Judge Dredd *** (1995, Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante, Diane Lane, Max Von Sydow, Rob Schneider, Joan Chen, Jürgen Prochnow) – Classic Movie Review 13,885

Danny Cannon’s 1995 sci-fi action film Judge Dredd is based on the 2000 AD comics, and stars Sylvester Stallone as a law enforcement officer in the crime-ridden futuristic metropolis of Mega-City One.

Director Danny Cannon’s 1995 sci-fi action film Judge Dredd stars Sylvester Stallone, Armand Assante, Diane Lane, and Max Von Sydow, along with Rob Schneider, Joan Chen, Jürgen Prochnow, Balthazar Getty, Joanna Miles, Mitchell Ryan, James Russo, and Scott Wilson. That’s quite a cast to reckon with.

Judge Dredd is an eager-to-please futuristic adventure, set in a dystopian 22nd century, in which Versace-suited Sylvester Stallone snarls and sneers his way with lots of vim and vigour plus an engaging hint of self-parody as the title comic-book character.

Little-experienced Danny Cannon’s film lacks the invention, originality, verve and drive of the best of the comic-book films, Batman or The Terminator or Conan the Barbarian. But it is always fast-moving, entertaining and intriguing looking enough.

The movie picks up from the Dredd comics, which are set in the distant future when society has so disintegrated that justice is in the gun-toting hands of an elite corps of summary-lawing policemen called the Judges. They are the police, the jury and the executioners.

When the impeccable Dredd is accused of a crime he did not commit (of course) – killing a newsman – he enlists the help of his junior colleague Judge Hershey (Diane Lane), silly sidekick Fergie (Rob Schneider from TV’s Saturday Night Live) and retiring chief justice Fargo (Max Von Sydow). It turns out that Stallone is a clone and his co-clone Rico (Armand Assante) is the dark half who has framed him and wants to take over the justice system. And that von Sydow is their genetic ‘father’.

The monsters, special effects, sets, cutting and action are certainly efficient enough – sometimes even impressive – and the film is likeable and always keeps the attention. So it is churlish perhaps to want more – some real pizzazz – from what is just a 50s B-movie with a 90s big budget.

It is made in Britain by Cinergi Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Edward R Pressman Film Corporation at Shepperton Studios, and released by Buena Vista Pictures in North and South America on June 30, 1995. It was a box-office disappointment, grossing $113.5 million worldwide against a production budget of $85 million – $90 million.

The screenplay is written by William Wisher Jr and Steven E de Souza, based on a story by Michael De Luca and William Wisher Jr, based on Judge Dredd by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra and ABC Warriors by Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill.

Danny Cannon, a long-time fan of the Judge Dredd comics, was hired by producer Edward Pressman on the strength of his previous film, The Young Americans (1993).

The cinematography is by talented Adrian Biddle, hired by James Cameron for Aliens (1986) and Ridley Scott for Thelma & Louise (1991). The visual effects are by Douglas Trumbull’s company Massive Illusion, with designs by Kiesler-Walczak. Stallone selected Gianni Versace to design futuristic clothes, though it was a tough gig as numerous designs for Dredd’s outfit were rejected before the final look. The production designer is Nigel Phelps, his first feature as sole designer. Composer David Arnold was replaced by Alan Silvestri. The end credits ‘Dredd Song’ is written and performed by the Cure. There is so much talent on show here: surely the cast, the visuals, the effects, the score, the stunts and the action have to be respected and enjoyed.

 © Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,885

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