Peplum: The 80s
by screen_theory | created - 27 Apr 2017 | updated - 27 Apr 2017 | PublicAfter the peplum gave way to the Spaghetti Western and Eurospy films in 1965, the genre lay dormant for close to 20 years. Then in 1982, the box-office success of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Conan the Barbarian spurred a second renaissance of sword and sorcery Italian pepla in the five years immediately following. Most of these films had low budgets, focusing more on barbarians and pirates so as to avoid the need for expensive Greco-Roman sets. The filmmakers tried to compensate for their shortcomings with the addition of some graphic gore and nudity. Many of these 1980s entries were helmed by noted Italian horror film directors (Joe D'Amato, Lucio Fulci, Luigi Cozzi, etc.) and many featured actors Lou Ferrigno and Sabrina Siani. Here is a list of the 1980s pepla:
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1. Adam and Eve (1983)
TV-MA | 91 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
God casts Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden because Eve decided to eat a forbidden apple that a talking snake told her to eat. The disgraced couple find themselves battling a coterie of various creatures.
Directors: Enzo Doria, Luigi Russo | Stars: Mark Gregory, Andrea Goldman, Ángel Alcázar, Costantino Rossi
Votes: 374
2. Ator, the Fighting Eagle (1982)
PG | 98 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The son of Torren learns of his heritage, goes to avenge the deaths of his fellow villagers, and rescue his sister from the evil Dakkar and his spider cult.
Director: Joe D'Amato | Stars: Miles O'Keeffe, Sabrina Siani, Ritza Brown, Dakar
Votes: 2,951
3. The Blade Master (1983)
PG | 92 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Muscle-bound Ator and his mute East Asian sidekick travel from the ends of the earth to save his aged mentor from the evil, mustachioed Zor.
Director: Joe D'Amato | Stars: Miles O'Keeffe, Lisa Foster, David Brandon, Charles Borromel
Votes: 3,898
4. Iron Warrior (1987)
PG-13 | 87 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Ator and his brother are separated as children by the evil witch Phaedra. 18 years later she takes over the kingdom with the help of a masked warrior. Ator and Princess Janna prepare for the final fight.
Directors: Alfonso Brescia, Ovidio G. Assonitis | Stars: Miles O'Keeffe, Savina Gersak, Elisabeth Kaza, Iris Peynado
Votes: 1,046 | Gross: $0.01M
5. Quest for the Mighty Sword (1990)
PG-13 | 94 min | Adventure, Fantasy
Once upon a time a god gave a mighty sword to the king of Aquiles to bring justice to his people. Now he wants it back - but the king rather gives his life than the sword.
Director: Joe D'Amato | Stars: Eric Allan Kramer, Margaret Lenzey, Donald O'Brien, Dina Morrone
Votes: 911
6. The Sword of the Barbarians (1982)
R | 83 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
A swordsman's wife is murdered by followers of the evil Goddess Rani. He vows vengeance upon the cult and journeys to the Ark of the Templars to get a magic crossbow that will help him accomplish his mission.
Director: Michele Massimo Tarantini | Stars: Pietro Torrisi, Yvonne Fraschetti, Mario Novelli, Xiomara Rodriguez
Votes: 402
7. The Barbarians (1987)
R | 87 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Two twin barbarians seek revenge from the warlord who massacred their tribe and captured them when they were small children.
Director: Ruggero Deodato | Stars: David Paul, Peter Paul, Richard Lynch, Eva LaRue
Votes: 5,085 | Gross: $0.80M
8. Master of the World (1983)
Not Rated | 105 min | Adventure
Primitive humans had to adapt to their brutal and savage environment or disappear into oblivion. For Bog, a great warrior, this struggle means conquering the land and gaining supremacy over his rivals.
Director: Alberto Cavallone | Stars: Sven Kruger, Sasha D'Arc, Viviana Maria Rispoli, Maria Vittoria Garlanda
Votes: 223
9. Conquest (1983)
R | 88 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
A young man, armed with a magical bow and arrows, embarks on a mystical journey through a mystical land to rid it of all evil and joins forces with an outlaw to take down an evil witch bent on claiming the magic bow for evil.
Director: Lucio Fulci | Stars: Jorge Rivero, Andrea Occhipinti, Conrado San Martín, Violeta Cela
Votes: 2,802
10. Hercules (1983)
PG | 98 min | Adventure, Fantasy, History
The story of the Greek mythological figure, updated in this '80s version.
Director: Luigi Cozzi | Stars: Lou Ferrigno, Brad Harris, Sybil Danning, Rossana Podestà
Votes: 4,408 | Gross: $10.68M
11. The Adventures of Hercules (1985)
PG | 88 min | Adventure, Fantasy
Hercules searches for the Seven Thunderbolts of Zeus, which have been stolen by renegade gods.
Director: Luigi Cozzi | Stars: Lou Ferrigno, Milly Carlucci, Sonia Viviani, William Berger
Votes: 1,600
12. Hundra (1983)
Not Rated | 90 min | Adventure, Fantasy
Born in a tribe of fierce warrior women, the archer and sword fighter, Hundra, has been raised to despise the influence of men. Superior to any male, Hundra takes a vow of revenge until one day she finds love.
Director: Matt Cimber | Stars: Laurene Landon, Cihangir Gaffari, María Casal, Ramiro Oliveros
Votes: 1,220
13. Gunan, King of the Barbarians (1982)
80 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The peaceful countryside village of Solmen is savagely assaulted by wild Ungats led by bloodthirsty Magen. In the midst of battle, two baby boys are miraculously saved by a tribe of Amazon ... See full summary »
Director: Francesco Prosperi | Stars: Pietro Torrisi, Malisa Longo, Giovanni Cianfriglia, Emilio Messina
Votes: 309
14. Ironmaster (1983)
98 min | Action, Adventure
A violent man is ejected from his tribe after killing two of its elders, but he discovers a way to make weapons out of iron, and begins waging war against all the tribes in the region. His arch rival manages to escape and vows to stop him.
Director: Umberto Lenzi | Stars: Sam Pasco, Elvire Audray, George Eastman, Pamela Prati
Votes: 1,058
15. Caligula's Slaves (1984)
84 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
Young, sadistic and uncharacteristically introspective Caligula falls for a black slave girl who serves as exotic dancer at his court. However, she's secretly working for his cousin who plans to overthrow him. Will love conquer all?
Director: Lorenzo Onorati | Stars: Robert Gligorov, Sandra Venturini, Aldo Ralli, Francesco Romei
Votes: 222
16. The Seven Magnificent Gladiators (1983)
PG | 83 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A bandit leader endowed with supernatural powers by his sorceress mother makes yearly raids on a peasant village. However, the women of the village come into possession of a magic sword, ... See full summary »
Directors: Bruno Mattei, Claudio Fragasso | Stars: Lou Ferrigno, Sybil Danning, Brad Harris, Dan Vadis
Votes: 592
17. She (1984)
Not Rated | 106 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
In a post-apocalyptic world, She aids two brothers' quest to rescue their kidnapped sister. Along the way, they battle weird creatures before standing against the odds to defeat the evil Norks.
Director: Avi Nesher | Stars: Sandahl Bergman, David Goss, Quin Kessler, Harrison Muller
Votes: 2,011
18. Sinbad of the Seven Seas (1989)
PG-13 | 93 min | Adventure, Fantasy
Sinbad and his shipmates aid a young prince, who must battle an evil wizard to gain the hand of a beautiful princess.
Directors: Enzo G. Castellari, Luigi Cozzi | Stars: Lou Ferrigno, John Steiner, Roland Wybenga, Ennio Girolami
Votes: 1,849
19. Thor the Conqueror (1983)
R | 91 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
In the vein of CONAN THE BARBARIAN and Lucio Fulci's CONQUEST comes a tale of mythology and magic, of how THOR, a legendary god, triumphs over overwhelming odds to great victory and the ... See full summary »
Director: Tonino Ricci | Stars: Bruno Minniti, Maria Romano, Malisa Longo, Raf Baldassarre
Votes: 455
20. The Throne of Fire (1983)
89 min | Action, Fantasy, Adventure
A mighty hero battles the son of Satan and his evil witch ally to save a kingdom from being taken over by the duo.
Director: Francesco Prosperi | Stars: Sabrina Siani, Pietro Torrisi, Harrison Muller, Beni Cardoso
Votes: 463
21. Yor: The Hunter from the Future (1983)
PG | 88 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
A warrior seeks his true origins in a seemingly prehistoric wasteland.
Director: Antonio Margheriti | Stars: Reb Brown, Corinne Cléry, John Steiner, Carole André
Votes: 3,488 | Gross: $2.81M
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