Conan the Barbarian

As a child Conan survives a brutal raid that kills his family and leaves him enslaved and broken. Years later he wins his freedom and trains in the warrior arts, growing into a powerful fighter driven by revenge. He roams a harsh, mythic landscape, teaming up with a thief and a swordsman along the way. When their path crosses King Osric, the trio is hired to recover the king's daughter, who has aligned with the cult of Thulsa Doom. The story follows Conan's hunt for the man who destroyed his past, set against battles, treacherous allies, and savage rites, without giving away how their conflicts resolve.

Released in 1982 and directed by John Milius, the film draws on Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery creation, with Edward Summer and Oliver Stone among the credited contributors to the screenplay and adaptation.

The movie performed well commercially, turning a strong theatrical run into a profitable result and helping establish Arnold Schwarzenegger as a leading action star of the 1980s.

Over time the film has become one of the defining fantasy pictures of its era, shaping how barbarians and swordplay are presented on screen. Its look, costumes, and muscular lead helped popular culture adopt a tougher, more mythic version of heroic fantasy, and it continues to be referenced and parodied in film and television.

Critics were mixed on aspects like pacing and dialogue, while many praised the visuals, production design, and Schwarzenegger's imposing screen presence. Viewers have kept returning to it: on aggregate sites it holds a steady fan rating, about 6.8 out of 10 from over two thousand votes. Main themes include revenge, the making of a warrior, and clashes between primitive strength and organized power, all staged in a world that favors raw action over subtlety.