Willow (1988 film)

The evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda of Nockmaar hears of a prophecy that a child with a special rune birthmark will bring about her downfall. She imprisons all pregnant women in her realm. The child is born, but her mother persuades the midwife to smuggle the baby out of the castle. Bavmorda sends her Nockmaar Hounds after the midwife. With the hounds closing in on her, the midwife sets the baby adrift on a tangle of dried grass in a river before succumbing to the hounds. Meanwhile, Bavmorda sends her daughter Sorsha and an army led by General Kael to hunt down the baby.

Downriver, a village of Nelwyn (a race of dwarves) prepares for a festival. The baby is found by the children of farmer and aspiring sorcerer Willow Ufgood, and his family takes her in. At the festival, a Nockmaar hound arrives and attacks cradles. After Nelwyn warriors kill it, Willow presents the baby to the village leader as a possible reason for the hound's appearance. The leader orders the baby must return to a Daikini (the Nelwyn's name for "tall people") family, so Willow and other volunteers set out with the baby to find one.

At a crossroads, they find Madmartigan, a mercenary trapped in a crow's cage, who offers to take the baby in exchange for his freedom. Most of Willow's party think they should give him the baby, but Willow and his friend Meegosh refuse, causing the others to leave for home. After meeting Madmartigan's old comrade Airk leading an army to attack Nockmaar forces, Willow agrees to Madmartigan's terms.

On the way home, Willow and Meegosh discover that some brownies have stolen the baby, and pursue them. They are captured by the brownies, but Fairy Queen Cherlindrea frees them and explains the baby is Elora Danan, the foretold Princess of Tir Asleen. She gives Willow a magic wand and sends him to find the enchantress Fin Raziel.

Willow sends Meegosh home and continues the journey in the company of two brownies. At a tavern, he re-encounters Madmartigan, who is disguising himself as a woman to hide from his lover's husband Llug. Sorsha and Kael's soldiers arrive, but Madmartigan is revealed as a man to Llug, who starts a brawl which helps Willow and Madmartigan escape with Elora.

Madmartigan allows Willow to follow him to the lake where Raziel lives. They are captured soon thereafter, along with Raziel, who had been turned into a possum by Bavmorda. Willow tries to restore her, but turns her into a rook instead. One of the brownies accidentally doses Madmartigan with love dust, causing him to declare his undying love to a skeptical Sorsha. Fleeing, Willow's party finds Airk and the remnants of his army. When the Nockmaar army pursues, Madmartigan takes Sorsha hostage, and they flee once more, but Sorsha manages to escape.

Willow's party arrives at Tir Asleen, only to find it cursed and overrun with trolls. Kael's army arrives, and Madmartigan and Willow attempt to fend them off. Willow accidentally turns a troll into a giant two-headed monster with his wand, and in the ensuing chaos, Kael captures Elora. Sorsha, realizing she loves Madmartigan, defects to his side. Airk's army arrives, but Kael escapes with Elora and makes his way to Nockmaar Castle, where Bavmorda prepares a ritual to banish Elora into oblivion.

Willow's party and Airk's army travel to Nockmaar Castle, but upon their arrival, Bavmorda casts a spell turning them all into pigs. Willow, having used the wand to protect himself, finally restores Raziel to her human form. She reverses Bavmorda's spell, and Willow's army manages to trick their way into the castle. Kael slays Airk, and Madmartigan avenges him, while Willow, Sorsha, and Raziel confront Bavmorda in the ritual chamber. Bavmorda incapacitates Raziel and Sorsha. Willow uses sleight-of-hand to trick Bavmorda into thinking he made Elora vanish. Bavmorda, unnerved, moves to attack him, but in doing so accidentally completes the ritual while standing next to the altar, banishing herself.

During celebrations at the restored Tir Asleen, Willow is gifted a spellbook by Raziel. Leaving Elora in the care of Madmartigan and Sorsha, Willow returns home to his village and family in triumph.

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood, a Nelwyn farmer and aspiring sorcerer.
• Val Kilmer as Madmartigan, a boastful mercenary swordsman who helps Willow on his quest, falling in love with Sorsha.
• Kate and Ruth Greenfield and Rebecca Bearman as Elora Danan, an infant princess who is prophesied to bring about Bavmorda's downfall.
• Joanne Whalley as Sorsha, Bavmorda's warrior daughter, who falls in love with Madmartigan.
• Jean Marsh as Bavmorda, the villainous queen of Nockmaar, a powerful dark sorceress and the mother of Sorsha.
• Patricia Hayes as Fin Raziel, an elderly sorceress cursed as a brushtail possum by Bavmorda and banished to an island where she remained for an unknown amount of time; Fin Raziel claims she was young and beautiful when Bavmorda cursed her.
• Billy Barty as High Aldwin, the Nelwyn wizard who commissions Willow to go on his journey.
• Pat Roach as Kael, the villainous high commander of Bavmorda's army.
• Gavan O'Herlihy as Airk Thaughbaer, the military commander of the destroyed kingdom of Galladoorn who shares a mixed friendship with Madmartigan.
• Maria Holvöe as Cherlindrea, a fairy queen who resides in the forest and updates Willow on the importance of his quest.
• Kevin Pollak and Rick Overton as Rool and Franjean, a brownie duo who also serve as comic relief in Willow's journey.
• David J. Steinberg as Meegosh, Willow's closest friend who accompanies Willow partway on his journey.
• Mark Northover as Burglekutt, the leader of the Nelwyn village council.
• Phil Fondacaro as Vohnkar, a Nelwyn warrior who accompanies Willow partway on his journey.
• Julie Peters as Kaiya Ufgood, Willow's wife and a loving mother who is enthusiastic in caring for Elora.
• Mark Vandebrake as Ranon Ufgood, Willow and Kaiya's son.
• Dawn Downing as Mims Ufgood, Willow and Kaiya's daughter.
• Malcolm Dixon as a Nelwyn warrior.
• Tony Cox as a Nelwyn warrior.
• Zulema Dene as Ethna, the midwife.
• Sallyanne Law as Elora Danan's mother.
• Kenny Baker and Jack Purvis as Nelwyn Band Members (uncredited)

}}

George Lucas conceived the idea for the film (originally titled Munchkins) in 1972. Similarly to his intent in Star Wars, he created "a number of well-known mythological situations for a young audience".{{cite book |last=Hearn |first=Marcus |date=2005 |title=The Cinema of George Lucas |publisher=Harry N. Abrams, Inc. |location=New York City |isbn=0-8109-4968-7 |page=153}} During the production of Return of the Jedi in 1982, Lucas approached Warwick Davis, who was portraying Wicket the Ewok, about playing Willow Ufgood. Five years passed before he was actually cast in the role. Lucas "thought it would be great to use a little person in a lead role. A lot of my movies are about a little guy against the system, and this was just a more literal interpretation of that idea."

Lucas explained that he had to wait until the mid-1980s to make the film because visual effects technology was finally advanced enough to execute his vision.{{cite news |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |date=May 21, 1987 |title='Star Wars' Is 10, And Lucas Reflects |work=The New York Times |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/052187wars-ten.html |access-date=October 19, 2015}} Meanwhile, actor-turned-director Ron Howard was looking to do a fantasy film. He was at Industrial Light & Magic during the post-production phase of Cocoon, when he was first approached by Lucas to direct Willow. He had previously starred in Lucas's American Graffiti,{{cite book |last=Howard |first=Ron |author-link=Ron Howard |date=2005 |title=The Cinema of George Lucas |chapter=Forward |publisher=Harry N. Abrams, Inc. |location=New York City |isbn=0-8109-4968-7}} and Lucas felt that he and Howard shared a symbiotic relationship similar to the one he enjoyed with Steven Spielberg. Howard nominated Bob Dolman to write the screenplay based on Lucas's story. Dolman had worked with him on a 1983 television pilot called Little Shots that had not resulted in a series, and Lucas admired Dolman's work on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.

Dolman joined Howard and Lucas at Skywalker Ranch for a series of lengthy story conferences, and wrote seven drafts of his script between the spring and fall of 1986.Hearn, p.154-155 Pre-production began in late 1986. Various major film studios turned down the chance to distribute and cofinance it with Lucasfilm because they believed the fantasy genre was unsuccessful. This was largely due to films such as Krull, Legend, Dragonslayer, and Labyrinth.{{cite news |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |date=June 9, 1988 |title=A Pained Lucas Ponders Attacks on 'Willow' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/09/movies/a-pained-lucas-ponders-attacks-on-willow.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=October 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307232652/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/09/movies/a-pained-lucas-ponders-attacks-on-willow.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Lucas took it to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), which was headed by Alan Ladd Jr.{{Cite news |last=Gajewski |first=Ryan |date=December 4, 2022 |title='Willow' Film Writer Says TV Reboot's Process Had "More of a Corporate Feeling" Than Movie |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hollywood-flashback-george-lucas-willow-disney-plus-1235271476/ |access-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130193424/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hollywood-flashback-george-lucas-willow-disney-plus-1235271476/ |url-status=live }} Ladd and Lucas shared a relationship as far back as the mid-1970s, when Ladd, running 20th Century Fox, greenlit Lucas's idea for Star Wars. However, in 1986, MGM was facing financial troubles, and major investment in a fantasy film was perceived as a risk. Ladd advanced half of the $35 million budget in return for theatrical and television rights, leaving Lucasfilm with home video and pay television rights to offer in exchange for the other half. RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video paid $15 million to Lucas in exchange for the video rights.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KuuuBgAAQBAJ&q=willow+rca%2Fcolumbia&pg=PA141|title=Hollywood in the Information Age: Beyond the Silver Screen|last=Wasko|first=Janet|date=2013-06-26|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9780745678337|language=en}}

Lucas named the character of General Kael (Pat Roach) after film critic Pauline Kael,{{cite news |last=Van Gelder |first=Lawrence |date=September 4, 2001 |title=Pauline Kael, Provocative and Widely Imitated New Yorker Film Critic, Dies at 82 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/04/movies/pauline-kael-provocative-and-widely-imitated-new-yorker-film-critic-dies-at-82.html |access-date=July 13, 2008}} a fact that was not lost on Kael in her printed review of the film. She referred to General Kael as an "homage a moi". Similarly, the two-headed dragon was called an "Eborsisk" after film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

Principal photography began on April 2, 1987, and ended the following October. Interior footage took place at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England, while location shooting took place in Dinorwic quarry, Wales, and New Zealand. Lucas initially visualized shooting the film similar to Return of the Jedi, with studio scenes at Elstree and locations in Northern California, but the idea eventually faded. However, some exteriors were done around Skywalker Ranch and on location at Burney Falls, near Mount Shasta. The Chinese government refused Lucas the chance for a brief location shoot. He then sent a group of photographers to South China to photograph specific scenery, which was then used for background blue screen footage. Tongariro National Park in New Zealand was chosen to house Bavmorda's castle.{{cite book |last=Baxter |first=John |date=October 1999 |title=Mythmaker: The Life and Work of George Lucas |publisher=Avon |location=New York City |isbn=0-380-97833-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/mythmakerlifewor00baxt/page/365 365–366] |url=https://archive.org/details/mythmakerlifewor00baxt/page/365 }}

Some of the waterfalls scenes for the movie were shot at Burney Falls in Northern California, although Powerscourt Waterfall in Ireland was also used for other scenes.{{Cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/willow-movie-where-filmed-locations/ |title=Where Was Willow Filmed: All Locations |website=Screen Rant |date=October 20, 2020 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316101806/https://screenrant.com/willow-movie-where-filmed-locations/ |url-status=live }}

File:Willow SFX.png

Lucasfilm's Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) created the visual effects and animation sequences. The script called for Willow to restore Fin Raziel (Patricia Hayes) from a goat to her human form. Willow recites what he thinks is the appropriate spell, but turns the goat into an ostrich, a peacock, a tortoise and, finally, a tiger, before returning her to normal. ILM VFX supervisor Dennis Muren considered using CGI stop-motion animation for the scene.Baxter, p.367 He also explained that another traditional and practical way in the late 1980s to execute this sequence would have been through the use of an optical dissolve with cutaways at various stages.

Muren found both stop-motion and optical effects to be too technically challenging and decided that the transformation scene would be a perfect opportunity for ILM to create advances with digital morphing technology. He proposed filming each animal, and the actress doubling for Hayes, and then feeding the images into a computer program developed by Doug Smythe. The program would then create a smooth transition from one stage to another before outputting the result back onto film. Smythe began development of the necessary software in September 1987. By March 1988, Muren and fellow designer David Allen achieved what would represent a breakthrough for computer-generated imagery (CGI).Hearn, p.156-157 The techniques developed for the sequence were later utilized by ILM for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.{{cite web|url=https://www.vfxvoice.com/over-30-years-willow-has-morphed-into-an-effects-classic/|title=Over 30 Years, WILLOW has Morphed into an Effects Classic|last=Failes|first=Ian|date=April 3, 2018|website=VFX Voice|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404073635/http://vfxvoice.com/over-30-years-willow-has-morphed-into-an-effects-classic/|url-status=live}}

The head of ILM's animation department, Wes Takahashi, supervised the film's animation sequences.{{cite web|url=http://www.agni-animation.com/fullerton/halloffame/Wes_Ford_Takahashi.html|title=Subject: Wes Ford Takahashi|publisher=Animators' Hall of Fame|access-date=June 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812020742/http://www.agni-animation.com/fullerton/halloffame/Wes_Ford_Takahashi.html|archive-date=August 12, 2016|url-status=usurped|df=mdy-all}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Willow

| type = soundtrack

| artist = James Horner

| cover =

| alt =

| released = 1988

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Film music

| length = 69:23

| label = Virgin

| producer = James Horner, Shawn Murphy

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

The film score was composed and conducted by James Horner and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.{{cite web |last=Hobart |first=Tavia |title=Willow [Original Score] |work=AllMusic |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r84663|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=January 20, 2009}} According to Horner, "I am a musicologist, a doctor of music. Therefore I listened to, studied and analysed a lot of music. I also enjoy metaphors, the art of quoting and of cycles. The harmonic draft of the Willow score, and most particularly its spiritual side, came from such a cycle, from such mythology and music history that I was taught, and that I myself convey with my own emotions and compositions."{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Jean-Baptiste |date=June 3, 2013 |title=Willow: Between Quotes |website=jameshorner-filmmusic.com |url=https://jameshorner-filmmusic.com/willow-between-quotes/ |access-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105004153/http://jameshorner-filmmusic.com/willow-between-quotes/ |archive-date=January 5, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

Eclectic influences on the score include Leoš Janáček's Glagolitic Mass, Mozart's "Requiem", "The Nine Splendid Stags" from Béla Bartók, Edvard Grieg's "Arabian Dance" for the theater play Peer Gynt, and compositions by Sergei Prokofiev.

"Willow's Theme" purposefully (see Horner's quote above) contains a reworking/alteration of part of the theme of the first movement ("Lebhaft") of Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 3 referencing it, while "Elora Danan's Theme" shows a reference to the Bulgarian folk song "Mir Stanke Le" (Мир Станке ле), also known as the "Harvest Song from Thrace".

; Track listing

1. "Elora Danan" – 9:45
2. "Escape from the Tavern" – 5:04
3. "Willow's Journey Begins" – 5:26
4. "Canyon of Mazes" – 7:52
5. "Tir Asleen" – 10:47
6. "Willow's Theme" – 3:54
7. "Bavmorda's Spell is Cast" – 18:11
8. "Willow the Sorcerer" – 11:55

In June 2022, Intrada released an expanded score across two CDs (Special Collection Volume ISC 476), with this track listing:

CD 1

1. "Elora Danan" – 9:45
2. "The Nelwyns" – 2:41
3. "The Nelwyns No. 2" – 2:35
4. "Death Dogs" – 2:26
5. "Willow's Journey Begins" – 5:26
6. "Bavmorda's Castle" – 1:21
7. "Airk's Army" – 3:26
8. "The Enchanted Forest" – 5:31
9. "Escape From The Tavern" – 5:04
10. "The Island" – 5:10
11. "Willow Captured" – 1:59
12. "Arrival At Snow Camp" – 1:17
13. "The Sled Ride" – 7:56

CD 2

1. "Willow's Theme" – 3:54
2. "Canyon Of Mazes" – 7:52
3. "Tir Asleen" – 10:47
4. "Bavmorda's Spell Is Cast" – 18:11
5. "Willow The Sorcerer" – 11:55

The film was shown and promoted at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival.{{cite web |title=Festival de Cannes: Willow |work=festival-cannes.com |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/296/year/1988.html |access-date=July 31, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807020756/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/296/year/1988.html |archive-date=August 7, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} It was released on May 20, 1988, in 1,209 theaters, earning $8,300,169 in its opening weekend, placing number one at the weekend box office. Lucas had hoped it would earn as much money as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,Baxter, p.372 but the film faced early competition with Crocodile Dundee II, Big and Rambo III.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/09/movies/crocodile-dundee-ii-top-film-at-box-office.html|title='Crocodile Dundee II' Top Film at Box Office|date=June 9, 1988|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307105708/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/09/movies/crocodile-dundee-ii-top-film-at-box-office.html|archive-date=March 7, 2016|url-status=live|agency=Associated Press|df=mdy-all}} Grossing $57.3 million at the box office in the United States and Canada,{{cite web |title=Willow |work=Box Office Mojo |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2910553601/weekend/ |access-date=December 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207210315/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=willow.htm |archive-date=February 7, 2009 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} it was not the blockbuster hit insiders had anticipated.Wasko, Janet. Hollywood in the information age: beyond the silver screen, page 198. Polity Press/Blackwell Publishers, UK (1994). {{ISBN|0-292-79093-7}}. The film opened in Japan in July and grossed $16.7 million in its first seven weeks, MGM's highest-grossing film in Japan at the time and went on to gross $20.3 million there.{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|title='Willow' Top Grosser For MGM in Japan|page=5|date=October 5, 1988}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|title=Film Briefs: Lucasfilm's 'Willow' not weeping overseas|page=9|date=December 28, 1988}} It performed well in other international markets, grossing $80.3 million{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|date=August 9, 1989|pages=30–31|title=MGM/UA International had a record breaking year (advertisement)}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|date=August 9, 1989|last=Groves|first=Don|page=11|title=UIP Up, Up and Away For Year; Rentals Take Off}} for a worldwide total of $137.6 million. Strong home video and television sales added to its profits.Maltby, Richard. Hollywood cinema: second edition, page 198. Blackwell Publishing, UK (1994). {{ISBN|0-631-21614-6}}.

Willow was released to mixed reviews from critics. {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|score=52|count=61|average=6|consensus=State-of-the-art special effects and an appealing performance from Warwick Davis can't quite save Willow from its slow pace and generic story.|ref=yes |access-date=December 22, 2024}} On Metacritic, the film has a score of 47 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{Citation|title=Willow (1998) Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/willow|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=December 4, 2022|archive-date=December 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203210858/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/willow|url-status=live}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/|access-date=December 4, 2022|website=CinemaScore|language=en-US|archive-date=April 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413083139/https://www.cinemascore.com/|url-status=live}}

Janet Maslin from The New York Times praised Lucas's storytelling, but was critical of Ron Howard's direction. "Howard appears to have had his hands full in simply harnessing the special effects," Maslin said.{{cite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Maslin |date=May 20, 1988 |title='Willow,' a George Lucas Production |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/20/movies/review-film-willow-a-george-lucas-production.html |access-date=October 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127034009/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/20/movies/review-film-willow-a-george-lucas-production.html |archive-date=January 27, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

Siskel & Ebert gave it Two Thumbs Down on their television show. Ebert's print review in The Chicago Sun-Times was a mixed 2.5 stars out of a possible 4. He wrote that while the special effects were good, the core story was unengaging and the characters flat: "There can be no true suspense in a movie where even the characters seem to be inspired by other movies."{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/willow-1988#google_vignette|title=Willow movie review & film summary (1988) | Roger Ebert|website=www.rogerebert.com}}

Desson Thomson writing in The Washington Post, explained "Rob Reiner's similar fairytale adventure The Princess Bride (which the cinematographer Adrian Biddle also shot) managed to evoke volumes more without razzle-dazzle. It's a sad thing to be faulting Lucas, maker of the Star Wars trilogy and Raiders of the Lost Ark, for forgetting the tricks of entertainment."{{cite news |last=Desson |first=Howe |author-link=Desson Thomson |date=May 20, 1988 |title=Willow |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/willowpghowe_a0c895.htm |access-date=October 19, 2015 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305051001/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/willowpghowe_a0c895.htm |url-status=live }} Mike Clark in USA Today wrote that "the rainstorm wrap-up, in which Good edges Evil is like Led Zeppelin Meets The Wild Bunch. The film is probably too much for young children and possibly too much of the same for cynics. But any 6–13-year-old who sees this may be bitten by the ’movie bug’ for life."

At the 61st Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Sound Effects Editing and Visual Effects.{{cite web |title=Willow |work=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url=https://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1230081785517 |access-date=December 23, 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} It won Best Costume Design at the Saturn Awards, where it was also nominated for Warwick Davis for Best Performance by a Younger Actor (lost to Fred Savage for Vice Versa) and Jean Marsh for Best Supporting Actress (lost to Sylvia Sidney for Beetlejuice). It also lost Best Fantasy Film{{cite web|title=Past Saturn Awards |work=Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films |url=https://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |access-date=December 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219234921/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=December 19, 2008 }} and the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation to Who Framed Roger Rabbit.{{cite web |title=1989 Hugo Awards |work=Internet Movie Database |url=https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Hugo_Awards/1989 |access-date=December 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606174819/http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Hugo_Awards/1989 |archive-date=June 6, 2009 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} It was also nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Screenplay, which lost to Cocktail and Worst Supporting Actor for Billy Barty, who lost to Dan Aykroyd for Caddyshack II.{{cite web |title=Ninth Annual RAZZIE Awards (for 1988) |work=Golden Raspberry Award Foundation |url=https://www.razzies.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=338&PN=2 |access-date=December 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530065808/http://www.razzies.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=338&PN=2 |archive-date=May 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

The film was first released on VHS, Betamax, Video 8, and LaserDisc on November 22, 1988 by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video. The film also had multiple re-releases on VHS in the 1990s under Columbia TriStar Home Video as well as a Widescreen LaserDisc in 1995. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment re-released the film on VHS and on DVD for the first time as a "special edition" on November 27, 2001, both of which were THX certified.{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/more-late-november-dvd-releases|title=More Late November DVD Releases|website=Animation World Network}} The release included an audio commentary by Warwick Davis and two "making of" featurettes. In the commentary, Davis confirms that there were a number of "lost scenes" previously rumored to have been deleted from it including a battle in the valley, Willow battling a boy who transforms into a fish-like monster in a lake while retrieving Fin Raziel, and an extended sorceress duel at the climax.{{cite web |title=Willow (Special Edition) (1988) |work=Amazon.com |date=November 27, 2001 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Willow-Special-Val-Kilmer/dp/B00003CXDD |access-date=December 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220230718/http://www.amazon.com/Willow-Special-Val-Kilmer/dp/B00003CXDD |archive-date=December 20, 2008 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} George Lucas and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released the film on Blu-ray Disc on March 12, 2013, with an all-new digital transfer overseen by Lucasfilm.{{cite web |last=Neuwirth |first=Aaron |title=WILLOW Comes To Blu-ray For The First Time In March |date=December 14, 2012 |url=https://whysoblu.com/willow-amazon-blu-ray-pre-order/ |access-date=December 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217050811/https://whysoblu.com/willow-amazon-blu-ray-pre-order/ |archive-date=December 17, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm (and 21st Century Fox's assets), the film was re-released with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo at the beginning by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital (for the first time) on January 29, 2019, and was later made available to stream on Disney+ when the service launched on November 12, 2019. The 4K UHD Blu-ray of the film was released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on December 10, 2024.{{cite web|title=Disney Finally Bringing Willow to 4K For the Very First Time|url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/willow-4k-release-date-disney-movie-george-lucas/|publisher=Comicbook|access-date=November 13, 2024|archive-date=November 13, 2024|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241113185756/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/willow-4k-release-date-disney-movie-george-lucas/|url-status=live}}

In 1988, Tor Books released The Willow Game,{{cite web |title=The Willow Game (1988) |publisher=BoardGameGeek |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1833/the-willow-game |access-date=November 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707002139/http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1833/willow-game |archive-date=July 7, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} a two- to six-player adventure board game based on the film and designed by Greg Costikyan.

Three video games based on the film were released. Mindscape published an action game in 1988 for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and DOS.{{cite web |title=Willow for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS |publisher=MobyGames |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/4574/willow/ |access-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220221730/http://www.mobygames.com/game/willow |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Japanese game developer Capcom published two different games in 1989 based on the film; the first Willow is a platform game for the arcades and the second Willow game is a role-playing game for the Nintendo Entertainment System.{{Cite magazine|date=December 2013|title=The Unconverted: Arcade Games that never made it Home|magazine=Retro Gamer|publisher=Imagine Publishing|issue=123|page=82}}{{Cite magazine|date=February 1999|title=Sala de Maquinas|magazine=Superjuegos|issue=82|page=118}}

Wayland Drew adapted Lucas's story into a film novel,Drew, Wayland, Bob Dolman, and George Lucas. Willow: A Novel. New York: Ballantine Books, 1988. {{ISBN|0345351959}}. providing additional background information to several major characters, while Joan Vinge adapted the story into another novelization.Vinge, Joan D. and George Lucas. Willow: The Novel : Based on the Motion Picture. Pan Childrens, 1988. {{ISBN|0330306316}}. Both included various additional scenes, including an encounter with a lake monster near Raziel's island which was filmed, but ultimately not used in the movie. A segment of that scene's filmed material can be found in the DVD's "Making of Willow" documentary.

Lucas outlined the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy to follow the film and hired comic book writer/novelist Chris Claremont to adapt them into a series of books. They take place about fifteen years after the original film and feature the teenage Elora Danan as a central character.

1. Shadow Moon (1995) {{ISBN|0-553-57285-7}}
2. Shadow Dawn (1996) {{ISBN|0-553-57289-X}}
3. Shadow Star (2000) {{ISBN|0-553-57288-1}}

{{main|Willow (TV series)}}

Beginning in 2005, Lucas and Davis discussed the possibility of a television series serving as a sequel to Willow.{{cite news |last=Vespe |first=Eric "Quint" |date=April 24, 2005 |title=CELEBRATION is had by many a STAR WARS geek! Lucas talks! Footage shown! Details here! |work=Ain't It Cool News |url=https://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=20012 |access-date=December 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531142138/http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=20012 |archive-date=May 31, 2009 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} Throughout the years, in various interviews, Davis expressed interest in reprising his role as the title character.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/warwick-davis-on-star-wars-episode-viii-cliffhanger-possible-willow-sequel/news-story/3bdaf75c7ecf8f2d90e23eaa49157c97|title=Warwick Davis talks Episode VIII 'cliffhanger'|date=September 30, 2016|website=NewsComAu|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112201902/https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/warwick-davis-on-star-wars-episode-viii-cliffhanger-possible-willow-sequel/news-story/3bdaf75c7ecf8f2d90e23eaa49157c97|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Adler |first=Shawn |date=June 13, 2008 |title=Warwick Davis Enthusiastic About Possibility For 'Willow 2' |work=MTV News |url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/06/13/warwick-davis-enthusiastic-about-possibility-for-willow-2/ |access-date=December 23, 2008 |archive-date=December 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226003306/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/06/13/warwick-davis-enthusiastic-about-possibility-for-willow-2/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last=Larnick |first=Eric |date=March 12, 2013 |title=Warwick Davis, 'Willow' Star, on the 25th Anniversary, Sequel Plans, and George Lucas (EXCLUSIVE) |website=moviefone.com |url=https://www.moviefone.com/news/warwick-davis-willow-interview/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610110732/http://news.moviefone.com/2013/03/12/warwick-davis-willow-interview |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 10, 2013 }}

In May 2018, Howard confirmed that there were ongoing discussions regarding a sequel, while confirming the project would not be called Willow 2.{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/starwars/2018/05/13/willow-sequel-ron-howard-lucasfilm/|title=Exclusive: Ron Howard Confirms 'Willow' Sequel Discussions|website=Star Wars|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-date=May 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502051255/https://comicbook.com/starwars/2018/05/13/willow-sequel-ron-howard-lucasfilm/|url-status=live}} In 2019, Ron Howard announced that a sequel television series was currently in development, with intentions for the series to be exclusively released on the Disney+ streaming service. Jonathan Kasdan would be involved in the television series, while Warwick Davis would reprise his role from the original film.{{cite tweet |user= joshuahorowitz |number= 1123402649536270338 |date=April 30, 2019 |title=DISNEY+ is developing a WILLOW series based on a pitch by @JonKasdan. It's a continuation and would feature @WarwickADavis. Straight from @RealRonHoward's mouth to a greenlight please!!! You in, @valkilmer? |author=Josh Horowitz}}{{cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/ron-howard-confirms-willow-tv-series-talks-for-disney-with-warwick-davis/|title=Ron Howard Confirms 'Willow' TV Series Talks for Disney+, with Warwick Davis|website=Bleeding Cool|last=Butler|first=Mary Anne|date=May 1, 2019|access-date=May 1, 2019|archive-date=May 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501182555/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/05/01/ron-howard-confirms-willow-tv-series-talks-for-disney-with-warwick-davis/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/ron-howard-willow-disney-series-1203202706/|title=Ron Howard in Talks for 'Willow' Sequel Series at Disney+|last=Thorne|first=Will|date=2019-05-01|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-05-02|archive-date=December 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229000630/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/ron-howard-willow-disney-series-1203202706/|url-status=live}} Creator George Lucas would not participate in this series.

In October 2020, the series was officially green-lit by Disney+, with Ron Howard set to executive produce the series alongside Kasdan, Wendy Mericle, and Jon M. Chu. Chu would direct the series first episode, with Kasdan and Mericle serving as showrunners, Warwick Davis reprising his role as Willow Ufgood, and Bob Dolman serving as a consulting producer.{{Cite web|title='Willow' Series a Go at Disney+ {{!}} Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/willow-series-a-go-at-disney|access-date=2020-10-20|website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|date=October 20, 2020|archive-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020190449/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/willow-series-a-go-at-disney|url-status=live}} In December 2020, it was announced the show would be released in 2022.{{Cite tweet|number=1337177170288943104|user=StarWars|title=Willow, an Original Series from Lucasfilm starring Warwick Davis, with pilot directed by @JonMChu, is coming in 2022 to @DisneyPlus.|author=|date=2020-12-10}} In January 2021, Chu left his directorial duties due to production moving towards the summer and it corresponding with birth of his next child.{{Cite web|title=Jon M. Chu Steps Away From Directing Disney's Willow|url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/willow-sequel-jon-chu-director-leaves-disney-plus/|access-date=2021-01-11|website=TV Shows|date=January 11, 2021 |language=en|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111193814/https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/willow-sequel-jon-chu-director-leaves-disney-plus/|url-status=live}}

That same month, it was revealed that Jonathan Entwistle had officially been hired to replace Chu as director, with filming commencing in Spring 2021{{Cite web|date=2021-01-29|title='Willow': Disney+ Series Finds Its Director with 'I'm Not Okay With This' Co-Creator (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/willow-disney-series-finds-its-director-with-im-not-okay-with-this-co-creator-exclusive|access-date=2021-01-29|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129222406/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/willow-disney-series-finds-its-director-with-im-not-okay-with-this-co-creator-exclusive|url-status=live}} in Wales.{{Cite web |url=https://movieweb.com/willow-tv-show-director-jonathan-entwistle/ |title=Willow Disney+ Series Gets I'm Not Okay with This Co-Creator to Direct |date=January 30, 2021 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212193923/https://movieweb.com/willow-tv-show-director-jonathan-entwistle/ |url-status=live }} However, due to production delays as a result of a recasting, Entwistle also exited the series, with Stephen Woolfenden coming in to direct the first two episodes of the series.{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2021-07-16 |title='Willow': Stephen Woolfenden Steps In As Pilot Director After Jonathan Entwistle Exits |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/willow-stephen-woolfenden-pilot-director-jonathan-entwistle-exit-1234794221/ |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=July 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716013445/https://deadline.com/2021/07/willow-stephen-woolfenden-pilot-director-jonathan-entwistle-exit-1234794221/ |url-status=live }}

In November 2021, a promo video featuring the cast of the series was released for Disney+ Day. The new live-action series premiered on November 30, 2022, on Disney+.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-28 |title=Disney releaset trailer nieuwe Lucasfilm serie Willow – Streamplayers.nl |url=https://streamplayers.nl/disney-plus-willow/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |language=nl |archive-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602151806/https://streamplayers.nl/disney-plus-willow/ |url-status=live }} The series was cancelled in March 2023{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=March 15, 2023 |title='Willow' Canceled After One Season On Disney+ |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/willow-canceled-disney-disney-plus-no-season-2-1235300401/ |access-date=March 15, 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315173721/https://deadline.com/2023/03/willow-canceled-disney-disney-plus-no-season-2-1235300401/ |url-status=live }} and was removed from streaming on May 26, 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/y-the-last-man-willow-among-nearly-30-shows-yanked-from-disney-hulu-1235495857/ |title='Y: The Last Man', 'Willow' Among Dozens of Shows Yanked From Disney+, Hulu |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 18, 2023 |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |access-date=May 22, 2023 |archive-date=May 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522081840/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/y-the-last-man-willow-among-nearly-30-shows-yanked-from-disney-hulu-1235495857/ |url-status=live }}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |last=Drew |first=Wayland |author-link=Wayland Drew |date=January 1988 |title=Willow: A Novel |publisher=Del Rey Books |isbn=978-0-345-35195-1}} (Novelization of the film)
• {{cite book |last=Duffy |first=Jo |author-link=Jo Duffy |date=January 1988 |title=Willow |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=978-0-87135-367-2}} (Comic book adaptation of the film)
• {{cite book |last1=Varney |first1=Allen W. |author1-link=Allen Varney|last2=Goldberg |first2=Eric |author2-link=Eric Goldberg (game designer)|date=September 1988 |title=The Willow Sourcebook |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=978-0-312-93083-7}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|https://www.lucasfilm.com/productions/willow/|Willow}} at {{URL|https://www.lucasfilm.com/|Lucasfilm.com}}
• {{AFI film|59160}}
• {{mojo title|willow|Willow}}
• {{IMDb title|0096446|Willow}}
• {{rotten-tomatoes|willow|Willow}}
• {{TCMDb title|24335|Willow}}

{{Willow|state=expanded}}

{{Ron Howard}}

{{George Lucas}}

{{Lucasfilm}}

{{Authority control}}

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