expanding aspect ratio of IMAX showings

Posted 1 hour ago

Ryan Coogler's Sinners will be coming to 4K Blu-ray on July 22nd, with a shifting aspect ratio seen in the IMAX release.

Movie News

Good Night, and Good Luck: George Clooney’s Broadway play will be broadcast live on CNN this summer

Posted 15 hours ago

George Clooney's acclaimed Broadway play Good Night, and Good Luck, will be broadcast live on CNN this summer.

JoBlo Originals

The JoBlo Movie Show: Our Live Stream unpacks the latest Superman trailer, and more!

Posted 15 hours ago

Tonight! Join Kier Gomes of JoBlo Originals on YouTube for our latest JoBlo Movie Show Live Stream at 8:00 PM EST / 5:00 PM PST.

Horror Movie News

Maika Monroe will replace Margaret Qualley in Victorian Psycho

Posted 17 hours ago

Margaret Qualley left Victorian Psycho earlier this year, but it has been announced that Maika Monroe will replace her.

Movie News

Gears of War: David Leitch in talks to direct adaptation of the blockbuster video game franchise

Posted 18 hours ago

The Fall Guy's David Leitch is in negotiations to direct the Gears of War movie for Netflix, which he will also produce.

Movie News

John Rambo: A Rambo origin movie set before First Blood is locked and loaded for Cannes

Posted 19 hours ago

A First Blood prequel, John Rambo, is heading to the Cannes Film Festival courtesy of Millennium Media and director Jalmari Helander.

Horror Movie News

Over Your Dead Body: Jason Segel, Samara Weaving, TimothyOlyphant, and Juliette Lewis star in thriller remake

Posted 19 hours ago

Jason Segel, Samara Weaving, Timothy Olyphant, and Juliette Lewis star in Jorma Taccone's remake of Tommy Wirkola's The Trip

Load more articles

The infamous Howard the Duck is set to get an in-depth documentary this Fall (2025)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Van Hayes

Last Updated:

Views: 5919

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Van Hayes

Birthday: 1994-06-07

Address: 2004 Kling Rapid, New Destiny, MT 64658-2367

Phone: +512425013758

Job: National Farming Director

Hobby: Reading, Polo, Genealogy, amateur radio, Scouting, Stand-up comedy, Cryptography

Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.