There are many instances of directors having their films changed by studios for a theatrical release. Ask the DC fandom behind the “release of the Snyder Cut.” Sometimes, these changes are minor; in the odd case, they may even improve production by cutting some bloat. However, the worst outcome for any creative is to see their work as initially intended becoming completely lost on the editing room floor only to be met with failure because of it.

Legend is a film that should have been a success. With Tom Cruise in the lead and director Ridley Scott behind the camera, the dark fantasy movie was, unfortunately, anything but a success at the box office and with critics. Yet it endeared enough fans to earn a cult status and later got its proper release, changing the opinion of many about the movie’s validity. We will examine Legend’s struggle at the box office and its rise to notoriety thanks to dedicated fandom and a proper cut of the film that made its way to viewers decades after its initial release.

A Classic Struggle of Good vs Evil in Legend
Release Date April 18, 1986 Cast Tom Cruise , Mia Sara , Tim Curry , David Bennent , Alice Playten , Billy Barty , Cork Hubbert

Legend is a dark fantasy adventure that follows Jack (Tom Cruise), a kind-hearted forest dweller tasked with protecting the last unicorn and saving the world from being thrust into darkness. The duty falls on Jack after introducing Princess Lili (Mia Sara) to the unicorns that dwell in his forest, only to have a unicorn and the princess swept away by Darkness (Tim Curry) and his goblin minions. Jack must now travel through an infinite winter caused by the incident to save the unicorn and the princess and restore peace to the world by defeating Darkness.

“I require the solace of the shadows and the dark of the night. Sunshine is my destroyer.” Darkness (Tim Curry) in Legend

Legend starred Tom Cruise in the lead role as Jack. Tom Cruise had just come off of one of his most iconic roles in 1983’s Risky Business and brought star power to the production. In what would become one of his most beloved roles outside The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tim Curry donned an impressive prosthetic to become Darkness. Mia Sara played the princess; Legend would mark one of her most significant roles on the screen outside of Sloane Peterson in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

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Ridley Scott directed Legend. Scott was coming off of two whoppers, future iconic classics, having directed Blade Runner (1982) and Alien (1979) leading up to the release of Legend. The movie was inspired by the works of William Hjortsberg, who also came onto the project to write the script. The score, which Jerry Goldsmith initially did, was changed to bring in the pioneering German electronic band Tangerine Dream after test audiences disliked Goldsmith’s work.

Legend Was Anything But Its Namesake on Release

With Tom Cruise in the lead and Ridley Scott in the director’s seat, many had expected the ’80s feature to make an impressive box office showing. However, the movie would stain both creatives’ records; Tom Cruise, in particular, has very few box office flops in his extensive career. The movie would only bring in $16.8 million worldwide at the box office from an estimated $24 million budget. The movie was such a flop that it hurt the viability of the fantasy genre at the box office, with some industry experts claiming it to be an “extinction event” for the genre.

Various reasons have been attributed to the film’s failure, with some pointing to the potential mis-marketing of Legend. However, one of the significant factors was the critical reception of the time. The movie stands at 41% rotten with critics on Rotten Tomatoes compared to a favorable 73% popcornmeter. However, at release, the reviews were more consistently negative. Roger Ebert, in his 2/5-star review of the movie, concluded, “All of the special effects in the world and all of the great makeup, and all of the great Muppet creatures can’t save a movie that has no clear idea of its own mission and no joy in its own accomplishment.”

Tom Cruise and Ridley Scott were also not happy with the outcome. Cruise refused to discuss Legend for years after its release, not content with the final theatrical cut. Scott, who had just come from his own nightmare with the production of Blade Runner, which faced heavy cuts and production troubles, likely felt disenfranchised by further studio interference with Legend.

Legend Garnered a Cult Following and a Praise with the Director’s Cut

Despite the harsh critical reaction to Legend and its flop at the box office, the movie still managed to garner a cult following. This came from a mix of things, including a younger audience who held the film in high regard in their memory. Tim Curry’s performance and the various creatures offered an unforgettable dark fantasy visage for young minds. Others appreciated it at the time for its outstanding effects and were charmed by the movie regardless of perceived shortcomings. Yet, the 2002 release of the director’s cut pushed the film into the realm of being a misunderstood classic.

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The director’s cut of Legend had a runtime of approximately 113 minutes. The theatrical cuts were slightly different in the US and Europe, with the American cut being shorter at 89 minutes versus 94 minutes. Still, depending on which theatrical version people saw, the director’s cut added 19 to 24 minutes of additional content. Much of this was done by adding context to conversations, with the pivotal throne room scene between Lili and Darkness adding more meaningful dialogue. However, the director’s cut also included creative choices like removing the early intro to Darkness and instead building up to his reveal. The original score by Jerry Goldsmith was also restored as well.

The director’s cut of Legend is considered the definitive version (though some fans argue over which score is better), making for a more cohesive story with depth than the theatrical version. Unfortunately, the director’s cut is harder to come by, as current rentals available through Apple TV or Prime Video feature the theatrical cut. If you want to watch the director’s cut of Legend, you will have to purchase it.