Ladyhawke

Right now you can watch Ladyhawke in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Hoopla — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 1,264 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Matthew Broderick is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on Disney Plus whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Ladyhawke keeps coming up in conversation. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Ladyhawke from the crowd. Captain Etienne Navarre is a man on whose shoulders lies a cruel curse. Punished for loving each other, Navarre must become a wolf by night whilst his lover, Lady Isabeau, takes the form of a hawk by day. Together, with the thief Philippe Gaston, they must try to overthrow the corrupt Bishop and in doing so break the spell. Between them, Matthew Broderick and Rutger Hauer carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It hit screens in 1985. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Ladyhawke holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Ladyhawke is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Matthew Broderick is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.