{{Short description|1991 film by Russell Mulcahy}} {{Redirect|Highlander: The Quickening|the phenomenon within the ''Highlander'' universe|Quickening (Highlander)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox film | name = Highlander II: The Quickening | image = Highlander_II.jpg | alt = Two men standing back to back. Behind them a sword, and lightning. | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Russell Mulcahy | screenplay = Peter Bellwood | story = {{Plainlist| * Brian Clemens * William N. Panzer }} | based_on = {{based on|Characters|Gregory Widen}} | producer = {{Plainlist| * Peter S. Davis * William N. Panzer * Jean-Luc Defait<ref name=defait>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinematografo.it/cinedatabase/film/highlander-ii---il-ritorno/26865/|title=Highlander 2: The Quickening|work=Cinematografo|date=2016}}</ref> }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Christopher Lambert * Virginia Madsen * Michael Ironside * Sean Connery * John C. McGinley * Allan Rich}} | cinematography = Phil Méheux | editing = {{Plainlist| * Hubert de La Bouillerie * Anthony Redman }} | music = Stewart Copeland | studio = {{Plainlist| * Davis/Panzer Productions<ref name="afi">{{cite web |url=http://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/58901 |title=Highlander 2: The Quickening |work=AFI Catalog of Feature Films |access-date=5 October 2017 }}</ref> * Lamb Bear Entertainment }} | distributor = InterStar<ref name="afi" /> | released = {{Film date|df=y|1991|04|12|United Kingdom|1991|11|01|United States}} | runtime = 100 minutes<ref>{{cite web|title=''HIGHLANDER II - THE QUICKENING'' (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/highlander-ii-the-quickening-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtnjg0mzk3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612082530/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/highlander-ii-the-quickening-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtnjg0mzk3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2023 |work=Entertainment Film Distributors|publisher=British Board of Film Classification|date=8 April 1991|access-date=15 September 2013}}</ref> | country = United States<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b79d8f762|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713225747/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b79d8f762|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 July 2012|title=Highlander 2 The Quickening (1990)|work=British Film Institute|access-date=14 November 2015}}</ref><br />France<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/10/05/highlander_ii_1991_review.shtml |title= Films - review - Highlander II: The Quickening (1991) - BBC |website=www.bbc.co.uk }}</ref><br />Argentina<ref name=Research>Falicov, Tamara L. "[https://doi.org/10.1353/flm.2004.0015 U.S.-Argentine Co-Productions, 1982-1990: Roger Corman, Aries Productions, 'Schlockbuster' Movies, and the International Market]", ''Film & History'' [Cleveland, OK], vol. 34, no. 1, 2004. 31–38.</ref> | language = English | budget = $22 million<ref name="HIITQCF">Jones, Alan. "[https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2021%20No%205%20%20%28April%201991%29/page/n7/mode/1up The Future According to MTV]". ''Cinefantastique''. April, 1991. 8–9, 11.</ref> | gross = $15.6 million (US)<ref name="mojo" /> }}
'''''Highlander II: The Quickening''''' is a 1991 science fiction film directed by Russell Mulcahy and starring Christopher Lambert, Virginia Madsen, Michael Ironside and Sean Connery. It is a sequel to the 1986 fantasy film ''Highlander''. Set in the year 2024, the film follows Connor MacLeod as he regains his youth and immortality and sets out to free Earth from the corrupt operators of an artificial ozone layer.
The film was released on 12 April 1991 in the United Kingdom and on 1 November in the United States.<ref name=Seduced/> Most of the filming was done in Argentina amid the country's economic woes, leading to the movie's investors and completion bond company taking over production.<ref name=Seduced>''Highlander II: Seduced by Argentina.'' Dir. Jonathan Gaines. 2004. DVD. Lions Gate Entertainment</ref><ref name=Houston>[https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/cinema-slap-fight-sex-and-the-city-2-vs-highlander-ii-6363482 Cinema Slap Fight: ''Sex And The City 2'' Vs. ''Highlander II'', by Pete Vonder Haar] 21-09-2011, ''Houston Press''</ref> The resulting film was panned by critics and fans and is considered to be one of the worst films ever made.<ref name=rogerebert>{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/highlander-2-the-quickening-1991 |title=Highlander 2: The Quickening |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=1 November 1991 |website=RogerEbert.com |quote= If there is a planet somewhere whose civilization is based on the worst movies of all time, "Highlander 2: The Quickening" deserves a sacred place among their most treasured artifacts. |access-date=1 February 2021 }}</ref><ref name=denofgeek>{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/what-went-wrong-with-highlander-ii-the-quickening/ |title=What went wrong with Highlander II: The Quickening? |author=Alex Carter |date=19 August 2014 |website=Den of Geek }}</ref> The following film, ''Highlander III: The Sorcerer'', ignores the events of ''Highlander II''. Several cuts have since been made to address plot inconsistencies and special effects.
==Plot== <!-- Such as it is. We know we're being generous here. --> {{Hatnote|'''Note:''' ''This is a summary of the theatrical cut and does not include changes made in the ''Renegade Version'' and later releases.''}}
Five hundred years ago on the planet Zeist, sorcerer Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez leads a rebellion against the corrupt leadership of General Katana. Using the Quickening, he creates a bond with fellow rebel Connor MacLeod that even death cannot break. Katana and his troops crush the rebellion and put Ramírez and MacLeod on trial. They are banished to Earth to live as immortals, where they fight each other until only one survives. The winner faces a choice to remain on Earth as a mortal or return to Zeist with their crimes forgiven.
By 1999, Earth is devastated by industrial pollution and a damaged ozone layer. Millions die, including Connor's wife Brenda Wyatt MacLeod. No longer immortal, Connor supervises a scientific team headed by Dr. Allan Neyman which creates an electromagnetic shield. Earth is protected from radiation but shrouded in darkness, heat, and humidity. In 2024, the Shield Corporation is run by David Blake, and it imposes heavy fees on countries for continued protection.
An elderly Connor is approached by Louise Marcus, the leader of an anti-shield group. They believe the ozone layer has recovered, and the Shield Corporation is lying about it to maintain their revenue. Connor refuses her request for help because he is too old and disapproves of her group's methods.
Katana sends two immortal assassins to kill Connor, to prevent his return to Zeist. Connor decapitates them and the quickening restores his youth. Before making love to Louise, Connor calls out for his former mentor. Ramírez appears where he died in Glencoe, Scotland, briefly interrupting a performance of ''Hamlet''. Finding his way to Connor and Louise, and the trio devise a plan to destroy the shield.
Katana arrives on Earth and makes an uneasy alliance with Blake in exchange for Connor's head. Blake imprisons Dr. Neyman. Connor, Ramírez, and Louise break into the prison and are led into a trap. Ramírez sacrifices himself to save Connor and Louise. Connor and Katana duel. When Connor beheads Katana, he uses the quickening energy to destroy the shield. As the world returns to normal, Connor asks Louise to come with him to Zeist.
==Cast== {{div col}} * Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod * Sean Connery as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez * Virginia Madsen as Louise Marcus * Michael Ironside as General Katana * Allan Rich as Allan Neyman * John C. McGinley as David Blake * Philipp Brock as Cabbie * Rusty Schwimmer as Drunk * Ed Trucco as Jimmy * Pete Antico as Corda * Peter Bucossi as Reno {{div col end}} Steven Grives and Jimmy Murray portray characters playing Hamlet and Horatio respectively in the scene where Ramírez is resurrected.
==Production== William N. Panzer and his producing partner, Peter S. Davis, began developing a sequel under the working titles of ''Highlander II: Yellowknife'' and ''Highlander 2020''.<ref name="HIITQCF"/> At the 1987 MIFED, Davis/Panzer Productions pre-sold most of the film's rights for the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Australia, Japan and Benelux to Vestron Inc. for $18 million. Vestron would also handle French home video distribution. Rights for Italy, Germany, Greece, and Portugal were sold to Filmauro, Highlight Communications, Nea Kinisi, and Lusomondo respectively. The United States release would be through New Century/Vista Film Co.. Filming was planned for the summer of 1988 with a theatrical release target for 1989.<ref>"[https://www.proquest.com/magazines/homevideo-davis-panzer-scores-at-mifed-pre-sale/docview/1438506729/se-2 Homevideo: Davis/Panzer Scores at Mifed; Pre-Sale Coin Bolsters Future Pix]", ''Variety'', vol. 329, no. 5. November 25, 1987. 41.</ref>
During the 1988 Cannes Film Festival, Panzer and Davis were approached by distributors from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom who were eager for updates on a sequel as ''Highlander'' had been a sizable hit in their territories.<ref name= "HIITQCF"/> The producers were disheartened by the cold shoulder from Hollywood studios, but foreign distributors were enthusiastic backers.<ref>Groves, Don. "[https://www.proquest.com/magazines/american-film-market-distribs-high-on-highlander/docview/1401361319/se-2 AMERICAN FILM MARKET: Distribs High on 'Highlander' Kick in Additional Bucks]", ''Variety'', vol. 338, no. 9, March 7, 1990. 10.</ref> ===Writing=== William Panzer recalled, "We had story ideas but nothing more than broadstrokes. We wanted Ramirez back. We knew it would take place in the future, a notion springing from our shared vision of domed cities and polluted atmospheres." Russell Mulcahy and Christopher Lambert were enthusiastic about the project due to its larger budget and Panzer's concept.<ref name= "HIITQCF"/>
As the screenwriter of ''Highlander'', Gregory Widen had the right of first refusal on a sequel, but he had other commitments. Larry Ferguson and Peter Bellwood also turned down offers to write the screenplay. Various screenwriters like Edward Khmara drafted scripts for the sequel, but Mulcahy and Lambert felt each draft got worse.<ref name= "HIITQCF"/>
The definitive ending of ''Highlander'' was problematic for a sequel. Panzer insisted the Prize in the original film should be that Connor MacLeod becomes mortal and is allowed to die.<ref name="HighlanderIIBook">Melville, Jonathan. ''A Kind of Magic: Making the Original Highlander''. Birlinn Limited, 2020.</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2026}} Funding for a sequel was also contingent on the return of Sean Connery, despite his character's beheading in the first movie.<ref name=Seduced/>
Brian Clemens finally solved the script problems. Mulcahy singled out his addition of the planet Zeist to explain the immortals as a "masterstroke". Panzer, Bellwood, and Mulcahy all further revised the screenplay. Mulcahy contributed the aerial battle of the "Flying Blades" which he salvaged from his unfilmed adaptation of ''The Wild Boys''.<ref name= "HIITQCF"/>
The resulting film contradicts ''Highlander''. The immortals are no longer humans with a nature connection that makes them impervious to all threats save beheading. They are now aliens from the planet Zeist. Davis blamed the alien retroactive continuity on Panzer.<ref name=Empire/> Ramírez is now depicted as an alien sorcerer and inexplicably resurrected.<ref name=Seduced/> The "Quickening" is no longer just energy that provides immortality, it is also a magical bond between souls. It allows Ramírez to return from death when MacLeod needs him.
===Filming=== ''Highlander II'' was scheduled to start shooting in Argentina on January 8, 1990.<ref>"[https://www.proquest.com/magazines/mifed-tandem-rights-sales-efforts-paying-off/docview/1438508474/se-2 MIFED: Tandem Rights Sales Efforts Paying Off for 'Highlander 2;' Two Handling Jaglom Too]", ''Variety'', vol. 337, no. 4. October 25, 1989. 11.</ref> In late 1989, preparations were well underway. Sets and costumes were created. When hyperinflation flared up again in Argentina, Panzer and Davis were spooked and froze production in January 1990. In February, the completion bond company insisted on moving forward. They ordered filming to begin in a month.<ref name=Gaucha>Curubeto, Diego. ''[https://www.scribd.com/document/922180710/Babilonia-Gaucha#page=60 Babilonia Gaucha: Hollywood en la Argentina, la Argentina en Hollywood]''. Argentina: Planeta, 1993. 111–119.</ref>
Kurt Woolner of Film Finance estimated inflation alone cost ''Highlander II'' $3 million. When Film Finance took control of the production it was already $10 million over budget. Woolner recalled, "In 'Highlander,' it was a case of taking a movie to a geography that could not support it."<ref>Angeli, Michael. "[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/11/archives/film-my-name-is-bond-completion-bond.html My Name Is Bond. Completion Bond]", ''The New York Times''. August 11, 1991. H11.</ref>
Filming began in Argentina on March 1, 1990.<ref>"[https://www.proquest.com/magazines/film-grosses-highlander-2-filming/docview/1286108386/se-2 Film Grosses: 'Highlander 2' Filming]." ''Variety'', vol. 338, no. 11. March 21, 1990. 32.</ref> Sean Connery agreed to return for $3 million for six days of work but would not come to the set or acknowledge the film's existence unless the money was placed in escrow.<ref name= "HighlanderIIBook"/>{{rp|213}} His salary actually ballooned to $3.5 million when footage of his opening scene was damaged. The insurance company Gaebel, Watkins, and Taylor, Inc. paid for the overage.<ref>Jones, Alan. "[https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2021%20No%205%20%20%28April%201991%29/page/n9/mode/1up Sean Connery's Superstar Clout]". ''Cinefantastique''. April, 1991. 10.</ref>
The sets of ''Highlander II'' have been compared to those of Ridley Scott's ''Blade Runner''.<ref>{{cite news |title=A case for letting sleeping dogs lie |first=Brendan |last=Buxton |date=19 May 1991 |work=Straits Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings Limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Arts: Bonfire infusion - Cinema |first=Nigel |last=Andrews |date=11 April 1991 |work=Financial Times |page=London Page 21 |publisher=The Financial Times Limited. |issn=0307-1766}}</ref> Christopher Lambert and Michael Ironside struggled with their broadswords and injured each other during their fight scene.<ref>{{cite news |title=The pain of realism |first=Thomas D. |last=Elias |agency=Scripps Howard News Service |publisher=Independent Press |date=25 October 1991 |work=St. Petersburg Times |page=4D |issn=1563-6291}}</ref> John C. McGinley regretted the decision to lower his character's voice as deep as possible in an effort to sound like Orson Welles.<ref>{{cite web |last=Slezak |first=Michael |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2005/09/live_from_ews_e.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051219114556/http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2005/09/live_from_ews_e.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 December 2005 |title=Live from EW's Emmy party |publisher=EW.com |date=18 September 2005 |access-date=2012-01-31 }}</ref>
While filming in Argentina, the bond company's control over production was not too much of an issue for the cast and crew.<ref name=Gaucha/> In the editing bay and during pick-up filming, they sidelined Russell Mulcahy and drastically changed parts of the story.<ref name=Seduced/>
Lambert threatened to quit but was pressured to finish the job. Mulcahy hated the final product so much he walked out of the film's world premiere.<ref name=Houston/> Mulcahy summed up his regret about the sequel, "It's like they say in the film 'There can only be one.' In a genre film you can create any scenario you like, but once you break your own rules, the audience feels betrayed, which is what happened with HIGHLANDER II."<ref>Rowlands, Paul. "[https://www.money-into-light.com/2016/07/an-interview-with-russell-mulcahy-part_30.html AN INTERVIEW WITH RUSSELL MULCAHY (PART 2 OF 2)]". Money into Light. July 2016. Accessed April 12, 2026.</ref>
==Release== ===UK release=== {{Unreferenced section|date=April 2026}} ''Highlander II: The Quickening'' was released in the UK on 12 April 1991 with a runtime of 100 minutes. This version was distributed by Entertainment Film Distributors and ran 8 minutes longer than the US cut.
As well as a very different scene order this version included additional footage not seen in the later US Theatrical release, including a flashback to the death of Connor's previous wife Brenda, a sequence of Connor and Louise going above the shield, and the alternate "Fairytale Ending" mentioned above.
Despite this longer version running in UK theatres, all home video releases in the country to date have been of the shorter 91-minute US Theatrical Release (running 86 minutes due to PAL speedup). This includes the rental VHS (EVV 1203), retail VHS (EVS 1072), laserdisc (PLFEB 37011), and DVD (EDV 9119).
===United States release=== ''Highlander II: The Quickening'' was released in the United States on 1 November 1991 with a runtime of 91 minutes, distributed by InterStar Releasing. It was the first film InterStar distributed.<ref>Groves, Don. "[https://www.proquest.com/magazines/upstart-interstar-aims-12-film-release-slate/docview/3319561759/se-2 Upstart InterStar Aims for 12-Film Release Slate]", ''Daily Variety'', vol. 233, no. 37. October 28, 1991. 3.</ref> InterStar spent $4 million on the prints and advertising campaign.<ref name=Hollinger>Hollinger, Hy. "[https://www.proquest.com/magazines/after-fall/docview/3312161733/se-2 AFTER THE FALL: DOMESTIC INDIE DISTRIBUTION REARING ITS HEAD ONCE AGAIN]", ''Daily Variety'', vol. 236, no. 37. July 28, 1992. 46-48.</ref> This version was edited down by the bond company, with many scenes rearranged throughout. Despite the many cuts made to this version the bond company also added two new scenes that further fleshed out the villain, General Katana. These scenes include Katana taunting Connor in his Zeist prison cell, and Connor and Katana meeting at the grave of Connor's dead wife, Brenda.
This version was released many times in the US, including on VHS, laserdisc, and Video8. All DVD and Blu-Ray releases of the film in the United States have been of the longer "Renegade" and "Special Edition" versions.
===Marketing=== A $1 million television advertising campaign was run for the release of the film.<ref>{{cite news |title=Entertainment Films Launches #1M Advertising Campaign Through Laing Henry Hill Holliday |date=12 April 1991 |work=Marketing Week |page=13 |publisher=Centaur Communications Limited |issn=0141-9285}}</ref>
===Home media=== In the United States, the theatrical cut was released on VHS on 13 May 1992<ref>{{cite news |title=Relive the Winter Olympics on tape |first=Bruce |last=Westbrook |date=17 April 1992 |work=Houston Chronicle |page=2 STAR 3 |issn=1074-7109}}</ref> by Columbia TriStar Home Video,<ref>{{cite news |title=Monsters and more: Mayhem for month |date=30 April 1992 |work=The Washington Times |page=2 |issn=0732-8494}}</ref> and was reissued on 13 April 1994 by Hemdale Home Video.<ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=OQgEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA1&pg=PA58#v=onepage&q&f=false Top Video Rentals]", ''Billboard''. April 2, 1994. 58.</ref> The Renegade version was released on VHS by Republic Home Entertainment in 1997.
== Alternative versions == The theatrical release of ''Highlander II'' was so problematic that it prompted multiple revisions. The screenplay contradicted the original film. ''Highlander III: The Sorcerer'' continued contradicting the narrative of the series. Russel Mulcahy eventually created a director's cut of ''Highlander II'' that fans consider canon.<ref>Harvey, Colin. "A Taxonomy of Transmedia Storytelling". In ''Storyworlds Across Media: Toward a Media-Conscious Narratology''. Edited by Marie-Laure Ryan and Jan-Noël Thon. University of Nebraska Press, 2014. 226.</ref> ===Alternate ending=== Some European theaters showed a final scene which became known as "The Fairy Tale Ending". Connor tells Louise he will return to Zeist and convinces her to come with him. As they kiss, they start to glow and transform into streaks of light heading into outer space.<ref>Robert. "[https://apersonofinterest.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/i-didnt-think-highlander-ii-could-be-any-more-ridiculous-until-i-saw-the-fairy-tale-ending/ I Didn’t Think HIGHLANDER II Could Be Any More Ridiculous….Until I Saw the “Fairy Tale Ending]", ''The Renegade Version''. August 25, 2013. Accessed April 14, 2026.</ref> The ''Special Edition'' DVD includes an early version of this scene.
=== European theatrical release === In the European theatrical release, the opening segment includes a scene where Brenda Wyatt (Connor MacLeod's lover from the first film) is dying from solar radiation. She makes MacLeod promise to stop the ozone crisis before dying. Additional scenes include MacLeod and Marcus climbing through a tunnel to get above the Shield to find the ozone layer has returned to normal. The ending shows MacLeod returning to Zeist after destroying the Shield, bringing Louise with him.<ref>{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Sean|title=Highlander II: Three Versions Of A Film In Search Of Its Identity By Sean Murphy|url=http://www.figmentfly.com/published/highlander2article.html|access-date=13 October 2016|work=Figmentfly.com}}</ref>
=== Renegade Version === In 1995, a 108-minute cut of the film became known as the ''Renegade Version''.<ref>Barsanti, Chris. ''[https://archive.org/details/barsanti-chris-the-sci-fi-movie-guide.-the-universe-of-film-from-alien-to-zardoz/page/178/mode/1up The Sci-Fi Movie Guide: The Universe of Film from Alien to Zardoz]''. United Kingdom, Visible Ink Press, 2014. 178.</ref> The ''Renegade Version'' was reconstructed largely from existing material. Certain scenes were removed and others added back in and entire sequences of events were changed. All references to the Immortals being aliens from another planet called Zeist were eliminated.<ref>Iaccino, James F. ''Jungian Reflections Within the Cinema: A Psychological Analysis of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Archetypes''. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 1998. 137.</ref>
The cast and crew reassembled to film a new battle between MacLeod and Katana atop a moving vehicle after they escape the security facility.<ref name=Seduced/> Russell Mulcahy maintains he was not involved in the re-shoots.<ref name=Empire>Williams, Owen and Dan Jolin. "[https://www.proquest.com/magazines/there-can-be-only-one/docview/203958934/se-2 There can be Only One]", ''Empire'', no. 241, July, 2009. 124–30.</ref> The new footage included MacLeod and Louise climbing through a mountain tunnel to emerge above the Shield to confirm that the radiation levels are back to normal. The new version removes a major continuity gaffe from the theatrical version, which had merged two separate sword fights between MacLeod and Katana into one longer climactic battle. The director's cut version restores them to two separate battles, although it never shows how or when Connor reacquired his katana.
=== Special Edition === Producers Panzer and Davis revisited ''Highlander II'' once again in 2004. Dubbed the "Special Edition", this cut was nearly identical to the ''Renegade Version'', but with a few alterations, such as the introduction of new CGI special effects throughout the film, including a now-blue shield as originally intended, and a small piece of voice-over work by Lambert. As the original cut of the film is no longer distributed, many fans in later years have only had the ''Renegade Version'' and ''Special Edition'' available to watch.
Reviewing the 2004 "Special Edition" DVD, David Ryan of DVD Verdict gave it a score of 69 out of 100 and said that "[this] is the best version of this film that [the producers] can make with the material they have on hand. It's still not a particularly good film—but it's ''infinitely'' superior to the original version... What was once a horrible, horrible film has become downright tolerable, and actually somewhat entertaining at times."<ref>{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Judge |url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/highlander2se.php |title=Highlander 2: Special Edition |publisher=Dvdverdict.com |date=27 August 2004 |access-date=2012-01-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306021342/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/highlander2se.php |archive-date=6 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
==Reception==
===Box office=== In the UK, the film opened on 187 screens and grossed £1.3 million in its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Screen International|date=2 December 1994|page=22|title=Box Office UK}}</ref> The film was released months later in the US on 1 November 1991, and opened at number 3, grossing $5.3 million in 960 theaters in the opening weekend. It grossed a total of $15.6 million in the United States and Canada.<ref name=Hollinger/><ref name="mojo">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=highlander2.htm |title=Highlander 2: The Quickening |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=14 November 2015 }}</ref>
===Critical response=== In the ''Chicago Sun-Times'', Roger Ebert gave the film 0.5 stars, "''Highlander II: The Quickening'' is the most hilariously incomprehensible movie I've seen in many a long day — a movie almost awesome in its badness. Wherever science fiction fans gather, in decades and generations to come, this film will be remembered in hushed tones as one of the immortal low points of the genre...If there is a planet somewhere whose civilization is based on the worst movies of all time, ''Highlander 2: The Quickening'' deserves a sacred place among their most treasured artifacts."<ref name=rogerebert/> ''Variety'' dismissed the sequel as derivative, comparing the Quickening to the Force, "some settings, especially those on Zeist, look tatty enough to belong to a 1950s sci-fi film."<ref>Strat. "[https://www.proquest.com/magazines/reviews-film-highlander-ii-quickening/docview/1286208042/se-2 Reviews: FILM - HIGHLANDER II: THE QUICKENING]", ''Variety'', vol. 342, no. 7. February 25, 1991. 50.</ref>
The ''Los Angeles Times'' commented, "It makes clearer much that was so vague in the original; it even jokes about how confusing its premise is. In short, audiences who made the first film successful enough to warrant a second will be getting a bit more for their money."<ref>{{cite web |date=1 November 1991 |author=Kevin Thomas |title=MOVIE REVIEW : Action-Fantasy 'Highlander 2' Tries to Sort It All Out |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-01-ca-467-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times }}</ref> ''Screen International'' concluded, "Telling a coherent and logical story seems to be the least of Mulcahy's concerns", and mused that Sean Connery was the film's saving grace.<ref>Blaney, Martin. "[https://www.proquest.com/magazines/reviews-highlander-ii-quickening/docview/1014655724/se-2 Reviews: HIGHLANDER II--THE QUICKENING]", ''Screen International'', no. 794. February 15, 1991. 38.</ref>
''Vancouver Sun'' savaged the "intensely stupid" movie and joked that Lambert "has two expressions: a sullen pout that means either "I love you," "I'm going to cut off your head" or "What's my line?" and a sly smile that suggests he has wet himself." The review riffed on the other leads, "Ironside, in a sea of over-the-top performances, pulls a Jack Nicholson impression/parody that leaves Christian Slater in the dust." Virginia Madsen is "only there so Lambert doesn't have to kiss Sean". It concluded, "Connery, the old pro, just swashbuckles his way through the whole mess, eyes twinkling and charming the audience into submission. He may be a whore when it comes to choosing roles, but he's a high-priced one and worth every penny. Recommended if you like Iron Maiden, monster-truck shows and wretched excess."<ref>Armstrong, John. "[https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/hip-highlander-sequel-even-worse-than-first/docview/243413465/se-2 Hip Highlander Sequel Even Worse than First]", ''Vancouver Sun''. November 7, 1991. C7.</ref>
Retrospectively, Den of Geek summed up the movie's legacy, "It's not even 'so bad it's good' territory, it skips right past that into the 'so awful you can't look away for fear you'll both be killed' territory...it also runs the entire franchise into the ground and retcons the first film into oblivion in the space of 15 minutes...This is a film that wishes it could be as good as ''Santa Claus Conquers the Martians''."<ref name=denofgeek/> IGN gave the ''Renegade Version'' 2 stars out of 10, "How bad is this movie? Well, imagine if Ed Wood were alive today, and someone gave him a multi-million dollar budget."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/16/highlander-2-renegade-version|title=Highlander 2: Renegade Version|date=16 June 2000|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref>
Christopher Null gave the film 1 star and mused that the Highlander franchise "become a bit of a joke, and here's where the joke started."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/Highlander-II-The-Quickening|title=Highlander II: The Quickening|last=Null|first=Christopher|date=20 July 2004|website=Filmcritic.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508225021/http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/Highlander-II-The-Quickening|archive-date=8 May 2008|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref> ''Reel Film Reviews'' gave the film two stars, "It's hard to imagine ''Highlander II'' appealing to non-fans of the first film...it's nowhere near as bad as it's been made out to be over the years."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reelfilm.com/high2.htm|title=Highlander 2|last=Nusair|first=David|date=31 July 2004|website=Reelfilm.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114203648/http://www.reelfilm.com/high2.htm|archive-date=14 January 2007|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref>
The film's Rotten Tomatoes score is 0%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/highlander_2_the_quickening/|title=Highlander 2: The Quickening (1991)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref> It scored 31 out of 100 on Metacritic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/highlander-ii-the-quickening |title=Highlander II: The Quickening Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref>
==See also== * List of 20th century films considered the worst * List of films with a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} * {{IMDb title|id=tt0102034}} * {{Mojo title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|highlander_2_the_quickening}} * {{Metacritic film|id=highlander-ii-the-quickening}}
{{Highlander}} {{Russell Mulcahy}}
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