Red Sonja’s 2025 Comeback Echoes the 1985 Film — One Night in Theaters, Then VOD
Forty years after the 1985 Red Sonja movie, a new Red Sonja film arrived in 2025 but with a very modest rollout: a one-night-only theatrical engagement followed by a VOD release. The character originally comes from pulp novels and comics, and both films have faced limited box-office attention and mixed visibility.
Background: 1985 film and rights
The original Red Sonja character appears in pulp novels and comics. In the mid-1980s, producer Dino De Laurentiis planned a film tied to the Conan the Barbarian series, but rights to Conan and Red Sonja were held separately, which limited how the new movie could reference Conan.
Arnold Schwarzenegger agreed to appear in the 1985 film as a cameo that was expanded into a supporting role. However, he could not be credited as Conan because of the rights situation, so his character was named Lord Kalidor. The 1985 movie starred Brigitte Nielsen, was directed by Richard Fleischer, and had a running time of about 89 minutes. Sandahl Bergman, who had appeared in Conan the Barbarian, also appeared in Red Sonja.
For additional context on character tropes and portrayals in older media, see this TVTropes page. Separately, a note about Arnold’s later remarks on the older film appeared in The Independent.
2025 release, cast and distribution
The 2025 Red Sonja stars Matilda Lutz in the title role and was directed by M.J. Bassett. Robert Sheehan plays the antagonist Emperor Dragan. The film received a very limited theatrical engagement (one night in theaters) and was then released on video-on-demand.
Reports indicate the production took more than a decade to reach the screen. Unlike the 1985 film, the 2025 version does not include Schwarzenegger or a Conan stand-in in its credited cast.
How the two films line up
Both films draw on the same source character and have been described in similar terms as lower-budget, genre-focused releases rather than wide theatrical tentpoles. The 1985 movie functioned as a near-companion to the Conan films due to producer plans and shared personnel. The 2025 movie was presented as an attempt to relaunch the character for contemporary audiences but opened with a modest release strategy.
The newer film emphasizes Sonja’s connection to nature and includes scenes of the character interacting with her horse and defending forest animals. Casting differs: Brigitte Nielsen led the 1985 film, while Matilda Lutz leads the 2025 picture. Robert Sheehan’s Emperor Dragan is the main villain in 2025, whereas the 1985 antagonist was Queen Gedren, played by Sandahl Bergman.
Production, effects and locations
The 2025 production used a mix of practical sets and visual effects, and some filming and cost-saving measures took place in Bulgaria. Observers note that not all visual effects are high-end; however, the film combines on-location elements with green-screen work. The 1985 film used studio sets and practical effects common to that era of fantasy filmmaking.
Rights and contractual arrangements played a clear role in how the earlier film was cast and credited: De Laurentiis held a multi-film contract with Schwarzenegger, which allowed the actor’s participation in Red Sonja, but separate rights to Conan prevented naming him as that character. The 2025 film does not reference Conan in its credits or marketing.
