This event is part of Forbidden Worlds Film Festival 2025. Visit www.forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk to see the full line-up as well as buy Weekend/Day Passes.


Legend | Dir: Jimmy T. Murakami | 1980 | USA | 105 mins | Cert. PG

Roger Corman’s New World Pictures produced countless screenwriters, producers and directors, many of them getting their big breaks on low budget genre films. It is no different for Battle Beyond The Stars which was written by John Sayles, scored by James Horner and it was the first collaboration between Gale Anne Hurd, who transitioned from Roger Corman’s personal assistant to become the film’s Assistant Production Manager, and James Cameron, who was working in New World Pictures’ special effects department at the time. Even Bill Paxton worked on the film as a carpenter!

The film was the most expensive produced by New World Pictures as Corman looked to capitalise on the sci-fi demand in the wake of Star Wars (1977). Retooling the classic Seven Samurai tale for deep space, he brought in veteran animator Jimmy T. Murakami (Humanoids of the Deep) to oversee the likes of George Peppard (The A-Team), John Saxon (Enter The Dragon), Robert Vaughn (The Magnificent Seven) and Sybil Danning (Howling II) in this beloved cult sci-fi adventure.

When Akir, a peaceful planet, is attacked by a warlord, Sador, and his army of mutants, Shad, a young Akira farmer, recruits a group of mercenaries to protect his planet.

The film will be introduced in-person by Gale Anne Hurd with Rob Hill, author of 'The Bad Movie Bible' & 'The A to Z of Superhero Movies'.

Entry requirements: no age restrictions — Read more — Read less