Howard the Duck (1986): George Lucas's $37 Million Mistake and Cinema's Most Uncomfortable Romance
By Johnny Rewind | Nostalgia Navigator
Howard the Duck is a 1986 George Lucas production that cost $37 million, introduced a duck from another dimension to 1980s Cleveland, and destroyed the careers of nearly everyone involved. It is also genuinely strange in ways that distinguish it from ordinary blockbuster failures. Howard is sarcastic, cynical, and deeply unhappy about being on Earth. Lea Thompson falls in love with him. The film treats this with complete seriousness. The villain is a Dark Overlord of the Universe who possesses Jeffrey Jones. The climax involves a laser cannon. Howard flies a ultralight aircraft while wearing a leather jacket.
The Uncomfortable Truth
Howard the Duck contains what can only be described as a romantic scene between a human woman and a duck. The film does not frame this as comedy. Lea Thompson's character is genuinely attracted to Howard. Howard is uncomfortable but not entirely opposed. The duck suit cost $2 million and required multiple operators. The people inside it were miserable. The film bombed catastrophically but has since developed a devoted cult following among people who appreciate its complete refusal to be normal.
Be kind. Rewind. No interspecies romance.
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