View source for Conan the Barbarian (1982 film)


{{redirect|The Legend of Conan|the comics|Conan the Barbarian (comics)|the mythos|Conan the Barbarian}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox film
| name           = Conan the Barbarian
| image          = Conan_movie_psoter.jpg
| alt            = A man, wearing nothing but a loincloth and a horned helm, strides forth, holding a sword aloft in his left hand. A blond woman kneels in front of him, holding a curved blade with both hands.
| caption        = International theatrical release poster by [[Renato Casaro]]
| director       = [[John Milius]]
| producer       = {{plainlist|
* [[Buzz Feitshans]]
* [[Raffaella De Laurentiis]]
}}
| writer         = {{plainlist|
* John Milius
* [[Oliver Stone]]
}}
| based_on       = {{based on|[[Conan the Barbarian]]|[[Robert E. Howard]]}}
| starring       = {{plainlist|
* [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]
* [[James Earl Jones]]
* [[Sandahl Bergman]]
* [[Ben Davidson]]
* [[Cassandra Gaviola]]
* [[Gerry Lopez]]
* [[Mako (actor)|Mako]]
* [[Valérie Quennessen|Valerie Quennessen]]
* [[William Smith (actor)|William Smith]]
* [[Max von Sydow]]
}}
| narrator       = <!--Only used in documentaries-->
| music          = [[Basil Poledouris]]
| cinematography = [[Duke Callaghan]]
| editing        = [[C. Timothy O'Meara]]
| production_companies = [[Dino De Laurentiis|Dino De Laurentiis Corporation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/56748-CONAN-THEBARBARIAN|title=Conan the Barbarian|publisher=American Film Institute|access-date=March 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322000606/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/56748-CONAN-THEBARBARIAN|archive-date=March 22, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
| distributor    = {{plainlist|
* [[Universal Pictures]]<br>(United States and Canada)
* [[20th Century-Fox]]<br> (International)
}}
| released       = {{Film date|1982|03|16|Madrid|1982|05|14|United States}}
| runtime        = 129 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $20 million<ref name="numbers">{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Conan-the-Barbarian#tab=summary |title=Conan the Barbarian (1982) |publisher=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=November 19, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017180146/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Conan-the-Barbarian#tab=summary |archive-date=October 17, 2019 }}</ref>
| gross          = $68.9–79.1 million<ref name="BOM">{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4165633537/weekend/ |title=Conan the Barbarian (1982) |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=November 19, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026134932/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4165633537/weekend/ |archive-date=October 26, 2019 }}</ref><ref name="numbers"/>
}}

'''''Conan the Barbarian''''' is a 1982 American [[sword and sorcery|sword-and-sorcery film]] directed by [[John Milius]] from a screenplay he co-wrote with [[Oliver Stone]]. Based on [[Robert E. Howard]]'s [[Conan the Barbarian|Conan]], the [[epic film]] stars [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] and [[James Earl Jones]], and tells the story of a slave-turned warrior named Conan (Schwarzenegger) who seeks to avenge his parents' deaths at the hands of [[Thulsa Doom]] (Jones), the leader of a snake cult.

Ideas for a Conan film were proposed as early as 1970; executive producer [[Edward R. Pressman]] and associate producer [[Edward Summer]] began a concerted effort to get the film made in 1975. It took them two years to obtain the film rights, after which they recruited Schwarzenegger for the lead role and Stone to draft a script. Pressman lacked capital for the endeavor. In 1979, after having his proposals for investments rejected by the major studios, he sold the project to [[Dino De Laurentiis]]; his daughter [[Raffaella De Laurentiis|Raffaella]] produced the film. Milius was appointed as director and he rewrote Stone's script. The final screenplay integrated elements from various Howard stories, as well as the Japanese films ''[[Seven Samurai]]'' (1954) and ''[[Kwaidan (film)|Kwaidan]]'' (1965). Filming took place in Spain over five months in the regions around [[Madrid]] and the [[province of Almería]]. The sets, designed by [[Ron Cobb]], were based on [[Dark Ages (historiography)|Dark Age]] cultures and [[Frank Frazetta]]'s paintings of Conan. Milius eschewed optical effects, preferring to realize his ideas with mechanical constructs and optical illusions. Schwarzenegger performed most of his own stunts, and two types of sword, costing $10,000 each, were forged for his character. The editing process took over a year, and several violent scenes were cut out.

''Conan the Barbarian'' was distributed by [[Universal Pictures]] in the United States and Canada and [[20th Century-Fox]] in other territories. It premiered on March 16, 1982, in Spain and May 14, 1982, in North America. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, mainly positive for its action sequences, production design, directing, visual style, and effects, but negatively received for its violent content and screenwriting, as well as some substandard performances. Despite this, the film became a commercial success for its backers, grossing between $69 million and $79 million at box offices around the world against its budget of $20 million.

The film earned Schwarzenegger worldwide recognition. ''Conan the Barbarian'' has been frequently released on [[home video]], the sales of which had increased the film's gross to more than $300&nbsp;million by 2007. In the years following its release, it became a [[cult film]], and its success spawned a sequel, titled ''[[Conan the Destroyer]]'' (1984). It ultimately led to the production of a 2011 [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]] [[Conan the Barbarian (2011 film)|of the same name]].

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films are 400 to 700 words only. No worries, this is a plot heavy movie. -->
A blacksmith forges a sword and shows it to his young son, Conan, as he tells him of the "Riddle of Steel", an [[aphorism]] on the importance of steel to their people, the [[Cimmeria (Conan)|Cimmerians]]. A band of raiders led by cult leader [[Thulsa Doom (character)|Thulsa Doom]] massacres the Cimmerian village, killing Conan's parents. The children are taken as slaves to work a large mill, the Wheel of Pain. Conan survives into adulthood, becoming a powerfully muscled [[gladiator]] and eventually gaining his freedom. He is chased by wild dogs and seeks refuge in an Atlantean warrior's tomb, from which he takes an ancient sword. Conan wanders the world, bedding a prophetic witch and befriending Subotai, a Hyrkanian thief and archer.

Following the witch's advice, Conan and Subotai go to the city of [[Zamora (Conan the Barbarian)|Zamora]] to seek out Doom. There they meet [[Valeria (Conan the Barbarian)|Valeria]], a female brigand. The three raid the Tower of Serpents, slaying a giant snake and looting the jewels and other valuables it guarded. After escaping with their loot, the thieves celebrate, and Conan makes love with Valeria. The city guards capture the trio and bring them to King Osric, who offers them a reward if they will rescue his daughter, Princess Yasmina, who has become a cultist of Doom. Subotai and Valeria demur, but Conan, who already desires vengeance against Doom, sets off for the villain's Temple of Set.

Disguised as a priest, Conan infiltrates the temple, but is discovered, captured, and tortured. Doom lectures him on the power of flesh over steel, which he demonstrates by commanding a young woman cultist to leap to her death. He then has Conan [[crucifixion|crucified]] on the Tree of Woe. Subotai and Valeria rescue the near-dead Conan and bring him to Akiro, the Wizard of the Mounds (and also the film's narrator), who lives on a burial site of warriors and kings. The wizard summons spirits to heal Conan and warns that they will "extract a heavy toll", which Valeria is willing to pay. The spirits try to abduct Conan, but he is restored to health after Valeria and Subotai fend them off.

Subotai and Valeria agree to help Conan complete King Osric's quest and infiltrate the Temple of Set. As the cult indulges in a cannibalistic orgy, the thieves attack and flee with the princess, but Doom escapes Conan by transforming into a large serpent and shoots Valeria with a magical snake arrow. Valeria dies in Conan's arms, acknowledging the toll that the wizard warned would be exacted in exchange for Conan's life. Conan cremates her at the Mounds and prepares with Subotai and the wizard to battle Doom. Conan asks [[Crom (fictional deity)|Crom]], the Cimmerian God, to grant him revenge. By using booby traps and exploiting their terrain, they manage to slay Doom's warriors. Just when Doom's lieutenant Rexor is about to overcome Conan, Valeria reappears for a brief moment as a [[valkyrie]] to save him. Doom shoots another snake arrow at the princess to deny the heroes a successful rescue, but Subotai blocks the shot with his shield and Doom retreats to his temple. Conan kills Rexor and recovers his father's sword, now broken by his Atlantean sword.

With the aid of the princess, now freed from Doom's sway, Conan sneaks back to the temple and confronts Doom in front of his cultists. Doom attempts to entrance him, but the barbarian resists and uses his father's broken sword to behead his nemesis. With Doom's spells broken, the disillusioned cultists disperse. Conan burns down the temple, throws the broken sword away, and leaves to return the princess to her father.

==Characters==
<!-- This section is not a full expose on the characters in the film. -->
<!-- It is a summary of published relevant real world information on the characters. -->
<!-- In-universe items, if included, are only to support the above critical commentary. -->
<!-- Unrelated in-universe items are trivial and undue for mention. -->
<!-- Relevant rules: [[WP:WAF]], [[WP:MOSFILM]], [[WP:NOT]] -->

The character [[Conan the Barbarian|Conan]] and the world of the [[Hyborian Age]] were based on the [[Conan the Barbarian|creations]] of pulp-fiction writer [[Robert E. Howard]] from the 1930s. Published in ''[[Weird Tales]]'', his series about the barbarian was popular with the readership; the barbarian's adventures in a savage and mystical world, replete with gore and brutal slayings, satisfied the reader's fantasies of being a "powerful giant who lives by no rules but his own".{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=28}} From the 1960s, Conan gained a wider audience as novels about him, written in imitation of Howard's style by [[L. Sprague de Camp]] and [[Lin Carter]], were published. [[Frank Frazetta]]'s cover art for these novels cemented Conan's image as a "virile, axe-wielding, fur-bearing, cranium-smashing barbarian".{{Sfn|Helman|2003|p=276}} [[John Milius]], the film's director, intended the film's Conan to be "a Northern European mythic hero".{{Sfn|Williams|2010|p=116}} [[Danny Peary]] described Conan as "muscular, majestic, brainy, yet with ambivalent scruples".{{Sfn|Peary|1986}} [[Maltese Falcon Society|Don Herron]], a scholar on Howard and his stories, disagreed, noting that the personality of Conan in the film differs greatly from that of the literature. The Conan in the books detests restrictions to his freedom and would have resisted slavery in a violent fashion, whereas the film version accepts his fate and has to be freed.{{Sfn|Herron|2000|p=177}} Robert Garcia's review of the film in his ''American Fantasy'' magazine states, "This Conan is less powerful, less talkative, and less educated than Howard's".{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=14}}

The female lead, [[Valeria (Conan the Barbarian)|Valeria]], has her roots in two strong female characters from Howard's Conan stories.{{Sfn|Herron|2000|pp=125, 173}} Her namesake was Conan's companion in "[[Red Nails]]", while her personality and fate were based on those of [[Bêlit (Robert E. Howard)|Bêlit]], the pirate queen in "[[Queen of the Black Coast]]".{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=37}} According to Kristina Passman, an assistant professor of classical languages and literature, the film's Valeria is a perfect archetype of the "good" [[Amazons|Amazon]] character, a fierce but domesticated female warrior, in cinema.{{Sfn|Passman|1991|pp=90, 93}}{{Sfn|Schubart|2007|p=36}} [[Rikke Schubart]], a film scholar, said Valeria is a "good" Amazon because she is tamed by love and not because of any altruistic tendencies.{{Sfn|Schubart|2007|p=232}} Valeria's prowess in battle matches that of Conan, and she is also depicted as his equal in capability and status. The loyalty and love she displays for Conan makes her more than a companion to him;{{Sfn|Passman|1991|pp=91–93}} she represents his "possibilities of human happiness".{{Sfn|Passman|1991|p=104}} Her sacrifice for Conan and her brief return from death act out the heroic code, illustrating that self-sacrificing heroism brings "undying fame".{{Sfn|Passman|1991|pp=91–93}} Valeria's name is not spoken in the film, though it is established in the opening scenes of the sequel, whose plot is centered upon Conan's quest to see her resurrected.

Milius based Conan's other companion, Subotai, on [[Genghis Khan]]'s main general, [[Subutai]], rather than on any of Howard's characters.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=33}} According to film critic [[Roger Ebert]], Subotai fulfills the role of a "classic literary type—the Best Pal."{{Sfn|Ebert|1982}} He helps the barbarian to kill a giant snake and cuts him down from crucifixion; the thief also cries for his companion during Valeria's cremation, with the explanation that "(h)e is Conan, a Cimmerian. He won't cry, so I cry for him."{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|pp=17–19}}

Conan's enemy, [[Thulsa Doom]], is an amalgamation of two of Howard's creations. He takes his name from the villain in Howard's [[Kull (short story collection)|Kull of Atlantis]] series of stories, but is closer in character to [[Thoth-Amon]], a Stygian sorcerer in "[[The Phoenix on the Sword]]".{{Sfn|Williams|2010|p=116}} The Doom in the film reminded critics of [[Jim Jones]], a cult leader whose hold on his followers was such that hundreds of them obeyed his orders to commit suicide.{{Sfn|Ebert|1982}}{{Sfn|Kroll|1982}} Milius said his research on the ancient orders of the [[Order of Assassins|Hashishim]] and the [[Thuggee]] was the inspiration for Doom's snake cult.{{Sfn|Gallagher|Milius|1989|pp=177–178}} In the original Howard stories, the worship of [[Set (deity)|Set]], though all too fearsome, is no sect; rather, it is the centuries-old formalized state religion of Stygia (which is virtually a [[theocracy]]).

==Production==
<!-- This section is not for personal theories and observations about the production. -->
<!-- It is a summary of published relevant real world information. -->
<!-- Simple associations are trivial and undue for mention. -->
<!-- Relevant rules: [[WP:OR]], [[WP:MOSFILM]], [[WP:NOT]] -->

=== Background ===
From the 1970s, licensing problems had stood in the way of producing film versions of the Conan stories. [[Lancer Books]], which had acquired the rights in 1966,{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=31}}{{Sfn|Ashley|2007|p=138}} went into receivership, and legal disputes existed over their disposition of the publishing rights, which ultimately led to them being frozen under injunction.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=31}}{{Sfn|Turan|1980|pp=60–61}} [[Edward Summer]] suggested Conan as a potential project to executive producer [[Edward R. Pressman]] in 1975, and after being shown the comics and Frazetta's artwork, Pressman was convinced.{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|pp=98–100}} Two years were needed to secure the film rights.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=31}} The two main parties involved in the lawsuit, [[Glenn Lord]] and de Camp, formed [[Conan Properties International|Conan Properties Incorporated]] to handle all licensing of Conan-related material, and Pressman was awarded the film rights shortly afterwards.{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|pp=100–101}} He spent more than US$100,000 in legal fees to help resolve the lawsuit, and the rights cost him another $7,500.{{Sfn|Carney|1987|p=72}} The success of ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' in 1977 increased Hollywood's interest in producing films that portray "heroic adventures in supernatural lands of fables".{{Sfn|Hunter|2007|p=156}} The film industry's attention was drawn to the popularity of Conan among young male Americans, who were buying reprints of the stories with Frank Frazetta's art and [[Conan the Barbarian (comics)|adaptations by Marvel Comics]].{{Sfn|Turan|1980|p=62}}

=== Development ===
John Milius first expressed interest in directing a film about Conan in 1978 after completing the filming of ''[[Big Wednesday]]'', according to [[Buzz Feitshans]], a producer who frequently worked with Milius.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=25}} Milius had long been an admirer of films like 1958's ''[[The Vikings (film)|The Vikings]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|title=MILIUS: MIGHT MAKES A RITE: JOHN MILIUS|author=Pollock, Dale|date=May 14, 1982|work=Los Angeles Times|page=h1}}</ref> He and Feitshans approached Pressman, but differences over several issues stopped discussions from going further.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=25}}

[[File:Oliver Stone 01.jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=A man, wearing a coat and scarf, furrows his brow.|Oliver Stone (1987 photograph) was brought on to the project as a "name screenwriter".]]
[[Oliver Stone]] joined the Conan project after [[Paramount Pictures]] offered to fund the film's initial $2.5 million budget if a "name screenwriter" was on the team.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=32}} After securing Stone's services, Pressman approached Frank Frazetta to be a "visual consultant", but they failed to come to terms.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=30}} The producer then engaged [[Ron Cobb]], who had just completed a set design job on ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' (1979).{{Sfn|Sammon|Cobb|1982|p=65}} Cobb made a series of paintings and drawings for Pressman before leaving to join Milius on another project.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=26}}

The estimates to realize Stone's finished script ran to $40 million. Pressman, Summer, and Stone could not convince a studio to finance their project.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=32}} Pressman's production company was in financial difficulties and in order to keep it afloat he borrowed money from the bank.{{Sfn|Carney|1987|p=74}} The failure to find a suitable director was also a problem for the project. Stone and [[Joe Alves]], who was the [[second unit]] director on ''[[Jaws 2]]'', were considered as possible co-directors, but Pressman said it "was a pretty crazy idea and [they] didn't get anywhere with it".{{Sfn|Riordan|1994|p=99}} Stone also said that he asked [[Ridley Scott]], who had finished directing ''Alien'', to take up the task, but was rejected.{{Sfn|McGilligan|Stone|2001|p=18}} [[Ralph Bakshi]] was also in talks to direct.<ref>{{cite web |last=Biggin |first=Matthew |date=January 18, 2025 |title="Never Heard From Him Again!": The Director Schwarzenegger Wanted For The Movie That Made His Career Told Him To Ditch His Signature Look |url=https://screenrant.com/conan-the-barbarian-movie-arnold-schwarzenegger-ralph-bakshi-factoid/ |website= |location= |publisher=Screen Rant |access-date=2025-06-10}}</ref>

Cobb showed Milius his work for ''Conan'' and Stone's script, which according to him, reignited Milius's interest; the director contacted Pressman,{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=26}} and they came to an agreement: Milius would direct the film if he were allowed to modify the script.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=20}} Milius was known in the film industry for his macho screenplays for ''[[Dirty Harry]]'' (1971) and ''[[Magnum Force]]'' (1973).{{Sfn|Beaver|1994|p=50}}{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=21}} He was, however, contracted to direct his next film for [[Dino De Laurentiis]],{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=25}} an influential producer in the fantasy film industry.{{Sfn|Nicholls|1984|pp=86–88}} Milius raised the idea of taking on ''Conan'' with De Laurentiis,{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=25}} and after a year of negotiations, Pressman and De Laurentiis agreed to co-produce.{{Sfn|Carney|1987|p=72}} De Laurentiis took over the financing and production, and Pressman gave up all claims to the film's profits, though he retained approval over changes to the script, cast, and director.{{Sfn|Carney|1987|p=72}} Dino De Laurentiis assigned the responsibility for production to his daughter, [[Raffaella De Laurentiis|Raffaella]], and Feitshans.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=31}} Milius was formally appointed as director in early 1979, and Cobb was named as the production designer.{{Sfn|Bruzenak|1981|p=53}} De Laurentiis convinced [[Universal Pictures]] to become the film's distributor for North America.{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|p=103}} The studio also contributed to the production budget of $17.5&nbsp;million and prepared $12&nbsp;million to advertise the film.{{Sfn|Flynn|1996|p=45}}

===Casting===

{| class="wikitable floatright"
|-
! Actor
! Role <!-- or "Character" -->
|-
|{{sortname|Arnold|Schwarzenegger}}
|{{sortname||Conan the Barbarian}}
|-
|{{sortname|Jorge|Sanz}}
|{{sortname||Young Conan|nolink=1}}
|-
|{{sortname|Gerry|Lopez}}
|{{sortname||Subotai|nolink=1}}
|-
|{{sortname|Sandahl|Bergman}}
|{{sortname||Valeria|nolink=1}}
|-
|{{sortname|James|Earl Jones}}
|{{sortname|Thulsa|Doom}}
|-
|{{sortname|Max|von Sydow}}
|{{sortname|King|Osric|nolink=1}}
|-
|{{sortname|Mako|Iwamatsu}}
|{{sortname||Wizard of the Mounds|nolink=1}}
|-
|{{sortname|William|Smith|William Smith (actor)}}
|{{sortname||Conan's Father|nolink=1}}
|-
|{{sortname|Sven-Ole|Thorsen}}
|{{sortname||Thorgrim|nolink=1}}
|-
|{{sortname|Ben|Davidson}}
|{{sortname||Rexor|nolink=1}}
|-
|{{sortname|Cassandra|Gava}}
|{{sortname||Witch|nolink=1}}
|-
|{{sortname|Valérie|Quennessen}}
|{{sortname||Osric's Daughter|nolink=1}}
|-
|{{sortname||Nadiuska}}
|{{sortname||Conan's Mother|nolink=1}}
|}

<!--
     This section is not for personal theories and observations on the actors.
     It is a summary of published relevant real world information.
     Simple associations are trivial and undue for mention.
     Relevant rules: [[WP:OR]], [[WP:MOSFILM]], [[WP:NOT]]
 -->

[[File:Schwarzenegger 1984.jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=A smiling light-skinned man in a suit|Ed Pressman and his associates considered Arnold Schwarzenegger (1984 photograph) the embodiment of Conan the Barbarian.]]

While they were working to secure the film rights, Pressman and Summer were also contemplating the lead role. Summer said they considered [[Charles Bronson]], [[Sylvester Stallone]] and [[William Smith (actor)|William Smith]]—all of whom had played tough figures{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|p=100}} but, in 1976, the two producers watched a rough cut of the bodybuilding film, ''[[Pumping Iron]]'', and agreed that [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] was perfect for the role of Conan due to his huge, muscular frame.{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|p=101}} According to Schwarzenegger, Pressman's "low-key" approach and "great inner strength" convinced him to join the project.{{Sfn|Turan|1980|p=63}} Paul Sammon, writer for ''[[Cinefantastique]]'', said that the former champion bodybuilder was practically the "living incarnation of one of Frazetta's paperback illustrations".{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=30}} Schwarzenegger was paid $250,000 and placed on [[Retainer agreement|retainer]];{{Sfn|Andrews|1995|p=101}} the terms of the contract restricted him from starring in other sword-and-sorcery films.{{Sfn|Gallagher|Milius|1989|p=26}} Schwarzenegger said ''Conan'' was his biggest opportunity to establish himself in the entertainment industry.{{Sfn|Turan|1980|pp=63, 66}}

Thanks to Pressman's firm belief in him, Schwarzenegger retained the role of Conan even after the project was effectively sold to De Laurentiis.{{Sfn|Carney|1987|p=72}} Milius wanted a more athletic look on his lead actor, so Schwarzenegger undertook an 18-month training regimen before shooting began. Besides running and lifting weights, his routines included rope climbing, horseback riding, and swimming. He slimmed down from {{convert|240|to|210|lb}}.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|pp=23–24}} Aside from Conan, two other substantial roles were also played by novice actors. Subotai was [[Gerry Lopez]], a champion surfer, whose only major acting experience was playing himself in Milius's ''Big Wednesday''.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=37}} Schwarzenegger stayed at Lopez's home for over a month before the start of filming so they could rehearse their roles and build a rapport.{{Sfn|Western Empire|1980}} [[Sandahl Bergman]], a dancer who had had bit parts in several theater productions and films, played Valeria. She was recommended to Milius by [[Bob Fosse]], who had directed her in ''[[All That Jazz (film)|All That Jazz]]'' (1979), and was accepted after reading for the part.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=24}}{{Sfn|Steranko|Bergman|1982|p=41}}

Milius said the actors were chosen because their appearances and personae fit their roles.{{Sfn|Sammon|Milius|1982|p=26}} He wanted actors who would not have any preconceived notions to project into their roles.{{Sfn|Gallagher|Milius|1989|p=178}} Although Milius had reservations when he witnessed the first few takes of the novices at work, he put faith in them improving their skills on the job and altered the script to fit their abilities.{{Sfn|Steranko|Milius|1982}} Schwarzenegger had studied for weeks in 1980 under [[Robert Easton (actor)|Robert Easton]], a voice coach for several Hollywood stars, to improve his speech.{{Sfn|Andrews|1995|p=107}} His first line in the film was a paraphrasing of [[Mongol]] emperor [[Genghis Khan]]'s speech about the good things in life, and the actor delivered it with a heavy Austrian accent; critics later described what they heard as "to crush your enemies—see dem [them] driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of dair vimen [their women]".{{Sfn|Andrews|1995|p=107}}{{Sfn|Denby|1982|p=68}}{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=26}}{{refn|The original English quote, as translated by Sir [[Henry Hoyle Howorth]] in 1876 from Abraham Constantin Mouradgea d'Ohsson's French version of Genghis Khan's speech: "The greatest pleasure is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to ride their horses, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters."{{Sfn|Irwin|2007|p=19}}{{Sfn|Howorth|1876|p=110}}|group=nb}} Subsequently, Schwarzenegger underwent intensive speech training with Milius. Each of his later longer speeches was rehearsed at least 40 times.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=26}} Lopez's lines were also an issue; although Milius was satisfied with Lopez's work, the surfer's lines were redubbed by the stage actor [[Sab Shimono]] for the final cut. A source close to the production said this was done because Lopez failed to "[maintain] a certain quality to his voice."{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=62}}

{{multiple image
 | align     = right
 | direction = horizontal
 | total_width=300
 | footer    = James Earl Jones (left, 1991 photograph) and Max von Sydow (right, 1989 photograph) were brought on to the film for their experience.
 | footer_align = left
 | image1    = James Earl Jones 1991.jpg
 | alt1      = A smiling black-skinned man in a suit
 | image2    = Max von Sydow 1989.jpg
 | alt2      = A long-faced man in a suit; he wears spectacles and his short-cropped hair is greying at the edges.
}}

[[Sean Connery]] and [[John Huston]] were considered for the other roles.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=37}}{{Sfn|Turan|1980|p=66}} [[James Earl Jones]] and [[Max von Sydow]] were, according to Milius, hired with the hope that they would inspire Schwarzenegger, Bergman, and Lopez.{{Sfn|Gallagher|Milius|1989|p=178}} Jones was an award-winning veteran of numerous theater and cinema productions.{{Sfn|Bebenek|2004}} Von Sydow was a Swedish actor of international renown.{{Sfn|Marklund|2010|p=309}} The role of Thulsa Doom was offered to Jones while he was considering applying for the role of [[Grendel]] in an [[Grendel Grendel Grendel|upcoming feature]] based on [[John Gardner (American writer)|John Gardner]]'s [[Grendel (novel)|eponymous novel]]; after learning it was an animation, Jones read ''Conan''{{'}}s script and accepted the part of Doom.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=20}} When filming started, Jones was also starring in a [[Broadway theatre|Broadway play]]—[[Athol Fugard]]'s ''A Lesson to Aloes''. He and the film crew coordinated their schedules to allow him to join the play's remaining performances.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=19}} Jones took an interest in Schwarzenegger's acting, often giving him pointers on how to deliver his lines.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=26}}

The Japanese-American actor Mako Iwamatsu, known professionally as "[[Mako (actor)|Mako]]", was brought onto the project by Milius for his experience;{{Sfn|Gallagher|Milius|1989|p=178}} he had played roles in many plays and films and had been nominated for an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] and a [[Tony Awards|Tony]].{{Sfn|Kurohashi|1999|pp=27, 118}} In ''Conan'', Mako played the Wizard of the Mounds and voiced the film's opening speech.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=14}} William Smith, although passed over for the lead role, was hired to play the barbarian's father.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=37}} Doom's two lieutenants, Thorgrim and Rexor, respectively, were played by [[Sven-Ole Thorsen]], a Danish bodybuilder and [[karate]] master, and [[Ben Davidson]], a former American-football player with the [[Oakland Raiders]].{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=24}} [[Cassandra Gava]] played the witch. Milius hired more than 1,500 extras in Spain.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=50}} Professional actors from the European film industry were also hired: [[Valérie Quennessen]] was chosen to play Osric's daughter, [[Jorge Sanz]] acted as the nine-year-old version of Conan, and [[Nadiuska]] played his mother.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=42}}

===Script writing===
<!-- This section is not for personal theories and observations on the script/story. -->
<!-- It is a summary of published relevant real world information. -->
<!-- Simple associations are trivial and undue for mention. -->
<!-- Relevant rules: [[WP:OR]], [[WP:MOSFILM]], [[WP:NOT]] -->

The drafting of a story for a ''Conan'' film started in 1976; Summer conceived a script with the help of comic book writer [[Roy Thomas]],{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=32}} who had been adapting the character's adventures for [[Marvel Comics]] since 1970.{{Sfn|Turan|1980|p=62}}{{refn|The first 15 pages of the 1978, issue, Vol. 1, #92 ''[[Conan the Barbarian (comics)]]''; also written by Roy Thomas;  exactly parallels some of the early scenes of the later, 1982 Film. (i.e. Escaping from wolves into a tomb, and procuring there an ancient Atlantean Sword, on a mummified Warrior/King corpse)|group=nb}} Summer and Thomas's tale, in which Conan would be employed by a "dodgy priest to kill an evil wizard", was largely based on Howard's "[[Rogues in the House]]". Their script was abandoned when Oliver Stone joined the project.{{Sfn|Williams|2010|p=115}} Stone was, at this time, going through a period of addiction to [[cocaine]] and [[depressant]]s. His screenplay was written under the influence of the drugs;{{Sfn|Riordan|1994|p=126}} the result was what Milius called a "total drug [[fever dream]]", albeit an inspired one.{{Sfn|Riordan|1994|p=102}} According to Schwarzenegger, Stone completed a draft by early 1978.{{Sfn|Steranko|Schwarzenegger|1982|p=26}} Taking inspiration from Howard's "[[Black Colossus]]" and "[[A Witch Shall be Born]]", Stone proposed a story, four hours long,{{Sfn|Williams|2010|pp=115–116}} in which the hero champions the defense of a princess's kingdom. Instead of taking place in the distant past, Stone's story was set in a post-apocalyptic future where Conan leads an army in a massive battle against a horde of 10,000&nbsp;[[Mutant (fictional)|mutants]].{{Sfn|Beaver|1994|p=50}}

[[File:耳なし芳一（神戸市・須磨寺）武者365a.JPG|thumb|left|alt=A man in black armor kneels beside a man clad only in a loincloth.  The second man has black symbols painted on his body and bandages over his ears.|The idea of painting symbols onto Conan's body to help ward off spirits is taken from the Japanese story "[[Hoichi the Earless]]", as depicted in the film ''[[Kwaidan (film)|Kwaidan]]'' (1965).]]

When Milius was appointed as director, he took over the task of writing the screenplay.{{Sfn|Beaver|1994|p=51}} Although listed as a co-writer, Stone said Milius did not incorporate any of his suggestions into the final story.{{Sfn|McGilligan|Stone|2001|p=19}} Milius discarded the latter half of Stone's story.{{Sfn|Riordan|1994|p=101}} He retained several scenes from the first half, such as Conan's crucifixion ordeal, which was taken straight out of "[[A Witch Shall be Born]]", and the climbing of the Tower of Serpents, which was derived from "[[The Tower of the Elephant]]".{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=22}} One of Milius's original changes was to extend Stone's brief exposition of Conan's youth—the raid on the Cimmerian village—into his teens with the barbarian's enslavement at the Wheel of Pain and training as a gladiator.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=21}} Milius also added ideas gleaned from other films. The Japanese supernatural tale of "[[Hoichi the Earless]]", as portrayed in [[Masaki Kobayashi]]'s ''[[Kwaidan (film)|Kwaidan]]'' (1965), inspired the painting of symbols on Conan's body and the swarm of ghosts during the barbarian's resurrection,{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=55}} and [[Akira Kurosawa]]'s ''[[Seven Samurai]]'' (1954) influenced Milius's vision of Conan's final battle against Doom's men.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=28}} Milius also included scenes from post-Howard stories about Conan; the barbarian's discovery of a tomb during his initial wanderings and acquisition of a sword within were based on de Camp and Carter's "[[The Thing in the Crypt]]".{{Sfn|Williams|2010|p=116}} According to Derek Elley, [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']]'s resident film critic, Milius's script, with its original ideas and references to the pulp stories, was faithful to Howard's ideals of Conan.{{Sfn|Elley|1984|p=151}}

Milius felt, "all the basic emotions [in the script] are always accessible to audiences. All of the things that Conan does we all feel ourselves. He just acts on them with more intensity than we do. He is a character who relies on the animal. And I always believe that the animal instincts are often the worst part of them. All you do when you evolve is corrupt yourself sooner or later."<ref name="anthea">{{cite news|title=Anthea Sylbert doesn't just drop director John Milius' name ... |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=August 30, 1981|page= 1}}</ref>

===Filming===
<!-- This section is not for personal theories and observations on the filming. -->
<!-- It is a summary of published relevant real world information. -->
<!-- Simple associations are trivial and undue for mention. -->
<!-- Relevant rules: [[WP:OR]], [[WP:MOSFILM]], [[WP:NOT]] -->
{{Quote box
 |title = Original introduction in the film
 |quote = Know, O Prince; that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of&nbsp;... Hither came I, Conan, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, to tread jeweled thrones of the earth beneath my feet. But now my eyes are dim. Sit on the ground with me, for you are but the leavings of my age. Let me tell you of the days of high adventure.
 |source = King Conan{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=29}}
 |align = right
 |width = 300px
 |border = 1px
 |fontsize = 75%
 |salign = right
}}
Filming started at England's [[Shepperton Studios]] in October 1980, with Schwarzenegger, made up to look like Conan as a king in his old age, reading an excerpt from "The Nemedian Chronicles", which Howard had penned to introduce his Conan stories. This footage was initially intended to be a trailer, but Milius decided to use it as the opening sequence of the film, instead.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=40}} According to Cobb, Laurentiis and Universal Pictures were concerned about Schwarzenegger's accent, so Milius compromised by moving the sequence to the end.{{Sfn|Saunders|2009|p=58}}{{Sfn|Mitchell|Ferguson|Cobb|1982|p=20}} Schwarzenegger trained with voice coach Robert Easton and with Milius in order to eliminate his accent, but their efforts proved to be unsuccessful, so the planned narration which was intended to begin with this scene was not included in the final film.<ref name=Cinema&SorceryBook>{{cite book|last=Arnold T. Blumberg, Scott A. Woodard|authorlink=Max Brooks|title=Cinema & Sorcery: The Comprehensive Guide to Fantasy Film|date=May 16, 2017|publisher=Green Ronin Publishing|isbn=9780399181771|ref=none}}</ref>

The initial location for [[principal photography]] was former Yugoslavia, but because of concerns over the country's stability after the death of its head of state, [[Josip Broz Tito]], and the fact that the Yugoslavian film industry proved ill-equipped for large-scale film production, the producers elected to move the project to Spain, which was cheaper and where resources were more easily available. It took several months to relocate;{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=38}} the crew and equipment arrived in September,{{sfn|Sammon|1981|p=32}} and filming started on January 7, 1981.{{Sfn|Bruzenak|1981|p=53}} The producers allocated $11&nbsp;million for production in Spain,{{Sfn|Galindo|1981}} of which about $3&nbsp;million were spent on building 49&nbsp;sets.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=56}} The construction workforce numbered from 50 to 200; artists from England, Italy, and Spain were also recruited.{{Sfn|Sammon|Cobb|1982|p=67}}

A large warehouse {{convert|20|mi}} outside [[Madrid]] served as the production's headquarters,{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=38}} and it also housed most of the interior sets for the Tower of Serpents and Doom's temple;{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=22}} a smaller warehouse was leased for other interior sets.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=42}} The remaining interiors for the Tower of Serpents were constructed in an abandoned hangar at [[Torrejón Air Base]].{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=50}} A full-scale, {{convert|40|ft|adj=on}} version of the tower was built in the hangar; this model was used to film Conan and his companions' climb up the structure.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=50}}

[[File:Ciudad Encantada - Martillo.jpg|thumb|left|alt=One of Ciudad Encantada's rock formations: The top of this wall of stone is rounded and wider than its base; sparse forestation surrounds the formation.|The rock formations of [[Ciudad Encantada]] ([[Cuenca, Spain]]) provided the setting for a supernatural encounter in ''Conan''.]]

The crew filmed several exterior scenes in the countryside near Madrid;{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=42}} the Cimmerian village was built in a forest near the Valsaín ski resort, south of [[Segovia]]. About one&nbsp;million [[Spanish peseta|pesetas]] ($12,084){{refn|The US dollar figure is derived from the exchange rate (82.7500) between the currency and the peseta on January 31, 1981.{{Sfn|Federal Reserve|1989}}|group=nb}} worth of marble shavings were scattered on the ground to simulate snow.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=34}} The Wheel of Pain scene took place in the [[province of Ávila]].{{#tag:ref|In the surroundings of La Cerca, near the villages of [[Solosancho]], Robledillo and [[La Hija de Dios]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diariodeavila.es/noticia/ZDF86C8DC-97C2-E42F-54A651C068574B18/20140720/conan/abulense|work=Diario de Ávila|date=July 20, 2014|title=Conan, el abulense|language=es|access-date=April 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419134653/http://www.diariodeavila.es/noticia/ZDF86C8DC-97C2-E42F-54A651C068574B18/20140720/conan/abulense|archive-date=April 19, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>|group=nb}} Conan's encounter with the witch and Subotai was shot among the [[Ciudad Encantada]] rock formations in the [[province of Cuenca (Spain)|province of Cuenca]].{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=47}} Most outdoor scenes were shot in the [[province of Almería]],{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=42}} which offered a [[semiarid climate]], diverse terrain (deserts, beaches, mountains), and [[Ancient Roman architecture|Roman]] and [[Moorish architecture|Moorish structures]] that could be adapted for many settings.{{Sfn|Capella-Miternique|2002|pp=272, 273, 277–280}}

Conan's crucifixion was filmed in March 1981 among the sand dunes on the southeastern coast of Almería. The Tree of Woe was layers of plaster and Styrofoam applied onto a skeleton of wood and steel. It was mounted on a turntable, allowing it to be rotated to ensure the angle of the shadows remained consistent throughout three days of filming. Schwarzenegger sat on a bicycle seat mounted in the tree while fake nails were affixed to his wrists and feet.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=51}} The scene in which Valeria and Subotai fought off ghosts to save Conan and the final battle with Doom's forces were filmed in the salt marshes of Almerimar. "Stonehenge-like ruins" were erected and sand piled into mounds that reached {{cvt|9|m}}.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=71}} The changes to the landscape attracted protests from environmentalists and the producers promised to restore the site after filming was completed.{{Sfn|Moya|1999|pp=212, 218}}

[[File:City walls, Almeria, Spain.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A line of square towers, connected by walls and topped with battlements (protective protrusions), spans the bottom to the top of a mountain slope.|The walls of the [[Alcazaba of Almería]], Spain, provided the locale for an open-air market in the movie.]]
The Temple of Set was built in the mountains, about {{cvt|12|km}} west of the city of Almería.<!--Several photographers identify the mountain as Peñón de Bernal, but we need a published reliable source to specify it as such.--> The structure was {{convert|50|m|sp=us}} long and {{convert|22|m|sp=us}} high. It was the most expensive of the sets, costing $350,000, and built out of various woods, lacquers, and tons of concrete. Its stairway had 120&nbsp;steps.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|pp=53–54}} Milius and his crew also filmed at historical sites and on sets from previous films. Scenes of a bazaar were filmed at the Moorish [[Alcazaba of Almería]], which was dressed to give it a fictional Hyborian look.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=47}}{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=69}} Shadizar was realized at a pre-existing film set in the Almerían desert: the fort used for the filming of ''[[El Condor (1970 film)|El Condor]]'' (1970) refurbished as an ancient city.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=47}}

It was expensive to build large sets,{{Sfn|Sammon|Cobb|1982|pp=70–71}} and Milius did not want to rely on [[Compositing|optical effects]] and [[matte paintings]] (painted landscapes). The crew instead adopted [[miniature effect]] techniques (playing on perspective) to achieve the illusion of size and grandeur for several scenes. Scale models of structures were constructed by [[Emilio Ruiz del Río|Emilio Ruiz]] and positioned in front of the cameras so that they appeared as full-sized structures on film; using this technique, the Shadizar set was extended to appear more than double its size.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|pp=47–48}} Ruiz built eight major miniature models,{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=31}} including a {{convert|4|ft|m|-high|adj=mid}} palace and a representation of the entire city of Shadizar that spanned {{convert|120|ft2}}.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=50}}

[[File:Josef Hoffman - Die Walküre.jpg|thumb|left|An academic commented that the Tree of Woe resembled a prop from an 1876 staging of Richard Wagner's ''[[Die Walküre]]''.|alt=Josef Hoffman's stage design for a hall in ''Die Walküre'' involves a tree, at least three times the height of a man.  Its very thick roots and branches spread wide across the floor and top, respectively.]]
Cobb's direction for the sets was to "undo history", "to invent [their] own fantasy history", and yet maintain a "realistic, historical look".{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|p=104}} Eschewing the [[Greco-Roman world|Greco-Roman]] imagery used heavily in the [[sword-and-sandal]] films of the 1960s,{{Sfn|Bruzenak|1981|p=53}} he realized a world that was an amalgamation of [[Dark Ages (historiography)|Dark Age]] cultures, such as the [[Mongol Empire|Mongols]] and the [[Vikings]].{{Sfn|Elley|1984|p=151}} Several scenarios paid homage to Frazetta's paintings of Conan, such as the "half-naked slave girl chained to a pillar, with a snarling leopard at her feet", at the snake cult's orgy.{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|p=108}} David Huckvale, a lecturer at the [[Open University]] and broadcaster for [[BBC Radio]], said the designs of the Tree of Woe and the costumes appeared very similar to those used in [[Richard Wagner]]'s ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen|Ring of the Nibelung]]'' operas at the [[Bayreuth Festspielhaus]] in 1876.{{Sfn|Huckvale|1994|p=133}} Principal photography was completed in the middle of May 1981.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=37}} The film crews burned down the Cimmerian village and the Temple of Set after completing filming on each set.{{Sfn|Gallagher|Milius|1989|p=178}}{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=54}}

====Stunts and swords====
Several action scenes in ''Conan'' were filmed with a "mini[[Jib (camera)|jib]]" (a remote-controlled electronic camera mounted on a motorized lightweight crane) that [[Nick Allder]], the special effects supervisor, had devised when he worked on ''[[Dragonslayer (1981 film)|Dragonslayer]]'' (1981).{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=59}} The stunts were co-ordinated by [[Terry Leonard]], who had worked on many films, including Milius's previous projects and [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' (1981).{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=26}}{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|pp=37–38}} Leonard said that Schwarzenegger, Bergman, and Lopez performed most of their own stunts, including the fights.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=56}}

The three actors were given martial arts training ahead of filming. From August 1980,{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=38}} they were tutored by Kiyoshi Yamazaki, a karate black belt and master swordsman,{{Sfn|Franck|1985|p=20}} who drilled them in sword-fighting styles that were meant to make them look proficient in using their weapons.{{Sfn|Franck|1985|pp=20, 22, 24, 90}} They practiced each move in a fight at least 15&nbsp;times before filming.{{Sfn|Franck|1985|p=24}} Yamazaki advised Leonard on the choreography of the sword fights and had a cameo role as one of Conan's instructors.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=38}}

Tim Huchthausen, the prop maker, worked with swordsmith [[Jody Samson]] to create the sturdy weapons Milius thought necessary.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=35}} Particular attention was paid to two swords wielded by Conan: his father's sword ("Master's sword") and the blade he finds in a tomb ("Atlantean sword"). Both weapons were realized from Cobb's drawings. Their blades were hand ground from [[carbon steel]] and [[heat treating|heat treated]] and left unsharpened.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|pp=35, 39}} The hilts and pommels were sculpted and [[lost-wax casting|cast through the lost-wax process]]; inscriptions were added to the blades by [[electrical discharge machining]].{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=39}} Samson and Huchthausen made four Master's and four Atlantean swords, at a cost of $10,000 per weapon.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=35}}{{Sfn|Waterman|Samson|2002}} Copies of the Atlantean sword were struck and given to members of the production.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=35}}

Samson and Huchthausen agreed the weapons were heavy and unbalanced, thus unsuitable for actual combat.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=35}}{{Sfn|Waterman|Samson|2002}} Lighter versions made of aluminum, fiberglass, and steel were struck in Madrid; these {{cvt|3|lb}} copies were used in the fight scenes.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=35}}{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|p=105}} According to Schwarzenegger, the heavy swords were used in close-up shots.{{Sfn|Steranko|Schwarzenegger|1982|p=31}} The other weapons used in the film were not as elaborate; Valeria's [[talwar]] was ground out from an aluminum sheet.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|pp=35–36}}

The copious amounts of blood spilled in the fight scenes came from bags of fake blood strapped to the performers' bodies. Animal blood gathered from slaughterhouses was poured onto the floor to simulate puddles of human blood.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|pp=56, 60}} Most of the times trick swords made from fiberglass were used when the scene called for a killing blow.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=23}} Designed by Allder, these swords could also retract their blades, and several sprayed blood from their tips.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=56}} Although the swords were intended to be safer alternatives to metal weapons, they could still be dangerous: in one of the fights, Bergman sparred with an extra who failed to follow the choreography and sliced open her finger.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=23}}

Accidents also happened in stunts that did not involve weapons. A stuntman smashed his face into a camera while riding a horse at full gallop,{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=60}} and Schwarzenegger was attacked by one of the trained dogs.{{Sfn|Steranko|Schwarzenegger|1982|p=32}} The use of live animals also raised concerns about cruelty; the [[American Humane Association]] placed the film on its "unacceptable list".<ref>{{cite web|title=Conan The Barbarian|url=http://www.humanehollywood.org/index.php/movie-archive/item/conan-the-barbarian|website=Humane Hollywood|access-date=November 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122114732/http://www.humanehollywood.org/index.php/movie-archive/item/conan-the-barbarian|archive-date=November 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The transgressions listed by the association included the kicking of a dog, the striking of a camel, and the tripping of horses.{{Sfn|Robb|1994|p=6}}

====Mechanical effects====
[[File:Сип белоголовый.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A bird with brown feathers looks to its right. It has a mass of brown color plumage at the base of its neck.|A dummy with parts from a dead vulture was provided for the shot in which Schwarzenegger bites through the bird's neck (pictured is a real vulture).]]
Carlo De Marchis, the special make-up effects supervisor, and Colin Arthur, former Studio Head of [[Madame Tussaud's]], were responsible for the human dummies and fake body parts used in the film.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=47}}{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|pp=24, 31}} The dummies inflated crowd numbers and stood in as dead bodies,{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=56}} while the body parts were used in scenes showing the aftermath of fights and the cult's cannibalistic feast.{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=24}} In Thulsa Doom's beheading scene, Schwarzenegger hacked at a dummy and pulled a concealed chain to detach its head.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=62}} The decapitation of Conan's mother was more complex: a [[Poly(methyl methacrylate)|Plexiglas]] shield between Jones and Nadiuska stopped his sword as he swung at her and an artificial head then dropped into the camera's view. A more elaborate head was used for the close-up shots; this prop spurted blood and the movements of its eyes, mouth, and tongue were controlled by cables hidden beneath the snow.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|pp=42, 45}}

Allder created a $20,000 {{convert|36|ft|adj=on}} mechanical snake for the fight scene in the Tower of Serpents. The snake's body had a diameter of {{cvt|2.5|ft}}, and its head was {{cvt|2.5|ft}} long and {{cvt|2|ft}} wide. Its skeleton was made from [[duralumin]] (an alloy used in aircraft frames) and its skin was vulcanized foam rubber. Controlled by steel cables and hydraulics, the snake could exert a force between 3.5 and 9.0&nbsp;tons. Another two snakes of the same dimensions were made, one for stationary shots and one for decapitation by Schwarzenegger.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=46}} The immense size of the mechanical snake meant that it did not fully fit onto the set, so only the front of it could be shown in the film.<ref name=Cinema&SorceryBook /> To create the scene at the Tree of Woe, the crew tethered live vultures to the branches, and created a mechanical bird for Schwarzenegger to bite. The dummy bird's feathers and wings were from a dead vulture, and its control mechanisms were routed inside the false tree.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|pp=51, 55}}

According to Sammon, "one of the greatest special effects in the film [was] Thulsa Doom's onscreen transformation into a giant snake".{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=56}} It involved footage of fake body parts, live and dummy snakes, miniatures, and other camera tricks combined into a flowing sequence with [[lap dissolve]]. After Jones was filmed in position, he was replaced by a hollow framework with a rubber mask that was pushed from behind by a snake head-shaped puppet to give the illusion of Doom's facial bones changing. The head was then replaced with a {{convert|6|ft|adj=on}} mechanical snake; as it moved outwards, a crew member pressed a foot pedal to collapse the framework. For the final part of the sequence, a real snake was filmed on a miniature set.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|pp=57, 59}}

====Optical effects====
[[File:Opticalprinter.jpg|thumb|alt=Two camera, several reels, gauges and various block housings are mounted on a metal frame to form a machine.|VCE's special effects were composited with the live-action reels through a two-headed optical printer to create the final print.]]
Few optical effects were used in ''Conan the Barbarian''. Milius professed ambivalence to fantasy elements, preferring a story that showcases accomplishments realized through one's own efforts without reliance on the supernatural. He also said that he followed the advice of Cobb and other production members on the matters of special effects.{{Sfn|Sammon|Milius|1982|p=26}}{{Sfn|Sammon|1981|p=36}} Peter Kuran's Visual Concepts Engineering (VCE) effects company was engaged in October 1981 to handle postproduction optical effects for ''Conan''. VCE had previously worked on films such as ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' and ''Dragonslayer''. Among their tasks for ''Conan'' were adding glint and sparkle to the Eye of the Serpent and Valeria's Valkyrie armor.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|pp=55, 63}} Not all of VCE's work made it to the final print; the flames of Valeria's funeral pyre were originally enhanced by the company, but were later restored to the original version.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=60}}

For the scene in which Valeria and Subotai had to fend off ghosts to save Conan's life, the "boiling clouds" were created by [[George Lucas]]'s [[Industrial Light and Magic]], while VCE was given the task of creating the ghosts. Their first attempt filming strips of film emulsion suspended in a vat of a viscous solution—elicited complaints from the producers, who thought the resulting spirits looked too much like those in a scene from ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'', so VCE turned to animation to complete the task. First, they drew muscular warriors in ghostly forms onto [[cel]]s and printed the images onto film with an Oxberry [[animation stand]] and [[contact print]]er. The Oxberry was fitted with a used lens that introduced [[lens flare]]s to the prints; VCE's intention with using the old lens was to make the resultant images of the ghosts seem as if they were of real-life objects filmed with a camera. The final composite was produced by passing the reels of film for the effects and the live-action sequences through a two-headed [[optical printer]] and capturing the results with a camera.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|pp=55, 63}}

==Music==

<!-- This section is not for personal theories and observations on the music. -->
<!-- It is a summary of published relevant real world information. -->
<!-- Simple associations are trivial and undue for mention. -->
<!-- Relevant rules: [[WP:OR]], [[WP:MOSFILM]], [[WP:NOT]] -->
{{Listen
| filename    = Anvil of Crom (sample) by Basil Poledouris.ogg
| title       = Anvil of Crom
| description = Blaring French horns and pounding drums distinguish ''Conan the Barbarian''{{'}}s main theme.
| pos         = right
}}
Milius recruited his friend, [[Basil Poledouris]], to produce the score for ''Conan''; they had had a successful collaboration on ''Big Wednesday''.{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|pp=291–292}}{{Sfn|Thomas|1997|pp=324–325}} The film industry's usual practice was to contract a composer to start work after the main scenes had been filmed, but Milius hired Poledouris before principal photography had started. The composer was given the opportunity to compose the film's music based on the initial storyboards and to modify it throughout filming before recording the score near the end of production.{{Sfn|Thomas|1997|p=328}} Poledouris made extensive use of Musync, a music and tempo editing hardware and software system invented by Robert Randles (subsequently nominated for an [[Academy Scientific and Technical Award]]), to modify the tempo of his compositions and synchronize them with the action in the film. The system helped make his job easier and faster; it could automatically adjust tempos when the user changed the positioning of beats. In the montage where Conan grows up, for example, Poledouris had Randles prepare, over the phone, a long accelerando that landed on precise moments in the picture along the way. Poledouris would otherwise have had to conduct the orchestra and adjust his compositions on the fly.{{Sfn|ASC|1982}} ''Conan'' is the first film to list Musync in its credits.{{Sfn|ASC|1982|p=783}}

Milius and Poledouris exchanged ideas throughout production, working out themes and "emotional tones" for each scene.{{Sfn|Cook|1983|p=120}} According to Poledouris, Milius envisioned ''Conan'' as an opera with little or no dialogue;{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|p=292}} Poledouris composed enough musical pieces for most of the film (around two hours' worth).{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|p=294}} This was his first large-scale orchestral score,{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|p=294}} and a characteristic of his work here was that he frequently slowed down the tempo of the last two [[Bar (music)|bars]] (segments of beats) before switching to the next piece of music.{{Sfn|ASC|1982|p=785}} Poledouris said the score uses a lot of fifths as its most primitive [[interval (music)|interval]]; thirds and sixths are introduced as the story progresses.{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|pp=171–172}} The composer visited the film sets several times during filming to see the imagery his music would accompany. After principal photography was completed, Milius sent him two copies of the edited film: one without music, and the other with its scenes set to works by Richard Wagner, [[Igor Stravinsky]], and [[Sergei Prokofiev]], to illustrate the emotional overtones he wanted.{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|pp=292–293}}

Poledouris said he started working on the score by developing the melodic line—a pattern of musical ideas supported by rhythms. The first draft was a poem sung to the strumming of a guitar, composed as if Poledouris was a bard for the barbarian.{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|p=171}} This draft became the "Riddle of Steel",{{Sfn|Larson|2006}} a composition played with "massive brass, strings, and percussion",{{Sfn|Thomas|1997|p=326}} which also serves as Conan's personal theme.{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|p=292}} The music is first played when Conan's father explains the riddle to him. Laurence E. MacDonald, Professor of Music at [[Mott Community College]], said the theme stirs up the appropriate emotions when it is repeated during Conan's vow to avenge his parents.{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|p=292}} The film's main musical theme, the "Anvil of Crom",{{Sfn|Thomas|1997|p=326}} which opens the film with "the brassy sound of 24 French horns in a dramatic intonation of the melody, while pounding drums add an incessantly driven rhythmic propulsion" is played again in several later scenes.{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|p=292}}

Poledouris completed the music that accompanies the attack on Conan's village at the beginning of the film in October 1981.{{Sfn|ASC|1982|p=786}} Milius initially wanted a chorus based on [[Carl Orff]]'s ''[[Carmina Burana (Orff)|Carmina Burana]]'' to herald the appearance of Doom and his warriors in this sequence. After learning that ''[[Excalibur (film)|Excalibur]]'' (1981) had used Orff's work, he changed his mind and asked his composer for an original creation. Poledouris's theme for Doom, titled "Riders of Doom", consists of "energetic choral passages",{{Sfn|Thomas|1997|p=326}} chanted by the villain's followers to salute their leader and their actions in his name. The lyrics were composed in English and roughly translated into Latin;{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|p=293}} Poledouris was "more concerned about the way the Latin words sounded than with the sense they actually made."{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|pp=170–171}} He set these words to a melody adapted from the 13th-century Gregorian hymn, ''[[Dies irae]]'',{{Sfn|Larson|1985|p=349}} which was chosen to "communicate the tragic aspects of the cruelty wrought by Thulsa Doom."{{Sfn|Thomas|1997|p=326}}

The film's music mostly conveys a sense of power, energy, and brutality, yet tender moments occur.{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|p=167}} The sounds of oboes and string instruments accompany Conan and Valeria's intimate scenes, imbuing them with a sense of lush romance and an emotional intensity. According to MacDonald, Poledouris deviated from the practice of scoring love scenes with tunes reminiscent of [[Romantic music|Romantic period]] pieces; instead, Poledouris made Conan and Valeria's melancholic love theme unique through his use of "minor-key harmony".{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|p=293}} David Morgan, a film journalist, heard Eastern influences in the "lilting romantic melodies".{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|p=167}} Page Cook, audio critic for ''Films in Review'', describes ''Conan the Barbarian''{{'}}s score as "a large canvas daubed with a colorful yet highly sensitive brush. There is innate intelligence behind Poledouris's scheme, and the pinnacles reached are often eloquent with haunting intensity."{{Sfn|Cook|1983|p=120}}

From late November 1981, Poledouris spent three weeks recording his score in Rome.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=62}}{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|p=228}} He engaged a 90-instrument orchestra and a 24-member choir from the [[Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia]] and the [[RAI National Symphony Orchestra]],{{Sfn|Koppl|Poledouris|2009}} and conducted them personally.{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|p=228}} The pieces of music were [[Orchestration|orchestrated]] by Greig McRitchie, Poledouris's frequent collaborator.{{Sfn|Cook|1983|p=120}} The chorus and orchestra were recorded separately.{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|p=175}} The 24&nbsp;tracks of sound effects, music, and dialog were [[downmixing|downmixed]] into a [[Monaural|single-channel]],{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|pp=172–173}} making ''Conan the Barbarian'' the last film released by a major studio with a mono soundtrack.{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|pp=167–168}} According to Poledouris, Raffaella De Laurentiis balked at the cost ($30,000) of a [[Stereophonic sound|stereo]] soundtrack and was worried over the lack of theaters equipped with stereo sound systems.{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|pp=173–174}}

==Release==
In 1980, the producers began advertising to publicize the film. Teaser posters were put up in theaters across the United States. The posters reused Frazetta's artwork that was commissioned for the cover of ''[[Conan the Adventurer (short story collection)|Conan the Adventurer]]'' (1966).{{Sfn|Heritage Auctions|2010|p=118}}{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|pp=26–27}} Laurentiis wanted ''Conan the Barbarian'' to start playing in cinemas for Christmas 1981,{{Sfn|Segaloff|1981}} but Universal executives requested further editing after they previewed a preliminary version of the film in August. A Hollywood insider said the executives were concerned about the film's portrayal of violence. The premiere was delayed until the following year so changes could be made.{{Sfn|Churcher|1981|p=12}} Many scenes were excised from Thulsa Doom's attack on Conan's village, including the close-up shots on the severed head of Conan's mother;{{Sfn|Sammon|1982a|p=62}} the late notice of the changes forced Poledouris quickly to adjust his score before recording music for the sequence.{{Sfn|ASC|1982|p=786}} Other scenes of violence that were cut included Subotai's slaying of a monster at the top of the Tower of Serpents and Conan chopping off a pickpocket's arm in a bazaar.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=27}} Milius intended to show a 140-minute story; the final release ran 129&nbsp;minutes (trimmed to 126 minutes in the United States).{{Sfn|Sammon|1982b}} According to Cobb, the total production expenses approached $20&nbsp;million by the time the film was released.{{Sfn|Mitchell|Ferguson|Cobb|1982|p=20}}

The United States' public was offered a sneak preview on February 19, 1982, in Houston, Texas. In the following month, previews were held in 30&nbsp;cities across the country. In Washington, D.C., the mass of moviegoers formed long lines that spanned streets, causing traffic jams. Tickets were quickly sold out in [[Denver]], and 1,000&nbsp;people had to be turned away in [[Houston]]. The majority of those in the lines was male; a moviegoer in Los Angeles said, "The audience was mostly white, clean-cut, and high-school or college age. It was not the punk or heavy-leather crowd, but an awful lot of them had bulging muscles."{{Sfn|Harmetz|1982}} On March 16, ''Conan the Barbarian'' had its worldwide [[premiere]] at ''Fotogramas de Plata'', an annual cinema awards ceremony in Madrid,{{Sfn|ABC|1982b}} and began its general [[film release|release]] in Spain and France in April.{{Sfn|ABC|1982a}}{{Sfn|Mérigeau|1982}} [[20th Century Fox|Twentieth Century-Fox]] handled the foreign distribution of the film.{{Sfn|Flynn|1996|p=48}} Universal originally scheduled ''Conan''{{'}}s official release in the United States for the weekend before [[Memorial Day]]{{Sfn|BusinessWeek|1982}}—the start of the film industry's summer season when schools close for a month-long holiday.{{Sfn|Kilday|1999|pp=40, 42}} To avoid competition with other big-budget, high-profile films, the studio advanced the release of ''Conan the Barbarian'' and on May 14, 1982, the film officially opened in 1,400&nbsp;theaters across North America.{{Sfn|BusinessWeek|1982}}

''Conan the Barbarian'' has been released in several different versions on home video. In addition to the 126-minute theatrical print, Universal distributed the film in 115-minute and 123-minute cuts on [[VHS]] in the 1980s. A slightly extended version was created for the film's special edition DVD release in 2000; it features five minutes of additional footage for a 131-minute running time. This same version was later released on Blu-ray in 2011 with a remixed soundtrack, the version on Amazon Prime however, is the 126-minute American theatrical cut.<ref>{{Citation|title=Conan the Barbarian Blu-ray Release Date August 2, 2011|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Conan-the-Barbarian-Blu-ray/23286/|access-date=2020-10-21}}</ref>

===Critical response===
<!-- This is not an analysis of the film, so rebuttals to the reactions are out. -->
<!-- This should be a section chronicling the published reactions of the critics/audience. -->
<!-- What they liked or disliked about the film. -->
<!-- Relevant rules: [[WP:OR]], [[WP:UNDUE]] -->

The media's reactions toward ''Conan'' were polarized. Aspects of the film heavily criticized by one side were regarded in a positive light by the other; Professor Kenneth von Gunden wrote, "for every positive review the film garnered, it received two negative ones."{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=15}} The opinions of [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' and [[Richard Schickel]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' illustrate their colleagues' divided views. Ebert called ''Conan the Barbarian'' "a perfect fantasy for the alienated preadolescent",{{Sfn|Ebert|1982}} whereas Schickel said, "''Conan'' is a sort of psychopathic ''Star Wars'', stupid and stupefying."{{Sfn|Schickel|1982}} Although reviews were mixed at the time of the film's release, modern genre critics review the film more positively. On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 67% based on 42 reviews, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Though ''Conan'' may take itself too seriously for some, this adventure film about a former slave seeking vengeance is full of quotable Schwarzenegger lines and gritty action."<ref>{{cite web|title=''Conan the Barbarian''|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/conan_the_barbarian|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=12 March 2023}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film received a score of 43 based on 10 reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.<ref name="MetacriticScore">{{cite news| title= Conan The Barbarian| work= Metacritic|date= June 26, 2020| url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/conan-the-barbarian| access-date= June 26, 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Hugh Rankin - Shadows in the Moonlight.jpg|thumb|left|Blood spews from the severed right arm of a fanged gorilla as Conan latches on to the beast and stabs at it with a sword. A topless woman witnesses the scene.

Some critics felt that there was too much violence in the movie, while others felt that the violence failed to match up to Howard's portrayals (as illustrated by Hugh Rankin in ''Weird Tales'').]]

At the time ''Conan'' was released, the media were inclined to condemn Hollywood's portrayals of violence; typical action films showed the hero attaining his goals by killing all who stood in his way.{{Sfn|Sammon|1982b}}{{Sfn|Andrews|1995|pp=108–109}} ''Conan'' was particularly condemned for its violent scenes,{{Sfn|Flynn|1996|p=48}}{{Sfn|Andrews|1995|pp=108–109}} which ''[[Newsweek]]''{{'}}s Jack Kroll called "cheerless and styleless".{{Sfn|Kroll|1982}} In one of his articles for the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', Stu Schreiberg counted 50&nbsp;people killed in various scenes.{{Sfn|Andrews|1995|p=141}} Other film critics differed over the film's portrayal of violence. [[David Denby]] wrote in his review for ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine that the action scenes were one of the film's few positive features; however, exciting as the scenes were, those such as the decapitation of Conan's mother seemed inane.{{Sfn|Denby|1982|p=68}} On the other hand, [[Vincent Canby]], [[Carlos Clarens]], and [[Pascal Mérigeau]] were unanimous in their opinion that the film's depicted violence failed to meet their expectations: the film's pacing and Howard's stories suggested more gory material.{{Sfn|Mérigeau|1982}}{{Sfn|Canby|1982a}}{{Sfn|Clarens|1982|p=28}} According to Paul Sammon, Milius's cuts to assuage concerns over the violence made the scenes "cartoon-like".{{Sfn|Sammon|1982b}}

Comparison with the source material also produced varying reactions among the critics. Danny Peary and Schickel expected a film based on pulp stories and comic books to be light-hearted or corny, and Milius's introduction of [[Nietzschean]] themes and ideology did not sit well with them.{{Sfn|Peary|1986}}{{Sfn|Schickel|1982}} Others were not impressed with Milius's handling of his ideas; James Wolcott called it heavy-handed and Kroll said the material lacked substance in its implementation.{{Sfn|Kroll|1982}}{{Sfn|Wolcott|1982|p=160}} The themes of individualism and paganism, however, resonated with many in the audience; the concept of a warrior who relies only on his own prowess and will to conquer the obstacles in his way found favor with young males.{{Sfn|Richards|1997|p=170}} Wolcott wrote in ''[[Texas Monthly]]'' that these themes appeal to "98-pound&nbsp;weaklings who [[Charles Atlas#"The Insult that Made a Man out of Mac"|want to kick sand into bullies' faces]] and win the panting adoration of a well-oiled [[Beach bunny (surf culture)|beach bunny]]".{{Sfn|Wolcott|1982|p=160}} Kroll's opinion was that the audience loved the violence and carnage but were cynical about the "philosophical bombast".{{Sfn|Kroll|1982}} While popular with audiences, the theatrical treatment of the barbarian was rejected by certain hardcore fans and scholars of Howard's stories. A particular point of contention was the film's version of Conan's origin, which is at odds with Howard's hints about the character's youth.{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|pp=103–104, 108}} Their point of view is supported by Kerry Brougher,{{Sfn|Brougher|1982|p=103}} but Derek Elley, Clarens, and Sammon said Milius was faithful to the ideology behind Howard's work.{{Sfn|Elley|1984|p=151}}{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|p=108}}{{Sfn|Clarens|1982|p=27}}

Arnold Schwarzenegger's performance was frequently mentioned in the critiques.{{Sfn|Flynn|1996|p=48}} Clarens, Peary, Gunden and Nigel Andrews were among those who gave positive assessments of the former bodybuilder's acting: to them, he was physically convincing as the barbarian in his body movements and appearance.{{Sfn|Peary|1986}}{{Sfn|Clarens|1982|p=28}}{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|pp=15–16, 26}}{{Sfn|Andrews|1995|pp=100, 105–106}} Andrews added that Schwarzenegger exuded a certain charm—with his accent mangling his dialog—that made the film appealing to his fans.{{Sfn|Andrews|1995|p=106}} [[Fanfare (magazine)|''Fanfare'']]'s Royal S. Brown disagreed and was grateful that the actor's dialog amounted to "2&nbsp;pages of typescript".{{Sfn|Brown|1982|p=486}} Schickel summed up Schwarzenegger's acting as "flat",{{Sfn|Schickel|1982}} while Knoll was more verbose, characterizing the actor's portrayal as "a dull clod with a sharp sword, a human collage of pectorals and [[latissimi]] who's got less style and wit than Lassie."{{Sfn|Kroll|1982}} While Sandahl Bergman earned acclaim for injecting grace and dynamism into the film,{{Sfn|Kroll|1982}}{{Sfn|Clarens|1982|p=28}} the film's more experienced thespians were not spared criticisms. Gunden said von Sydow showed little dedication to his role,{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=24}} and Clarens judged Jones's portrayal of Thulsa Doom to be worse than camp.{{Sfn|Clarens|1982|p=28}} However, Ebert praised Jones's performance, saying he brought "power and conviction to a role that seems inspired in equal parts by [[Hitler]], [[Jim Jones]], and [[Auric Goldfinger|Goldfinger]]."{{Sfn|Ebert|1982}} Brougher faulted none of the actors for their performances, laying the blame on Milius's script, instead.{{Sfn|Brougher|1982|p=103}}

С. J. Henderson reviewed ''Conan the Barbarian'' for ''[[Pegasus (game magazine)|Pegasus]]'' magazine and stated that "Originally, this article was scheduled to run to 3,500 words. This would have included background information on the cast and crew, interesting tidbits on the movie's locations and shooting, how the special effects were achieved, et cetera. As it stands, it only runs to 1,500 words. Even though that means it will earn less than half the cash it could have earned, there isn't much of a choice. After all, how many different ways are there to say 'bad'?"<ref name="Pegasus7">{{cite journal | last = Henderson |first = С. J. | title = Screen Scenes | journal = [[Pegasus (game magazine)|Pegasus]] | issue = 7 | pages =84–87 |date=1982}}</ref>

===Box office and other media===
According to Rentrak Theatrical, a firm of media analysts, ''Conan'' debuted at the top spot at the US box office, taking $9,479,373 over the opening weekend.{{Sfn|Rentrak Corporation|2011a}}{{refn|The average price for a movie ticket in 1982 was $2.94.{{Sfn|Vogel|2011|p=91}}|group=nb}} Rentrak's data on ''Conan'' covered 8&nbsp;weeks after the film's release; during that period, ''Conan'' grossed $38,513,085 at the box office in the United States.{{Sfn|Rentrak Corporation|2011b}} Universal Pictures received $22.5&nbsp;million after deducting the amounts due to the cinema owners.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=14}} This sum—the rental{{Sfn|Prince|2000|p=3}}—was more than the money Universal had invested in making the film, thus qualifying ''Conan'' as a commercial success; any further income from the film was pure profit for the studio.{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=14}} Marian Christy, interviewer for the ''[[The Boston Globe|Boston Globe]]'', mentioned that the film was a box-office success in Europe and Japan, as well.{{Sfn|Christy|1982}} Worldwide, ''Conan the Barbarian'' grossed between $68.9 million and $79.1 million in ticket sales.<ref name="BOM"/><ref name="numbers"/>

David A. Cook, Professor of Film Studies at [[Emory University]], said that ''Conan''{{'}}s North American performance fell short of the amount returned by [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbusters]];{{Sfn|Cook|1999|p=32}} the rentals of such films from their release in the continent were supposed to be least $50&nbsp;million.{{Sfn|Harmetz|1983}} ''Conan''{{'}}s rental was the 13th-highest for 1982{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=14}} and when combined with those for ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' (the most successful film in that year with a rental of $187&nbsp;million),{{Sfn|Prince|2000|p=3}} ''[[On Golden Pond (1981 film)|On Golden Pond]]'', and ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (film)|The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]''—all distributed by Universal Pictures—constituted 30% of the year's total film rental. According to Arthur D. Murphy, a film-industry analyst, it was the first time that a single distributor captured such a substantial share of the film market.{{Sfn|Harmetz|1983}}

The videocassette version of the film was released on October 2, 1982. Sales and rental figures of the videocassette were high; from its launch, the title was listed in ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s Videocassette Top&nbsp;40 (Sales and Rental categories) for 23&nbsp;weeks.{{Sfn|Billboard|1982}}{{Sfn|Billboard|1983}} According to Sammon, sales of the film through frequent [[home video]] releases increased the film's gross earnings to more than $300&nbsp;million by 2007.{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|p=107}} ''Conan the Barbarian'' was [[Conan the Barbarian (1982 novel)|novelized]] by Lin Carter and the de Camps (L. Sprague and his wife, Catherine).{{Sfn|Canby|1982a}}{{Sfn|Canby|1982b}} It was also adapted by Marvel in comic form;{{refn|Further details of the comic: {{cite magazine |last1=Fleisher |first1=Michael |author-link1=Michael Fleisher |date=Summer 1982 |title=Conan the Barbarian |magazine=[[Marvel Comics Super Special|Marvel Super Special]] |volume=1 |issue=21 |location=New York, United States |publisher=Marvel Comics Group |isbn=0-939766-07-8}}|group=nb}} scripted by [[Michael Fleisher]] and drawn by [[John Buscema]], the comic was one of the rarest paperbacks published by the company.{{Sfn|Weiner|2008|p=216}}

===Accolades===
''Conan the Barbarian'' was nominated for [[Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film|Best Fantasy Film]], [[Saturn Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costumes]], and [[Saturn Award for Best Make-up|Best Make-up]] at the [[10th Saturn Awards]] with [[Sandahl Bergman]] won [[Saturn Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] for her performance as Valeria. Bergman also won [[Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress|Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year—Actress]] at the [[40th Golden Globe Awards]].{{Sfn|HFPA|2011}} Poledouris's score was judged by ''Films in Review''{{'}}s Page Cook as the second best sound track of the films released in 1982.{{Sfn|Cook|1983|p=120}} The film was nominated for a [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor]] for Arnold Schwarzenegger at the [[3rd Golden Raspberry Awards]].{{Sfn|Wilson|2005}}

The film is recognized by [[American Film Institute]] in these lists:
* 2003: [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains]]:
** [[Conan the Barbarian|Conan]] – Nominated Hero<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/handv400.pdf |title=AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains Nominees |access-date=August 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104022712/http://www.afi.com/Docs/100years/handv400.pdf |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2005: [[AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores]] – Nominated<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/scores250.pdf |title=AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores Nominees |access-date=August 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106023410/http://www.afi.com/Docs/100years/scores250.pdf |archive-date=November 6, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2008: [[AFI's 10 Top 10]]:
** Nominated Fantasy Film<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |title=AFI's 10 Top 10 Nominees |access-date=August 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071937/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref>

==Themes==
<!-- This section is not for personal theories and observations on the themes in the film. -->
<!-- It is a summary of published relevant real world information. -->
<!-- Simple associations are trivial and undue for mention. -->
<!-- Relevant rules: [[WP:OR]], [[WP:MOSFILM]], [[WP:NOT]] -->
{{Quote box
 |title = Riddle of Steel
 |quote = The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Conan. You must learn its discipline. For no one, no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts. [''Points to sword''] This you can trust.<!--from the DVD subtitles-->
 |source = Conan's father
 |align = right
 |width = 220px
 |border = 1px
 |fontsize = 85%
 |salign = right
}}

=== Riddle of Steel ===
The central theme in ''Conan the Barbarian'' is the Riddle of Steel. At the start of the film, Conan's father tells his son to learn the secret of steel and to trust only it. Initially believing in the power of steel, Thulsa Doom raids Conan's village and steals his father's sword, giving it to Rexor. Subsequently, the story centers on Conan's quest to recover the weapon in which his father has told him to trust.{{Sfn|Grindley|2004|p=159}}

Weaponry fetish is a device long established in literature; Carl James Grindley, an assistant professor of English, said ancient works such as [[Homer]]'s ''[[Iliad]]'', the [[Old English]] poem ''[[Beowulf]]'', and the 14th-century tale of ''[[Sir Gawain and the Green Knight]]'' pay detailed attention to the arsenal of their heroes.{{Sfn|Grindley|2004|pp=151–155}} Grindley further said that ''Conan the Barbarian'', like most other contemporary action films, uses weapons as convenient plot devices rather than as symbols that mark the qualities of the hero.{{Sfn|Grindley|2004|pp=155, 159}} <!-- The Master's sword is unsound in its construction and impractical in use. Similarly, the Atlantean sword cannot be used in combat, has no discernible history, and is engraved with nonsense.{{Sfn|Grindley|2004|pp=159–160}} -->

James Whitlark, an associate professor of English, said the Riddle of Steel makes the film's emphasis on the swords ironic; it gives the illusion that the weapons have powers of their own, but later reveals them to be useless and dependent on the strength of their wielders.{{Sfn|Whitlark|1988|p=115}} In the later part of the film, Doom mocks steel, proclaiming the power of flesh to be stronger. When Conan recovers his father's sword, it is after he has broken it in the hands of Doom's lieutenant during their duel. According to Grindley, that moment—Conan's breaking of his father's sword—"[fulfills] a snickering spectrum of Oedipal conjecture" and asserts Homer's view that "the sword does not make the hero, but the hero makes the sword."{{Sfn|Grindley|2004|p=160}} The film, as Whitlark says, "offers a fantasy of ''human'' power raised beyond mortal limits."{{Sfn|Whitlark|1988|p=115}} Passman and other authors agree, stating the film suggests that human will and determination are in a Nietzschean sense stronger than physical might.{{Sfn|Wolcott|1982|p=160}}{{Sfn|Hoberman|2000|p=30}}{{Sfn|Passman|1991|p=92}}

=== Death ===
Another established literary trope found in the plot of ''Conan the Barbarian'' is the concept of death, followed by a journey into the underworld, and rebirth. Donald E. Palumbo, the Language and Humanities Chair at [[Lorain County Community College]], noted that like most other sword-and-sorcery films, ''Conan'' used the motif of underground journeys to reinforce the themes of death and rebirth.{{Sfn|Palumbo|1987|p=212}} According to him, the first scene to involve all three is after Conan's liberation: his flight from wild dogs sends him tumbling into a tomb where he finds a sword that lets him cut off his chains and stand with newfound power. In the later parts of the film, Conan experiences two underground journeys where death abounds: in the bowels of the Tower of Serpents where he has to fight a giant snake and in the depths of the Temple of Set where the cultists feast on human flesh while Doom transforms himself into a large serpent. Whereas Valeria dies and comes back from the dead (albeit briefly), Conan's ordeal from his crucifixion was symbolic. Although the barbarian's crucifixion might evoke Christian imagery,{{Sfn|Palumbo|1987|pp=213–214}} associations of the film with the religion are roundly rejected. Milius stated his film is full of pagan ideas, a sentiment supported by film critics such as Elley{{Sfn|Elley|1984|p=151}} and [[Jack Kroll]].{{Sfn|Kroll|1982}} George Aichele, professor emeritus of Philosophy and Religion at [[Adrian College]], suggested the filmmaker's intent with the crucifixion scene was pure marketing: to tease the audience with religious connotations.{{Sfn|Aichele|2002|pp=7–8}} He suggested, however, that Conan's story can be viewed as an analogy of Christ's life and vice versa.{{Sfn|Aichele|2002|p=8}} Nigel Andrews, a film critic, saw any connections to Christianity related more to the making of the film.{{Sfn|Andrews|1995|p=104}} The crucifixion is also reminiscent of Odin being nailed to [[Yggdrasil]] or the Titan [[Prometheus]] chained to the mountainside of the Caucasus.

[[File:Siegfried and the Twilight of the Gods p 056.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A man dressed in furs plunges his sword into the neck of a large four-legged snake-like creature.|Conan's slaying of Doom's giant snake in the Tower of Serpents recalls Siegfried's slaying of [[Fafnir]] the dragon (illustrated) in Wagner's ''Der Ring des Nibelungen''.]]

=== Wagnerian Opera ===
Milius's concept of ''Conan the Barbarian'' as an opera was picked up by the critics; Elley and Huckvale saw connections to Wagner's operas.{{Sfn|Elley|1984|p=151}}{{Sfn|Huckvale|1994|p=133}} According to Huckvale, the film's opening sequence closely mirrors a sword forging scene in ''[[Siegfried (opera)|Siegfried]]''. Conan's adventures and ordeals seem to be inspired by the trials of the opera's [[Sigurd|titular hero]]: witnessing his parents' deaths, growing up as a slave, and slaying a giant serpent—dragon. Furthermore, Schwarzenegger's appearance in the role of Conan evoked images of Siegfried, the role model of the "[[Aryan race|Aryan]] blonde beast", in the lecturer's mind.{{Sfn|Huckvale|1994|p=133}} The notion of racial superiority, symbolized by this Aryan hero, was a criticism given by [[J. Hoberman]] and [[James Wolcott]]; they highlighted the film's Nietzschean epigraph and labeled its protagonist as Nietzsche's [[übermensch]].{{Sfn|Wolcott|1982|p=160}}{{Sfn|Hoberman|2000|p=30}} Ebert was disturbed by the depiction of a "Nordic superman confronting a black", in which the "muscular blond" slices off the black man's head and "contemptuously [throws it] down the flight of stairs".{{Sfn|Ebert|1982}} His sentiment was shared by Adam Roberts, an Arthurian scholar, who also said ''Conan'' was an exemplar of the sword-and-sorcery films of the early 1980s that were permeated in various degrees with [[Fascism|fascist]] ideology. According to Roberts, the films were following the ideas and aesthetics laid down in [[Leni Riefenstahl]]'s directorial efforts for [[Nazi Germany]]. Roberts cautioned that any political readings into these sword-and-sorcery films with regards to fascism is subjective.{{Sfn|Roberts|1998|pp=110–111}} Film critic [[Richard Dyer]] said that such associations with ''Conan'' were inaccurate and influenced by misconceptions of Nietzschean philosophies,{{Sfn|Dyer|2002|p=265}} and scholars of philosophy said that the film industry has often misinterpreted the ideas behind the übermensch.{{Sfn|Jovanovski|2008|p=105}}{{Sfn|Solomon|2003|p=33}}

=== Individualism ===
''Conan'' is also seen as a product of its time: The themes of the film reflect the political climate of the United States in the 1980s. [[Ronald Reagan]] was the country's president and the ideals of [[individualism]] were promoted during his two terms in office. He emphasized the moral worth of the individual in his speeches, encouraging his fellow Americans to make the country successful and to stand up against the Soviet Union during the Cold War.{{Sfn|Shaw|2007|pp=267–269}}{{Sfn|Saunders|2009|pp=48–49}}<!-- Hunter simply ascribed those films as having anarcho-individualism as a theme.--> Dr. Dave Saunders, a film writer and lecturer at [[South Essex College|South Essex College of Further and Higher Education]], linked facets of ''Conan the Barbarian'' to aspects of Reaganism{{Sfn|Saunders|2009|p=51}}—the conservative ideology that surrounded the president's policies.{{Sfn|Kellner|2004|p=73}} Saunders likened Conan's quest against Doom to the Americans' crusades,{{Sfn|Saunders|2009|p=51}} his choice of weaponry—swords—to Reagan's and Milius's fondness of resisting the Soviets with only spirit and simple weapons,{{Sfn|Saunders|2009|pp=51–52}} and Doom's base of operations to [[Moscow Kremlin|the Kremlin]].{{Sfn|Saunders|2009|p=57}} Conan, in Saunder's interpretation, is portrayed as the American hero who draws strength from his trials and tribulations to slay the evil oppressors—the Soviets—and crush their un-American ways.{{Sfn|Saunders|2009|pp=53–58}} [[Douglas Kellner]] and his fellow academic Michael Ryan proposed another enemy for the American individual: an overly domineering federal government.{{Sfn|Ryan|Kellner|1990|p=226}} The film's association with individualism was not confined to the United States; Jeffrey Richards, a cultural historian, noticed the film's popularity among the youths of the United Kingdom.{{Sfn|Richards|1997|pp=23, 170}} [[Robin Wood (critic)|Robin Wood]], a film critic, suggests that in most cases, there is only a thin veneer between individualism and fascism; he also said that ''Conan'' is the only film in that era to dispense with the disguise, openly celebrating its fascist ideals in a manner that would delight Riefenstahl.{{Sfn|Wood|2003|p=152}}

{{Quote box
 |title =
 |quote = "''Conan'' shows a world where there are two kinds of men—one of which has long hair and gorgeous tits."{{Sfn|Schubart|2007|p=18}}
 |source = —[[F. X. Feeney]] from ''L.A. Weekly'' in 1982{{Sfn|Schubart|2007|p=326}}
 |align = right
 |width = 25em
}}

=== Sex ===
{{Original research|section|date=January 2026}}
Sexual politics were also examined in thematic studies of the film. The [[Feminism|feminist movement]] experienced a backlash during the opening years of the 1980s and action films then were helping to promote the notions of [[masculinity]].{{Sfn|Cross|2008|p=191}}{{Sfn|Thompson|2007|pp=103–104}}<!-- Also supported by{{Sfn|Ryan|Kellner|1990|pp=217, 219}} --> Women in these films were portrayed as whores, handmaidens, or warriors and clad in flesh-revealing outfits.{{Sfn|Kellner|2004|p=73}}{{Sfn|Passman|1991|p=91}} ''Conan'' gave its male audience a manly hero that overcame all odds and adversity, delivering them a fantasy that offered escape from the invasion of radical "bitter feminist women" in their lives.{{Sfn|Cross|2008|pp=155–156}}{{Sfn|Wood|2003|p=xxxvi}} [[Renato Casaro]]'s promotional artwork for the film's release in the United States presents a sexualized portrayal of the two main characters, Conan and Valeria.{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|pp=96–97}}{{Sfn|Schubart|2007|p=224}} Scantily clad in costumes cut in the styles of underwear, they wear long boots and sport their hair loose. While Conan strides forth in the picture with his sword held high, Valeria "squats in an impossible pose with her leather body-suit [in the shape of a teddy] forming a dark shape between her thighs".{{Sfn|Schubart|2007|pp=224–225}} According to Schubart, critics did not accept Valeria as a strong female figure, but viewed her as a "sexual spectacle"; to them, she was the traditional male warrior buddy in a sexy female body.{{Sfn|Schubart|2007|p=18}}

==Legacy and impact==
Whereas most comic book and pulp adaptations were box office failures in the 1980s, ''Conan the Barbarian'' was one of the few that made a profit.{{Sfn|Rossen|2008|p=127}} According to Sammon, it became the standard against which sword-and-sorcery films were measured until the debut of [[Peter Jackson]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' in 2001;{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|p=107}} several contemporary films of the same genre were judged by critics to be clones of ''Conan'',{{Sfn|Cook|1999|p=32}} such as ''[[The Beastmaster (film)|The Beastmaster]]'' (1982).{{Sfn|Gunden|1989|p=247}}{{Sfn|Maltin|2008|p=97}} ''Conan''{{'}}s success inspired low-budget copycats, such as ''[[Ator l'invincibile|Ator, the Fighting Eagle]]'' (1982) and ''[[Deathstalker (1983 film)|Deathstalker]]'' (1983).{{Sfn|McDonagh|2008|p=135}}{{Sfn|Andrews|2006|p=101}}{{Sfn|Falicov|2003|p=26}} Its sequel, ''[[Conan the Destroyer]]'', was produced and released in 1984; only a few of those involved in the first film, such as Schwarzenegger, Mako, and Poledouris, returned.{{Sfn|Thomas|1997|p=326}}{{Sfn|Sammon|1984|p=5}} Later big- and small-screen adaptations of Robert E. Howard's stories were considered by Sammon to be inferior to the film that started the trend.{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|p=108}} A spinoff from ''Conan'' was a 20-minute live-action show, [[The Adventures of Conan: A Sword and Sorcery Spectacular]], that ran from 1983 to 1993 at [[Universal Studios Hollywood]]. Produced at a cost of $5&nbsp;million, the show featured action scenes executed to music composed by Poledouris.{{Sfn|Koppl|Poledouris|2009}}{{Sfn|Sammon|2007|pp=114, 117}} The show's highlights were pyrotechnics, lasers, and an {{convert|18|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} [[animatronic]] dragon that breathed fire.{{Sfn|Universal Studios|1983}}{{Sfn|Moleski|1985}}

[[File:Dino de laurentiis crop.jpg|thumb|upright|right|alt=A squarish faced man in a suit and tie: he is balding with closely cropped white hair, and sports a stubble of white beard.|Producer Dino De Laurentiis (2009 photograph) profited from ''Conan'', but had less success with his later films.]]

Several of those involved in the film reaped short-term benefits. Sandahl Bergman's Golden Globe for her role as Valeria marks her greatest achievement in the film industry; her later roles failed to gain her further recognition.{{Sfn|Flynn|1996|pp=79–80}} Dino De Laurentiis had produced a string of box office failures since the success of ''[[King Kong (1976 film)|King Kong]]'' in 1976; it appeared ''Conan the Barbarian'' might be a turning point in his fortunes. The sequel was also profitable, but many of De Laurentiis's later big-budget projects did not recoup their production costs and he was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1988.{{Sfn|Behar|1990}} For John Milius, ''Conan the Barbarian'' is his "biggest directorial success" to date;{{Sfn|Kendrick|2009|p=87}} his subsequent endeavors failed to equal its success and popularity.{{Sfn|Cook|1999|pp=32–33}}

Pressman did not receive any money from ''Conan''{{'}}s box office takings, but he sold the film rights for the Conan franchise to De Laurentiis for $4.5&nbsp;million and 10&nbsp;percent of the gross of any sequel to ''Conan the Barbarian''.{{Sfn|Carney|1987|p=72}} The sale more than paid off his company's debts incurred from producing ''Old Boyfriends'', saving him from financial ruin;{{Sfn|Carney|1987|p=74}} Pressman said this deal "made [him] more money by selling out, by not making a movie, than [he] ever have made by making one."{{Sfn|Pulleine|1986}} He also arranged for [[Mattel]] to obtain the rights to produce a range of toys for the film. Although the toy company abandoned the license after its executives decided ''Conan'' was "too violent" for children, Pressman convinced them to let him produce a film based on their new [[Masters of the Universe]] toy line.{{Sfn|Carney|1987|p=74}} [[Masters of the Universe (1987 film)|The eponymous film]] cost $20&nbsp;million to produce and grossed $17&nbsp;million at the United States box office in 1987.{{Sfn|Twitchell|1992|p=248}}{{Sfn|Rossen|2008|p=169}}

Those who benefited most from the project were Basil Poledouris and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Poledouris's reputation in the film industry increased with the critical acclaim his score received;{{Sfn|Thomas|1997|p=325}} MacDonald noted Poledouris's work on ''Conan'' as "one of the most spectacular film music achievements of the decade",{{Sfn|MacDonald|1998|p=294}} and Page Cook named it as the only reason to watch the film and as the second best film sound track (after ''E.T.''{{'}}s) for 1982.{{Sfn|Cook|1983|p=120}} After hearing ''Conan''{{'}}s music, [[Paul Verhoeven]] engaged Poledouris to score his films, ''[[Flesh and Blood (1985 film)|Flesh and Blood]]'' (1985), ''[[RoboCop (1987 film)|RoboCop]]'' (1987) and ''[[Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]'' (1997).{{Sfn|Larson|Poledouris|2008}}{{Sfn|Morgan|2000|p=55}} The music in Verhoeven's ''[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]'' (1990) also bore the influence of ''Conan''{{'}}s score; its composer, [[Jerry Goldsmith]], used Poledouris's work as the model for his compositions.{{Sfn|Karlin|1994|p=6}}

''Conan'' brought Schwarzenegger worldwide recognition as an action star{{Sfn|Kendrick|2009|p=87}} and established the model for most of his film roles: "icy, brawny, and inexpressive—yet somehow endearing."{{Sfn|Rees|1992|p=1992}} The image of him as the barbarian was an enduring one; when he campaigned for [[George H. W. Bush]] to be president, he was introduced as "Conan the Republican"{{Sfn|Popadiuk|2009|p=96}}—a moniker that stuck with him throughout his political career and was often repeated by the media during his term as Governor of California.{{Sfn|Grover|Palmeri|2004}} Schwarzenegger was aware of the benefits the film had brought to him, acknowledging the role of Conan as "God's gift to [his] career".{{Sfn|Geringer|1987|pp=89–90}} He embraced the image: when he was Governor of California, he displayed his copy of the Atlantean sword in his office, occasionally flourishing the weapon at visitors and letting them play with it.{{Sfn|Grover|Palmeri|2004}}{{Sfn|Brenner|2005|p=3}} More than once, he spiced up his speeches with Conan's "crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentations of their women".{{Sfn|LeDuff|Broder|2004|p=1}}{{Sfn|Fox|2011}}

In 2025, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' listed ''Conan the Barbarian'' as having the best stunts of 1982.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Doherty |first=Thomas |date=June 7, 2025 |title=The Best Stunts of All Time, Over Nearly 100 Years of the Oscars |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-stunts-all-time-movies-oscars-stunt-design-100-years/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720043450/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-stunts-all-time-movies-oscars-stunt-design-100-years/ |archive-date=July 20, 2025}}</ref>

==Sequels==
{{anchor|Conan the Destroyer|Conan the Conqueror|The Legend of Conan}}
''[[Conan the Destroyer]]'' was released in 1984, with Schwarzenegger and Mako reprising their roles. A planned third entry in the trilogy, ''Conan the Conqueror'', was previewed at the end of ''Destroyer''. The film had been planned for a 1987 release, with the intended director being either [[Guy Hamilton]] or [[John Guillermin]]. Arnold Schwarzenegger was committed to the film ''[[Predator (film)|Predator]]'', and De Laurentiis's contract with the star had expired after his obligation to [[Red Sonja (1985 film)|''Red Sonja'']] and [[Raw Deal (1986 film)|''Raw Deal'']], and he was not keen to negotiate a new one. The third ''Conan'' film fell into [[development hell]], and a derivation of the script eventually was adapted into ''[[Kull the Conqueror]]'', released in 1997.<ref name=PopCultureMedia-2007-05-20>{{cite web |url= http://popculture.com/entertainment/2017/05/20/arnold-schwarzenegger-conan-the-conqueror/ |title= Arnold Schwarzenegger Updates Status Of Next Conan Movie |author= Jamie Lovett |date= 20 May 2007 |publisher= Pop Culture Media |access-date= October 21, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204610/https://popculture.com/entertainment/2017/05/20/arnold-schwarzenegger-conan-the-conqueror/ |archive-date= March 31, 2019 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name=MTV-2008-11-27>{{cite web |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/2760904/erics-bad-movies-kull-the-conqueror-1997/ |title= Eric's Bad Movies: Kull the Conqueror (1997) |author= Eric Snider |publisher= MTV |date= 27 November 2008 |access-date= October 21, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190916064745/http://www.mtv.com/news/2760904/erics-bad-movies-kull-the-conqueror-1997/ |archive-date= September 16, 2019 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

In October 2012, [[Universal Pictures]] announced plans for Schwarzenegger to return to the role of Conan for the film ''The Legend of Conan''. The planned story was a direct sequel to the original film, "bypassing" ''Conan the Destroyer'' and the [[Conan the Barbarian (2011 film)|2011 film]] starring [[Jason Momoa]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Schwarzenegger returns to 'Conan' role, films 'Ten'|url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/26/schwarzenegger-conan-ten/|publisher=CNN.com|access-date=October 26, 2012|quote=According to Deadline, the 65-year-old actor/politician/author will be back as Conan the Barbarian, the role that he first portrayed in the 1982 film.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330013720/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/26/schwarzenegger-conan-ten/|archive-date=March 30, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Cornet, Roth (January 29, 2014). [https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/30/the-legend-of-conan-producer-chris-morgan-says-arnold-schwarzeneggers-return-to-the-role-is-going-to-be-their-unforgiven "The Legend of Conan Producer Chris Morgan Says Arnold Schwarzenegger's Return to the Role is Going to be Their Unforgiven."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214035422/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/01/30/the-legend-of-conan-producer-chris-morgan-says-arnold-schwarzeneggers-return-to-the-role-is-going-to-be-their-unforgiven |date=February 14, 2014 }} ''IGN.com''. Retrieved February 11, 2014.</ref> In the years following the announcement, [[Will Beall]], [[Andrea Berloff]], and producer [[Chris Morgan (writer)|Chris Morgan]] worked on the script, and Schwarzenegger expressed enthusiasm for the project, affirming plans to star in the film.{{Sfn|Schaefer|2016}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Confirms Terminator Role; Talks King Conan and Twins 2 – No Really, Twins 2|author=Barton, Steve|date=June 13, 2013|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/67739/arnold-schwarzenegger-confirms-terminator-role-talks-king-conan-and-twins-2-no-really-twi|publisher=DreadCentral.com|access-date=June 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616010959/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/67739/arnold-schwarzenegger-confirms-terminator-role-talks-king-conan-and-twins-2-no-really-twi|archive-date=June 16, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/legend-of-conan-lands-andrea-berloff-to-script-arnold-schwarzenegger-epic-reprise-601021/|title='Legend Of Conan' Lands Andrea Berloff To Script Arnold Schwarzenegger Epic Reprise|author=Mike Fleming Jr|date=October 1, 2013|work=Deadline|access-date=March 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321192105/https://deadline.com/2013/10/legend-of-conan-lands-andrea-berloff-to-script-arnold-schwarzenegger-epic-reprise-601021/|archive-date=March 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://screenrant.com/legend-conan-writer-opening-sequel/ Legend of Conan Writer Teases Opening Shot & ‘Worthy’ Conan Sequel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127024708/http://screenrant.com/legend-conan-writer-opening-sequel/ |date=November 27, 2016 }}, Susan Schaefer, August 16, 2016.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What's Happening With The Legend of Conan?|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/07/whats-happening-with-the-legend-of-conan|website=IGN|date=February 7, 2015 |access-date=February 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222142406/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/07/whats-happening-with-the-legend-of-conan|archive-date=February 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in April 2017, Morgan stated that Universal had dropped the project, but that there remained a possibility of a television series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzeneggers-the-legend-of-conan-may-not-happen-after-all/ |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'The Legend of Conan' May Not Happen After All |publisher=slashfilm.com |date=April 6, 2017 |access-date=April 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407061650/http://www.slashfilm.com/arnold-schwarzeneggers-the-legend-of-conan-may-not-happen-after-all/ |archive-date=April 7, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Arnold Schwarzenegger filmography]]
* [[List of American films of 1982]]
* [[List of cult films]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|colwidth=20em}}

=== General sources ===
==== Books ====
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last1=Aichele |first1=George |editor1-last=Kreitzer |editor1-first=Larry Joseph |title=Gospel Images in Fiction and Film: On Reversing the Hermeneutical Flow |series=Biblical Seminar |volume=84 |year=2002 |publisher=[[Sheffield Academic Press]] |location=Sheffield, United Kingdom |isbn=1-84127-343-0 |oclc=783055726 |pages=7–10 |chapter=Foreword }}
* {{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=David |title=Soft in the Middle: The Contemporary Softcore Feature in its Contexts |year=2006 |publisher=[[Ohio State University Press]] |location=Ohio, United States |isbn=0-8142-1022-8 |oclc=65978656 |pages=77–109 |chapter=Spicy, but Not Obscene }}
* {{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=Nigel |author-link=Nigel Andrews |title=True Myths: The Life and Times of Arnold Schwarzenegger |year=1995 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=0-7475-2126-3 |oclc=722665367 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Ashley |first1=Michael |author-link1=Mike Ashley (writer) |title=Gateways to Forever: The Story of the Science-Fiction Magazines from 1970 to 1980 |year=2007 |publisher=[[Liverpool University Press]] |location=Liverpool, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84631-002-7 |oclc=607814774 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/gatewaystoforeve0000ashl/page/135 135–139] |chapter=The Depths of Infinity |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2qkmF8HvP_gC&pg=PA135 |via=Google Books |url=https://archive.org/details/gatewaystoforeve0000ashl/page/135 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Beaver |first1=Frank |title=Oliver Stone: Wakeup Cinema |series=Twayne's Filmmakers Series |year=1994 |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Twayne Publishers]] |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-8057-9332-1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/oliverstonewakeu0000beav/page/48 48–66] |chapter=Writing for the Establishment: Conan the Barbarian, Scarface, Year of the Dragon, 8 Million Ways to Die |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/oliverstonewakeu0000beav/page/48 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Bebenek |first1=Chris |editor1-last=Gates |editor1-first=Henry Louis |editor1-link=Henry Louis Gates |editor2-last=Higginbotham |editor2-first=Evelyn Brooks |title=African American Lives |year=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-19-516024-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/africanamericanl00gate/page/473 473–474] |chapter=Jones, James Earl |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3dXw6gR2GgkC&pg=PA473 |url=https://archive.org/details/africanamericanl00gate/page/473 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Cross |first1=Gary |title=Men to Boys: The Making of Modern Immaturity |year=2008 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |location=New York, United States |isbn=978-0-231-14430-8 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780231144308 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Dyer |first1=Richard |author-link1=Richard Dyer |editor1-last=Adams |editor1-first=Rachel |editor2-last=Savran |editor2-first=David |title=The Masculinity Studies Reader |year=2002 |publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell|Blackwell Publishers]] |location=Oxford, United Kingdom |isbn=0-631-22660-5 |pages=262–273 |chapter=The White Man's Muscles }} This was originally printed in {{cite book |title=White |year=1997 |publisher=Routledge |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=0-415-09537-9 |pages=145–153, 155–165, 230–231}}
* {{cite book |last1=Elley |first1=Derek |title=The Epic Film: Myth and History |series=Cinema and Society |year=1984 |publisher=[[Routledge|Routledge & Kegan Paul]] |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=0-7100-9656-9 |pages=136–159 |chapter=Early Medieval: Norsemen, Saxons, and the Cid }}
* {{cite book |last1=Flynn |first1=John L. |title=The Films of Arnold Schwarzenegger |edition=Revised and updated |series=Citadel Press Book |year=1996 |orig-year=1993 |publisher=Carol Publishing Group |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-8065-1645-3 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Gunden |first1=Kenneth von |title=Flights of Fancy: The Great Fantasy Films |year=1989 |publisher=McFarland & Company |location=North Carolina, United States |isbn=0-7864-1214-3 |pages=14–29 |chapter=Conan the Barbarian: Sword and Sorcery |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E5oTurPZbdUC&pg=PA14 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Herron |first1=Don |title=The Dark Barbarian—The Writings of Robert E. Howard: A Critical Anthology |date=September 2000 |orig-year=1984 |publisher=Wildside Press |location=New Jersey, United States |isbn=1-58715-203-7 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Hoberman |first1=James |author-link1=J. Hoberman |editor1-last=Arroyo |editor1-first=José |title=Action/Spectacle Cinema |year=2000 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=0-85170-756-4 |pages=29–33 |chapter=Nietzsche's Boy }} This article was originally published in {{cite magazine |date=September 1991 |magazine=[[Sight and Sound]] |volume=1 |issue=5 |pages=22–25 |location=London, United Kingdom |publisher=British Film Institute |issn=0037-4806|title=Nietzsche's Boy }}
* {{cite book |last1=Howorth |first1=Henry Hoyle |author-link1=Henry Hoyle Howorth |title=History of the Mongols: The Mongols Proper and the Kalmuks |series=History of the Mongols from the 9th to the 19th Century |volume=1 |year=1876 |publisher=[[Longman|Longmans, Green and Company]] |location=London, United Kingdom |pages=49–115 |chapter=Jingis Khan |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/historymongolsm01howogoog#page/n148/mode/1up }}
* {{cite book |last1=Jovanovski |first1=Thomas |title=Aesthetic Transformations: Taking Nietzsche at His Word |series=American University studies |volume=204 |year=2008 |publisher=[[Peter Lang (publishing company)|Peter Lang]] |location=New York, United States |isbn=978-0-8204-2002-8 |pages=103–110 |chapter=Übermensch on Parade }}
* {{cite book |last1=Karlin |first1=Fred |author-link1=Fred Karlin |title=Listening to Movies: The Film Lover's Guide to Film Music |year=1994 |publisher=Wadsworth Group |location=California, United States |isbn=0-02-873315-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/listeningtomovie0000karl/page/3 3–16] |chapter=Planning the Score |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/listeningtomovie0000karl/page/3 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Kendrick |first1=James |title=Hollywood Bloodshed |year=2009 |publisher=[[Southern Illinois University Press]] |location=Illinois, United States |isbn=978-0-8093-2888-8 |pages=79–105 |chapter=Pure Action, Packaged Violence }}
* {{cite book |last1=Kurohashi |first1=Yuko |title=Asian American Culture on Stage: The History of the East West Players |year=1999 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis|Garland Publishing]] |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-8153-3147-9 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Larson |first1=Randall D. |title=Musique Fantastique: A Survey of Film Music in the Fantastic Cinema |year=1985 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |location=New Jersey, United States |isbn=0-8108-1728-4 |pages=347–356 |chapter=Classical Music }}
* {{cite book |last1=Maltin |first1=Leonard |author-link1=Leonard Maltin |title=Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2009 |year=2008 |orig-year=1969 |publisher=[[Penguin Group]] |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=978-0-452-28978-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780452289789 }}
* {{cite book |last=MacDonald |first=Laurence E |title=The Invisible Art of Film Music: A Comprehensive History |year=1998 |publisher=Ardsley House |location=New York, United States |isbn=1-880157-56-X |pages=291–294 |chapter=1982—Basil Poledouris: Conan the Barbarian }}
* {{cite book |last1=Morgan |first1=David |title=Knowing the Score: Film Composers Talk About the Art, Craft, Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Writing for Cinema |year=2000 |publisher=HarperEntertainment |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-380-80482-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/knowingscorefilm00morg }}
* {{cite book |last1=Moya |first1=José Enrique Martínez |title=Almería, un Mundo de Película |trans-title=Almería, A World of Film |series=Almería y Los Almerienses |volume=11 |year=1999 |publisher=Almería Studies Institute |location=Almería, Spain |language=es |isbn=84-8108-169-8 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Nicholls |first1=Peter |author-link1=Peter Nicholls (writer) |title=The World of Fantastic Films: An Illustrated Survey |year=1984 |publisher=Dodd, Mead, and Company |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-396-08382-X }}
* {{cite book |last1=Peary |first1=Danny |author-link1=Danny Peary |title=Guide for the Film Fanatic |year=1986 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-671-61081-3 |page=101 |chapter=Conan the Barbarian }}
* {{cite book |last1=Popadiuk |first1=Roman |author-link1=Roman Popadiuk |title=The Leadership of George Bush: An Insider's View of the Forty-First President |series=Joseph V. Hughes Jr., and Holly O. Hughes Series in the Presidency and Leadership Studies |year=2009 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |location=Texas, United States |isbn=978-1-60344-112-4 |pages=92–110 |chapter=Behind the Scenes }}
* {{cite book |last1=Prince |first1=Stephen |editor1-last=Harpole |editor1-first=Charles |editor1-link=Charles Harpole |title=A New Pot of Gold: Hollywood Under the Electronic Rainbow, 1980–1989 |series=History of the American Cinema |volume=10 |year=2000 |publisher=Charles Scribner's Sons |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-684-80493-X |chapter=The Industry at the Dawn of the Decade |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UyWmUV7WefgC&pg=PA1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica0000unse_x8l5 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Richards |first1=Jeffrey |author-link1=Jeffrey Richards |title=Films and British National Identity: From Dickens to Dad's Army |series=Studies in Popular Culture |year=1997 |publisher=Manchester University Press |location=Manchester, United Kingdom |isbn=0-7190-4743-9 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Riordan |first1=James |title=Stone: The Controversies, Excesses, and Exploits of a Radical Filmmaker |year=1994 |publisher=Hyperion Books |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-7868-6026-X |url=https://archive.org/details/stonecontroversi00rior }}
* {{cite book |last1=Roberts |first1=Adam |title=Silk and Potatoes: Contemporary Arthurian Fantasy |series=Costerus New Series |volume=114 |year=1998 |publisher=Rodopi Publishers |location=Amsterdam, Netherlands |isbn=90-420-0306-5 |pages=110–131 |chapter=Arthurian Cinema: Aesthetic Fascism and Its Critique }}
* {{cite book |last1=Rossen |first1=Jake |title=Superman vs. Hollywood: How Fiendish Producers, Devious Directors, and Warring Writers Grounded an American Icon |year=2008 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |location=Illinois, United States |isbn=978-1-55652-731-9 |pages=158–173 |chapter=Nuclear Disaster }}
* {{cite book |last1=Ryan |first1=Michael |last2=Kellner |first2=Douglas |author-link2=Douglas Kellner |title=Camera Politica: The Politics and Ideology of Contemporary Hollywood Film |edition=First Midland Book |year=1990 |orig-year=1988 |publisher=Indiana University Press |location=Indiana, United States |isbn=0-253-20604-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/camerapoliticapo00ryan/page/219 219–228] |chapter=The Triumph of Individualism—From Man to Superman |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S9KZQ3iHeE0C&pg=PA219 |url=https://archive.org/details/camerapoliticapo00ryan/page/219 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Sammon |first1=Paul |title=Conan the Phenomenon: The Legacy of Robert E. Howard's Fantasy Icon |date=September 2007 |publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse Books]] |location=Oregon, United States |isbn=978-1-59307-653-5 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Saunders |first1=Dave |title=Arnold: Schwarzenegger and the Movies |year=2009 |publisher=I.B. Tauris |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84511-948-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/arnoldschwarzene00saun/page/47 47–120] |chapter=Colossus: Arnold's Hollywood Putsch |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/arnoldschwarzene00saun/page/47 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Schubart |first1=Rikke |author-link1=Rikke Schubart |title=Super Bitches and Action Babes: The Female Hero in Popular Cinema, 1970–2006 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GYOeGrtUjAoC |year=2007 |publisher=McFarland & Company |location=North Carolina, United States |isbn=978-0-7864-2924-0 }}
* {{cite book |title=Heritage Vintage Movie Posters #7025 |type=auction catalogue |year=2010 |publisher=Heritage Auctions |location=Texas, United States |isbn=978-1-59967-471-1 |pages=103–196 |chapter=Session Two, Auction #7205 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yiymh5Qicd8C&pg=PA103 |ref={{SfnRef|Heritage Auctions|2010}} }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{cite book |last1=Shaw |first1=Tony |title=Hollywood's Cold War |year=2007 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press|location=Edinburgh, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-55849-612-5 |pages=267–300 |chapter=The Empire Strikes Back }}
* {{cite book |last1=Solomon |first1=Robert C. |title=The Joy of Philosophy: Thinking Thin Versus the Passionate Life |year=2003 |orig-year=1999 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-19-506759-2 |pages=31–35 |chapter=The Will to Power as Virtue }}
* {{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Tony |title=Music for the Movies |edition=2nd|year=1997 |publisher=Silman-James Press |location=California, United States |isbn=1-879505-37-1 |pages=322–329 |chapter=More Recently—Basil Poledouris }}
* {{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=Graham |title=American Culture in the 1980s |series=Twentieth-Century American Culture |year=2007 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |location=Edinburgh, United Kingdom |isbn=978-0-7486-1910-8 |pages=89–122 |chapter=Film and Television }}
* {{cite book |last1=Twitchell |first1=James B. |title=Carnival Culture: The Trashing of Taste in America |year=1992 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-231-07831-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/carnivalculturet00twit_0/page/193 193–252] |chapter=Programming Television: Reflections on the Electronic Midway |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/carnivalculturet00twit_0/page/193 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Vogel |first1=Harold |title=Entertainment Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis |edition=8th |year=2011 |orig-year=1986 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=New York, United States |isbn=978-1-107-00309-5 |pages=71–111 |chapter=Movie Macroeconomics |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfyFFCyRvX0C&pg=PA71 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Weiner |first1=Robert G. |title=Marvel Graphic Novels and Related Publications |year=2008 |publisher=McFarland & Company |location=North Caroline, United States |isbn=978-0-7864-2500-6 |pages=215–226 |chapter=Marvel and Marvel-Related Paperbacks }}
* {{cite book |last1=Whitlark |first1=James |title=Illuminated Fantasy: From Blake's Visions to Recent Graphic Fiction |year=1988 |publisher=Associated University Presses |location=New Jersey, United States |isbn=0-8386-3305-6 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/illuminatedfanta0000whit/page/110 110–117] |chapter=Cinematic Magic: From Motion Picture to Comic-Book Adaptation |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QEc7rTbFU7AC&pg=PA110 |url=https://archive.org/details/illuminatedfanta0000whit/page/110 }}
* {{cite book|last=Wilson|first=John|title=The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst |year=2005|publisher=Grand Central Publishing|isbn=0-446-69334-0}}
* {{cite book |last1=Wood |first1=Robin |author-link1=Robin Wood (critic) |title=Hollywood from Vietnam to Reagan&nbsp;... and Beyond |edition=Revised and expanded |year=2003 |orig-year=1986 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-231-12967-X |pages=[https://archive.org/details/hollywoodfromvie00robi/page/144 144–167] |chapter=Papering the Cracks: Fantasy and Ideology in the Reagan Era |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/hollywoodfromvie00robi/page/144 }}
{{Refend}}

==== Essays and journals ====
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last1=Capella-Miternique |first1=Hugo |editor1-last=Jussila |editor1-first=Heikki |editor2-last=Majoral i Moliné |editor2-first=Roser |editor3-last=Cullen |editor3-first=Bradley |title=Sustainable Development and Geographical Space: Issues of Population, Environment, Globalization and Education in Marginal Regions |series=Marginal Regions (and In Association with IGU – Dynamics of Marginal and Critical Regions) |date=July 2002 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |location=Hampshire, United Kingdom |isbn=0-7546-1860-9 |pages=270–283 |chapter=A Tale Right Out of Hollywood—Set in the Desert of Almeira, in Spain? }}
* {{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=David |editor1-last=Lewis |editor1-first=Jon |title=The New American Cinema |year=1999 |orig-year=1998 |publisher=Duke University Press |location=North Carolina, United States |isbn=0-7864-2016-2 |pages=11–37 |chapter=Auteur Cinema and the "Film Generation" in 1970s Hollywood |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a3nIi8PZVagC&pg=PA11 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Falicov |first=Tamara L. |date=Spring 2003 |title=B-Movies in the Pampas: Roger Corman's Co-Productions in Argentina |journal=Hemisphere |volume=12 |pages=25–27 |location=Florida, United States |publisher=Florida International University's Latin American and Caribbean Center |issn=0898-3038 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Grindley |first1=Carl James |editor1-last=Driver |editor1-first=Martha W. |editor2-last=Ray |editor2-first=Sid |title=The Medieval Hero On Screen: Representations from Beowulf to Buffy |year=2004 |publisher=McFarland & Company |location=North Carolina, United States |isbn=0-7864-1926-1 |pages=151–166 |chapter=The Hagiography of Steel: The Hero's Weapon }}
* {{cite book |last1=Huckvale |first1=David |editor1-last=Tambling |editor1-first=Jeremy |title=A Night in at the Opera: Media Representations of Opera |year=1994 |publisher=John Libbey and Company |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=0-86196-466-7 |pages=113–144 |chapter=The Composing Machine: Wagner and Popular Culture }}
* {{cite book |last1=Hunter |first1=Ian |editor1-last=Cartmell |editor1-first=Deborah |editor2-last=Whelehan |editor2-first=Imelda |title=The Cambridge Companion to Literature on Screen |series=Cambridge Companions to Literature |year=2007 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=New York, United States |isbn=978-0-521-61486-3 |doi=10.1017/CCOL0521849624.011 |pages=154–166 |chapter=Post-classical Fantasy Cinema: The Lord of the Rings |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fhJNFc1f0DAC&pg=PA154 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Irwin |first1=William |author-link1=William Irwin (philosopher) |title=Metallica and Philosophy: A Crash Course in Brain Surgery |year=2007 |publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell|Blackwell Publishing]] |location=Oxford, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-4051-6348-4 |pages=16–28 |chapter=This Search Goes On: Christian, Warrior, Buddhist |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=82bvhAwWaUgC&pg=PA16 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Kellner |first1=Douglas |editor-last=Schatz |editor-first=Thomas |title=Hollywood: Cultural Dimensions: Ideology, Identity and Cultural Industry Studies |series=Hollywood: Critical Concepts in Media and Cultural Studies |volume=4 |year=2004 |publisher=Routledge |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=0-415-28131-8 |pages=69–92 |chapter=Films, Politics, and Ideology: Reflections on Hollywood Film in the Age of Reagan }}
* {{cite book |last1=Marklund |first1=Anders |editor1-last=Larsson |editor1-first=Mariah |title=Swedish Film: An Introduction and a Reader |year=2010 |publisher=Nordic Academic Press |location=Lund, Sweden |isbn=978-91-85509-36-2 |pages=306–310 |chapter=Swedish Films and Filmmakers Abroad—Introduction |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pao6_-BjqvIC&pg=PA306 }}
* {{cite book |last1=McDonagh |first1=Maitland |author-link1=Maitland McDonagh |editor1-first=Michael |editor1-last=Atkinson |editor1-link=Michael Atkinson (writer) |title=Exile Cinema: Filmmakers at Work Beyond Hollywood |series=Horizons of Cinema |year=2008 |publisher=State University of New York Press |location=New York, United States |isbn=978-0-7914-7377-1 |pages=131–136 |chapter=Dellamorte Dellamore and Michele Soavi }}
* {{cite book |last1=Palumbo |first1=Donald E |editor1-last=Morse |editor1-first=Donald E. |title=The Fantastic in World Literature and the Arts: Selected Essays from the Fifth International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts (1984) |series=Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy |volume=28 |date=November 11, 1987 |publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Connecticut, United States |isbn=0-313-25526-1 |pages=211–228 |chapter=The Underground Journey and the Death and Resurrection Theme in Recent Science Fiction and Fantasy Films }}
* {{cite journal |last=Passman |first=Kristina |year=1991 |title=The Classical Amazon in Contemporary Cinema |journal=Classics and Cinema |volume=35 |series=Bucknell Review |issue=1 |pages=81–105 |location=Pennsylvania, United States |publisher=Bucknell University Press |editor1-last=Winkler |editor1-first=Martin |isbn=0-8387-5198-9 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Whitaker |first=Albert Keith |year=2003 |title=In the Classroom: California Dreamin' in the Postmodern Academy |journal=The Journal of Education |volume=184 |issue=2 |pages=123–124 |location=Massachusetts, United States |publisher=Boston University |issn=0022-0574 |doi=10.1177/002205740418400208 |s2cid=191816702 }}
{{Refend}}

==== Newspaper and magazine articles ====
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite magazine |date=October 1980 |title=At Random: Pumping Irony—Lopez Goes Hollywood |magazine=Surfing |volume=16 |issue=10 |page=27 |location=California, United States |publisher=Western Empire Publications |issn=0194-9314 |ref={{SfnRef|Western Empire|1980}} }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Behar |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Behar |date=April 9, 1990 |title=Star Of His Own Dubious Epic |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |volume=135 |issue=15 |page=63 |location=New York, United States |issn=0040-781X |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,969795,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215153910/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C969795%2C00.html |archive-date=December 15, 2008 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite magazine |date=July 5, 1982 |title=Blockbuster Risks at the Box Office |magazine=[[Bloomberg Businessweek|BusinessWeek]] |issue=2746 |page=88 |location=New York, United States |issn=0007-7135 |ref={{SfnRef|BusinessWeek|1982}} }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Brougher |first=Kerry |date=August 1982 |title=Films: Conan Swings a Heavy Sword—and Misses |magazine=Orange Coast |pages=102–103 |location=California, United States |issn=0279-0483 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZhYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA102 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Brown |first=Royal S. |date=September–October 1982 |title=Soundtracks |magazine=[[Fanfare (magazine)|Fanfare]] |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=483–491 |location=New Jersey, United States |issn=0148-9364 }}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Bruzenak |first1=Ken |author-link1=Ken Bruzenak |date=December 1981 |title=The Making of an Adventure Epic Conan the Barbarian |magazine=Mediascene Prevue |volume=2 |issue=6 |pages=51–57, 65 |location=Pennsylvania, United States |issn=0199-9257 }}
* {{cite news |title=Film View—Thoughts While Held Captive by an 'Escapist' Movie |last=Canby |first=Vincent |author-link=Vincent Canby |access-date=July 17, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/23/movies/film-view-thoughts-while-held-captive-by-an-escapist-movie.html?pagewanted=all |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 23, 1982a }}
* {{cite news |title=Film View—Questions Grown in the Dark |last=Canby |first=Vincent |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 6, 1982b |at=section 2, p. 19, col. 1 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Carney |first=Thomas |date=September 29, 1987 |title=The Maverick Producer |magazine=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |series=The Business World |pages=65–66, 72, 74 |issn=0028-7822 }}
* {{cite news |title=Conversations—Winning According to Arnold Schwarzenegger |last=Christy |first=Marian |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |issn=0743-1791 |date=May 9, 1982 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|294151457}} }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Churcher |first=Sharon |date=August 31, 1981 |title=Intelligencer—Studio Brass Said to Cringe at 'Barbarian' Movie |magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |volume=14 |issue=34 |pages=11–13 |issn=0028-7369 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J-QCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Clarens |first=Carlos |author-link=Carlos Clarens |date=May–June 1982 |title=Barbarians Now |magazine=[[Film Comment]] |volume=18 |issue=3 |pages=26–28 |location=New York, United States |publisher=Film Society of Lincoln Center |issn=0015-119X }}
* {{cite news |title=Conan el Bárbaro |url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1982/04/15/007.html |format=PDF |newspaper=[[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] |location=Madrid, Spain |date=April 15, 1982 |page=7 |language=es |trans-title=Conan the Barbarian |ref={{SfnRef|ABC|1982a}} |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |access-date=August 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217162127/http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1982/04/15/007.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Cook |first=Page |year=1983 |title=The Sound Track—1982's Best Sound Tracks |magazine=Films in Review |volume=34 |pages=118–122 |location=New York, United States |publisher=National Board of Review of Motion Pictures |issn=0015-1688 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Denby |first=David |author-link=David Denby (film critic) |date=May 24, 1982 |title=Sweat and Strain |magazine=New York |volume=15 |issue=21 |pages=68, 70 |issn=0028-7369 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=recCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68 }}
* {{cite news |title=Fotogramas de Plata |url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1982/03/06/068.html |format=PDF |newspaper=ABC |location=Madrid, Spain |date=March 6, 1982 |at=p. 48 El mundo del espectáculo |language=es |trans-title=Silver Frames |ref={{SfnRef|ABC|1982b}} |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |access-date=August 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924173104/http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1982/03/06/068.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Franck |first=Loren |date=November 1985 |title=The Crash Course in Sword Training: It Works for the Stars, but How About Martial Artists? |magazine=[[Black Belt (magazine)|Black Belt]] |volume=23 |issue=11 |pages=20–24, 98 |location=California, United States |issn=0277-3066 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2tsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20 }}
* {{cite news |title="Conan, el Bárbaro", Una Superproducción Internacional en Los Estudios Españoles |last=Galindo |first=Carlos |url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1981/03/11/083.html |format=PDF |newspaper=ABC |location=Madrid, Spain |date=March 11, 1981 |at=p. 11 aerial edition |language=es |trans-title="Conan the Barbarian", a Spanish Study of an International Blockbuster |archive-date=September 6, 2012 |access-date=September 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906215811/http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1981/03/11/083.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Geringer |first=Dan |date=December 7, 1987 |title=Pex Sell Tix |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |volume=67 |issue=25 |pages=80–84, 86–90 |location=New York, United States |issn=0038-822X |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/edb/reader.html?magID=SI&issueDate=19871207&mode=reader_vault |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404210732/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/edb/reader.html?magID=SI&issueDate=19871207&mode=reader_vault |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite news |title=Reporter's Notebook—Crowded Previews Thrust Universal's 'Conan' into Spotlight |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |author-link=Aljean Harmetz |newspaper=The New York Times, United States |date=March 16, 1982a |at=section C, p. 11, col. 1 |ref={{SfnRef|Harmetz|1982}} }}
* {{cite news |title=1982 A Bonanza Year at Movie Box Offices |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 25, 1983 |at=section C, p. 11, col. 1 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Helman |first=Christopher |date=November 24, 2003 |title=Schwarzenegger's Sargent |magazine=[[Forbes]] |volume=172 |issue=11 |pages=276–280 |location=New York, United States |issn=0015-6914 |url=http://members.forbes.com/forbes/2003/1124/276_print.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206114902/http://members.forbes.com/forbes/2003/1124/276_print.html |archive-date=February 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 30, 2011 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Kilday |first=Gregg |date=June 1999 |title=The Industry—The Selling of Summer |magazine=[[Los Angeles (magazine)|Los Angeles]] |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 |issn=1522-9149 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dl4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Kroll |first=Jack |author-link=Jack Kroll |date=May 17, 1982 |title=A Cut-up Called Conan |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |volume=99 |issue=20 |page=100 |location=California, United States |issn=0028-9604 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Mérigeau |first=Pascal |author-link = Pascal Mérigeau|year=1982 |title=Analyses des Longs Métrages: Conan le Barbare |trans-title=Feature Films Analysis: Conan the Barbarian |magazine=La Saison Cinématographique |volume=26 |series=La revue du cinéma |page=82 |location=Paris, France |publisher=L'Ufoléis |language=fr |issn=0019-2635 }}
* {{cite magazine |date=October 5, 1985 |title=Video Track |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=97 |issue=40 |page=36A |location=New York, United States |editor1-first=Linda |editor1-last=Moleski |issn=0006-2510 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT27 }}
* {{cite magazine |date=August 1982 |title=Musync: Computerized Music Editing |magazine=[[American Cinematographer]] |volume=63 |issue=8 |pages=783–786 |location=California, United States |publisher=American Society of Cinematographers |issn=0002-7928 |ref={{SfnRef|ASC|1982}} }}
* {{cite magazine |date=October 2, 1982 |title=New on the Charts |magazine=Billboard |volume=94 |issue=39 |page=42 |location=New York, United States |issn=0006-2510 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=giQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT69 |ref={{SfnRef|Billboard|1982}} }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Pulleine |first=Tim |date=June 1986 |title=Edward R. Pressman: From Phantom of the Paradise to Plenty and Beyond |magazine=[[Films and Filming]] |issue=381 |page=21 |location=London |publisher=Brevet Publishing |issn=0015-167X }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Rees |first=Matt |date=May 25, 1992 |title=Corporate America's Most Powerful People—Arnold Schwarzenegger |magazine=Forbes |volume=149 |issue=11 |pages=159–160 |location=New York, United States |issn=0015-6914 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Robb |first=David |date=May 10, 1994 |title=Does AHA Have Enough Bite? |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |volume=332 |issue=9 |pages=1, 6, 90 |location=California, United States |issn=0018-3660 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Sammon |first=Paul |date=September 1981 |title=Nine Days in Cimmeria |magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=16–37 |location=Illinois, United States |issn=0145-6032 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Sammon |first=Paul |date=April 1982a |title=Conan the Barbarian |magazine=Cinefantastique |volume=12 |issue=2 and 3 |pages=28–63 |location=Illinois, United States |issn=0145-6032 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Sammon |first=Paul |date=May–June 1982b |title=Reviews—Conan the Barbarian |magazine=Cinefantastique |volume=12 |issue=4 |page=49 |location=Illinois, United States |issn=0145-6032 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Sammon |first=Paul |date=September 1984 |title=Conan II |magazine=Cinefantastique |volume=14 |issue=4 and 5 |pages=4–7 |location=Illinois, United States |issn=0145-6032 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Schickel |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Schickel |date=May 24, 1982 |title=Cinema: Overkill |magazine=Time |volume=119 |issue=21 |page=76 |location=New York, United States |issn=0040-781X |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953529,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113073410/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C953529%2C00.html |archive-date=January 13, 2005 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite news |title=  Anthea Sylbert doesn't just drop director John Milius' name|last=Segaloff |first=Nat |newspaper=The Boston Globe |issn=0743-1791 |date=August 30, 1981 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|294163877}} }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Turan |first=Kenneth |author-link=Kenneth Turan |date=January 1980 |title=The Barbarian in Babylon |magazine=[[Savage Sword of Conan]] |volume=1 |issue=48 |pages=56–66 |location=New York, United States |publisher=Marvel Comics |orig-year=August 27, 1979}} This article was first published in {{cite magazine |title=The Barbarian in Babylon |date=August 27, 1979 |magazine=New West |volume=4 |issue=18 |pages=16–25 |location=California, United States |issn=0362-1146}}
* {{cite news |title=Movie Making Magic |author=Universal Studios |author-link=Universal Pictures |newspaper=The Herald (Everett) |location=Washington, United States |date=June 24, 1983 |page=10A }}
* {{cite magazine |date=March 5, 1983 |title=Videocassette Top 40 |magazine=Billboard |volume=95 |issue=9 |page=31 |location=New York, United States |issn=0006-2510 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eCQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT30 |ref={{SfnRef|Billboard|1983}} }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Williams |first=Owen |date=May 2010 |title=Conan the Unmade |magazine=[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]] |issue=251 |pages=114–120 |location=London, United Kingdom |publisher=Bauer Media |issn=0957-4948 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=Wolcott |first=James |author-link=James Wolcott |date=July 1982 |title=Movies |magazine=[[Texas Monthly]] |volume=10 |issue=7 |pages=154, 156, 158, 160 |location=Texas, United States |issn=0148-7736 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7y0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA154 }}
{{Refend}}

; Interviews
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gallagher |first1=John Andrew |last2=Milius |first2=John (subject) |author-link2=John Milius |title=Film Directors on Directing |year=1989 |publisher=Praeger Publishers |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=0-275-93272-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/filmdirectorsond00gall/page/169 169–181] |chapter=John Milius |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/filmdirectorsond00gall/page/169 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.runmovies.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=471:basil-poledouris-a-man-and-his-music |title=Basil Poledouris: A Man and His Music |last1=Koppl |first1=Rudy |last2=Poledouris |first2=Basil (subject) |author-link2=Basil Poledouris |date=July 2, 2009 |work=CinemaScore · Soundtrack · Archives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803011640/http://www.runmovies.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=471:basil-poledouris-a-man-and-his-music |archive-date=August 3, 2011 |url-status=dead }} This interview was originally published in {{cite journal |title=Basil Poledouris: A Man and His Music |date=December 1997 |journal=Soundtrack! |volume=16 |issue=64 |location=Belgium |publisher=Luc Van de Ven |issn=0771-6303}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Larson |first1=Randall|date=Fall 1982 |title=The Music of Conan |journal=CinemaScore: The Film Music Journal|issue=10 |pages=7–8 |location=California, United States |publisher=Randall D. Larson |issn=0277-9803 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.runmovies.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:basil-poledouris-on-flesh-a-blood |title=Basil Poledouris on Flesh & Blood |last1=Larson |first1=Randall D. |last2=Poledouris |first2=Basil (subject) |year=2008 |work=CinemaScore · Soundtrack · Archives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803011736/http://www.runmovies.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:basil-poledouris-on-flesh-a-blood |archive-date=August 3, 2011 |url-status=dead }} This interview was originally published in {{cite journal |date=Winter–Summer 1985 |title=Basil Poledouris on Flesh & Blood |journal=[[CinemaScore]] |issue=13/14 |location=California, United States |publisher=Randall D. Larson |issn=0277-9803}}
* {{cite book |last1=McGilligan |first1=Pat |last2=Stone |first2=Oliver (subject) |author-link2=Oliver Stone |editor1-first=Charles L. P |editor1-last=Silet |title=Oliver Stone: Interviews |series=Conversations with Filmmakers |year=2001 |orig-year=1987 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |location=Mississippi, United States |isbn=1-57806-303-5 |pages=10–38 |chapter=Point Man |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AZSG19XFvwIC&pg=PA14 }} This interview first appeared in {{cite magazine |title=Oliver Stone: Interviews |date=February 1987 |magazine=[[Film Comment]] |volume=23 |issue=1 |location=New York, United States |publisher=Film Society of Lincoln Center|issn=0015-119X}}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Mitchell |first1=Blake |last2=Ferguson |first2=Jim |last3=Cobb |first3=Ron (subject) |author-link3=Ron Cobb |date=June 1982 |title=Conan, the Barbarian |magazine=[[Fantastic Films]] |volume=4 |issue=5 |pages=10–22 |location=Illinois, United States |publisher=Michael Stein |issn=0273-7043 }}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Sammon |first1=Paul |last2=Cobb |first2=Ron (subject) |date=April 1982 |title=Cobb the Designer |magazine=Cinefantastique |volume=12 |issue=2 and 3 |pages=64–71 |location=Illinois, United States |publisher=Frederick S. Clarke |issn=0145-6032 }}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Sammon |first1=Paul |last2=Milius |first2=John (subject) |date=April 1982 |title=Milius the Director |magazine=Cinefantastique |volume=12 |issue=2 and 3 |pages=22–27 |location=Illinois, United States |publisher=Frederick S. Clarke |issn=0145-6032 }}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Steranko |first1=James |last2=Bergman |first2=Sandahl (subject) |author-link2=Sandahl Bergman |date=September 1982 |title=Sandahl Bergman—Sensational Sexy Warrior Woman of Conan |magazine=Mediascene Prevue |volume=2 |issue=9 |pages=41–46, 73 |location=Pennsylvania, United States |publisher=James Steranko |issn=0199-9257 }}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Steranko |first1=James |last2=Milius |first2=John (subject) |date=July 1982 |title=John Milius—Behind-the-Scenes Interview with the Writer/Director of Conan |magazine=Mediascene Prevue |volume=2 |issue=8 |location=Pennsylvania, United States |publisher=James Steranko |issn=0199-9257 |url=http://www.prevuemagazine.com/Articles/Thevault/240 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020805203203/http://www.prevuemagazine.com/Articles/Thevault/240 |archive-date=August 5, 2002 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Steranko |first1=James |last2=Schwarzenegger |first2=Arnold (subject) |author-link2=Arnold Schwarzenegger |date=May 1982 |title=An Exclusive Conversation With Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Power and Peril of Playing Conan |magazine=Mediascene Prevue |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=26–32, 39 |location=Pennsylvania, United States |publisher=James Steranko |issn=0199-9257 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://jodysamson.com/interview.htm |title=Jody Samon—Master Sword Maker |last1=Waterman |first1=Edward |last2=Samson |first2=Jody (subject) |author-link2=Jody Samson |year=2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021013120805/http://www.jodysamson.com/interview.htm |archive-date=October 13, 2002 |url-status=live }} This article is an updated excerpt from {{cite magazine |title=Jody Samon |date=April 1997 |magazine=The Barbarian Keep |issue=1 |location=Texas, United States |publisher=Robert E. Howard United Press Association}}
{{Refend}}

==== Online ====
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/handv400.pdf |title=AFI's 100 Years 100 Heroes & Villains 400 Nominated Characters |year=2003 |publisher=American Film Institute |location=California, United States |access-date=August 5, 2010 |ref={{SfnRef|AFI|2003}} |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104022712/http://www.afi.com/Docs/100years/handv400.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/scores250.pdf |title=AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores Official Ballot |date=September 23, 2005 |publisher=American Film Institute |location=California, United States |access-date=August 5, 2010 |ref={{SfnRef|AFI|2005}} |archive-date=November 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106023410/http://www.afi.com/Docs/100years/scores250.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=361 |title=AFI's 10 Top 10 Official Ballot |date=January 2008 |publisher=American Film Institute |location=California, United States |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807135149/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=361 |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |access-date=August 5, 2010 |ref={{SfnRef|AFI|2008}} |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Conan-Barbarian-Sequel-Bring-Back-4-Characters-Including-Arnold-Hero-71639.html|title=Conan The Barbarian Sequel Will Bring Back 4 Characters, Including Arnold's Hero|publisher=Cinema Blend|last=Baxter|first=Joseph|date=May 24, 2015}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2005/01/arnold-schwarzenegger-maria-shriver-200501 |title=Mr. and Mrs. California |last=Brenner |first=Marie |author-link=Marie Brenner |date=January 2005 |magazine=Vanity Fair |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008174011/http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2005/01/arnold-schwarzenegger-maria-shriver-200501 |archive-date=October 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }} This is an online version of the article in {{cite magazine |magazine=Vanity Fair |volume=47 |issue=533 |location=New York, United States |publisher=Louis Cona |issn=0733-8899|title=Mr. and Mrs. California}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/28/arnold-schwarzenegger-conan-sequel-title-plot |title=Arnold Schwarzenegger reveals new title, plot details about Conan sequel |last=Dornbush |first=Jonathan |date=January 28, 2016 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 31, 2016 |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818062640/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/28/arnold-schwarzenegger-conan-sequel-title-plot |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/conan-the-barbarian-1982 |title=Conan the Barbarian |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=January 1, 1982 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430030056/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19820101%2FREVIEWS%2F201010313%2F1023 |archive-date=April 30, 2007 |url-status=live }} This is an online version of the article in {{cite news |title=Conan the Barbarian |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |year=1982 }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna41856474 |title=Schwarzenegger: Get Real About Climate Change |last=Fox |first=Stuart |date=March 1, 2011 |work=NBC News |access-date=July 17, 2011 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_27/b3890040_mz011.htm |title=Arnold Is Hitting His Marks |last1=Grover |first1=Ronald |last2=Palmeri |first2=Christopher |date=July 5, 2004 |work=BW Online |publisher=Bloomberg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907160106/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_27/b3890040_mz011.htm |archive-date=September 7, 2008 }} This is an online version of the article in {{cite magazine |date=July 5, 2004 |magazine=BusinessWeek |issue=3890 |pages=42–44 |location=New York, United States |publisher=William P. Kupper Jr. |issn=0007-7135 |title=Arnold Is Hitting His Marks}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/H10/hist/dat89_sp.htm |title=H.10—Foreign Exchange Rates, Spain Historical Rates |date=December 29, 1989 |work=Federal Reserve Statistical Release |publisher=Federal Reserve System |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020626133912/http://www.federalreserve.gov/Releases/h10/Hist/dat89_sp.htm |archive-date=June 26, 2002 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |url-status=live |ref={{SfnRef|Federal Reserve|1989}} }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/30164 |title=HFPA—Awards Search—Sandahl Bergman |year=2011 |publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215211602/http://www.goldenglobes.org/browse/member/30164 |archive-date=December 15, 2009 |access-date=June 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |ref={{SfnRef|HFPA|2011}} }}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/2015/5/24/exclusive-conan-script-is-ready-arnold-reteams-with-barbaria.html|title=Exclusive: Conan Script is Ready & Arnold Reteams with Barbarian Cast in The Legend of Conan!|publisher=TheArnoldFans.com|last=Jennings|first=Randy|date=May 24, 2015|access-date=May 30, 2015|archive-date=May 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529160656/http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/2015/5/24/exclusive-conan-script-is-ready-arnold-reteams-with-barbaria.html|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|title=Exclusive: Polished "Conan" Script Submitted Next Month! Conan Following Terminator!|url=http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/2014/8/4/exclusive-polished-conan-script-submitted-next-month-conan-f.html|last=Jennings|first=Randy|publisher=TheArnoldFans.com|date=August 4, 2014|access-date=August 5, 2014}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/remembering-basil_article_52811.html |title=Remembering Basil |last=Larson |first=Randall D. |date=November 16, 2006 |work=Mania.com |publisher=[[Demand Media]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410185240/http://www.mania.com/remembering-basil_article_52811.html |archive-date=April 10, 2008 |access-date=August 8, 2010 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/24/us/schwarzenegger-confident-and-ready-for-prime-time.html |title=Schwarzenegger, Confident and Ready for Prime Time |last1=LeDuff |first1=Charlie |author-link1=Charlie LeDuff |last2=Broder |first2=John M. |date=June 24, 2004 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011032633/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/24/us/schwarzenegger-confident-and-ready-for-prime-time.html |archive-date=October 11, 2011 |access-date=July 17, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=boweekend&sort=weekend_revenue&date=05%2F14%2F1982&submit.x=23&submit.y=11 |title=Weekend Box Office for May 14 – May 16, 1982 |author=Rentrak Corporation |year=2011a |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |location=New York, United States |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525125706/https://www.webcitation.org/62LThOQ21?url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp%3Flayout=boweekend&sort=weekend_revenue&date=05/14/1982&submit.x=23&submit.y=11 |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=March 29, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=boweekly&sort=weekly_revenue&date=07%2F02%2F1982&submit.x=23&submit.y=11 |title=Weekly Box Office—Jul 02 – Jul 08, 1982 |author=Rentrak Corporation |year=2011b |work=Variety |location=New York, United States |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525125746/https://www.webcitation.org/62LTkfARQ?url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp%3Flayout=boweekly&sort=weekly_revenue&date=07/02/1982&submit.x=23&submit.y=11 |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=March 29, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/legend-conn-conquerer-schawarzenegger-director/|title=Arnold Schwarzenegger Offers Legend of Conan Title & Director Update|publisher=ScreenRant.com|last=Schaefer|first=Sandy|date=January 25, 2016|access-date=January 27, 2016}}
* {{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/2015/05/28/arnold-schwarzeneggers-the-legend-of-conan-could-lead-to-cinemat/|title=Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Legend Of Conan Could Lead To Cinematic Universe Of Robert E. Howard's Creations|publisher=ComicBook.com|last=Steinbeiser|first=Andrew|date=May 28, 2015}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/facts-about-conan-the-barbarian-you-didnt-know/#the-film-angered-animal-rights-activists-and-environmentalists|title=16 Facts About Conan the Barbarian You Didn't Know|work=Blaine Turner|date=January 2023 |publisher=MovieWeb}}
* [[John Walsh (filmmaker)|Walsh, John]] (2023). ''[[Conan the Barbarian: The Official Story of the Film]]''. [[Titan Publishing Group|Titan Books]].

==External links==

* {{Official website | https://www.uphe.com/movies/conan-the-barbarian }}
* [http://www.universalstudiosentertainment.com/conan-the-barbarian/ Universal Studios's page for ''Conan the Barbarian''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412191149/http://www.universalstudiosentertainment.com/conan-the-barbarian/ |date=April 12, 2015 }}
* {{IMDb title|id=0082198|title=Conan the Barbarian}}
* {{TCMDb title|id=19388}}
* {{AFI film|id=56748|title=Conan the Barbarian}}
* {{mojo title|conanthebarbarian|Conan the Barbarian}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|id=conan_the_barbarian|title=Conan the Barbarian}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=Conan the Barbarian}}

{{Conan}}
{{John Milius}}
{{Oliver Stone}}


[[Category:1980s action adventure films]]
[[Category:1980s fantasy action films]]
[[Category:1980s fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:1982 adventure films]]
[[Category:1982 films]]
[[Category:1980s dark fantasy films]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]]
[[Category:American action adventure films]]
[[Category:American epic films]]
[[Category:American fantasy action films]]
[[Category:American fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:American films about revenge]]
[[Category:American sword and sorcery films]]
[[Category:Films about cannibalism]]
[[Category:American dark fantasy films]]
[[Category:Films about cults]]
[[Category:Films about religion]]
[[Category:Films about witchcraft]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Robert E. Howard]]
[[Category:Films directed by John Milius]]
[[Category:Films produced by Raffaella De Laurentiis]]
[[Category:Films scored by Basil Poledouris]]
[[Category:Films shot at Shepperton Studios]]
[[Category:Films shot in Almería]]
[[Category:Films shot in Surrey]]
[[Category:Films shot in the Province of Ávila]]
[[Category:Films shot in the Province of Cuenca]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by John Milius]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Oliver Stone]]
[[Category:Fiction about gladiatorial combat]]
[[Category:Conan the Barbarian films]]
[[Category:1980s sword-and-sandal films]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films produced by Buzz Feitshans]]
[[Category:1982 English-language films]]
[[Category:1982 American films]]
[[Category:1982 Italian films]]
[[Category:English-language action adventure films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy action films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]
[[Category:1980s epic films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Conan the Barbarian (1982 film)|access_date=2026-03-01}}