"Conan the Barbarian": Read The Screenplay By John Milius
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Have you read John Milius's classic "Conan the Barbarian" screenplay? See it right here, right now! This isn't a product of fan labor, and it's not a transcript. Get ready, because you're about to immerse yourself in something fantastic.
And, for your consideration, we offer the third draft from 1982. Free, of course, from 8FLiX and Universal Pictures.
Also, you can learn a little more about the screenwriter. Just click or tap his name to get started.
"Conan the Barbarian" is the cinematic protein shake that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger into superstardom and redefined sword-and-sorcery on the big screen. Here's the story behind the film, both on and off screen.
Discover More About the "Conan the Barbarian" Screenplay
The story.
Conan the Barbarian is a violent, mythic revenge tale set in the Hyborian Age, a fictional prehistoric era created by pulp author Robert E. Howard. The film follows Conan, a Cimmerian warrior whose parents are slaughtered and village destroyed by a cult led by the sinister Thulsa Doom (played by a deliciously evil James Earl Jones).
Sold into slavery and trained as a gladiator, Conan grows into a nearly silent hulk of vengeance. After earning his freedom, he embarks on a quest to avenge his family, finding allies in the thief Subotai and the fierce warrior Valeria. The journey is epic, brutal, and steeped in magic, monsters, and blood-soaked philosophy.
Production history.
- Directed by John Milius and co-written by Milius and Oliver Stone, the film was a passion project born out of Hollywood's renewed interest in fantasy after Star Wars and Excalibur.
- Oliver Stone’s original script was far more apocalyptic and ambitious (think Mad Max meets Norse mythology), but Milius grounded it, drawing inspiration from Norse sagas, samurai films, and Nietzschean philosophy.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast as Conan after producers saw his physique and screen presence as a perfect match. He trained extensively in swordsmanship and horseback riding — and bulked up even more for the role.
- The film was shot primarily in Spain, with sweeping natural landscapes, practical effects, and large-scale sets that gave it an epic scope on a relatively modest budget.
Themes and tone.
The film is raw, mythic, and primal. It deals with:
- The nature of strength
- The role of fate and the gods
- Civilization vs. barbarism
- And, famously, “What is best in life?” (Crush your enemies, etc.)
It’s part fantasy epic, part philosophical tone poem... wrapped in loincloths and violence.
Take a look at the "Conan the Barbarian" synopsis.
Through the history of mankind, the times that are most recorded in mythology and song are those of great deeds and fantastic adventures. Such a time was the Hyborian Age. Such a tale is the story of CONAN THE BARBARIAN. Universal Pictures
"Conan the Barbarian" Screenplay Details.
Whether you're a fan or an aspiring screenwriter, here are key insights to know.
To get the "Conan the Barbarian" script now, keep scrolling until you see the READ/DOWNLOAD button. And, just a reminder, for a better understanding of our color-coded classifications, scroll a little further down until you find the "Glossary."
Okay, here are the facts:
| Type | ... |
SCANNED
|
| Version | ... | 3rd Draft |
| Date | ... | 1982 |
| Pages | ... | 121 |
| Genres | ... | ActionAdventureFantasy |
| Screenplay | ... | John Milius |
| IMDb ID | ... | 0082198 |
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