Executive producer Dino De Laurentiis was originally concerned that audiences wouldn't understand German bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger who had been cast to play Robert E. Howard's Conan. Director and co-screenwriter (with Oliver Stone) John Milius replied, "Dino, if we didn't have Arnold, we'd have to build him." This story and more are offered in the hour-long documentary Conan Unchained included on the Universal Home Video DVD release of the film which made Schwarzenegger a star. Also interviewed are Stone, Schwarzenegger, actors Max von Sydow, Sandahl Bergman, Gerry Lopez and James Earl Jones, stunt coordinator Terry Leonard and production designer Ron Cobb. When Milius was hired to direct, he rewrote the script and gave the story a grounding in history, particularly the Dark Ages. "Everything has a reflection of something that did exist," Milius explains. "Every single cart, every single weapon, everything has to have a sense of practicality to it." When the film opened, a number of animal rights' activists voiced protest over a scene where a horse falls through a row of spikes. They were convinced the horse had been impaled. Milius told them to watch the film closer and particularly notice that a stuntman went through the spikes first. "Do you think a stuntman was also hurt?" he asked. "The spikes are rubber." The disk also features a running commentary with Milius and Schwarzenegger.

Writer - filmography
(In Production) (2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s)

Jornada del muerte (2007) (in production) (screenplay) ... aka Journey of the Deadman
The Son Tay Raid (2005) (in production)
"Rome" (2005) TV Series (writer)
Rough Riders (1997) (TV) (written by)
Clear and Present Danger (1994) (screenplay)
Geronimo: An American Legend (1993) (screenplay) (story)
Farewell to the King (1989) (screenplay)
Extreme Prejudice (1987) (story)
"Miami Vice" (1984) TV Series (writer)
Red Dawn (1984)
Conan the Barbarian (1982) (screenplay)
1941 (1979) (story)
Apocalypse Now (1979) (screenplay) aka Apocalypse Now Redux (International: English title: longer version)
Big Wednesday (1978) ... aka Summer of Innocence
Jaws (1975) (Indianapolis monologue) (uncredited)
The Wind and the Lion (1975)
Melvin Purvis: G-Man (1974) (TV) (story) …aka G-Man ... aka The Legend of Machine Gun Kelly
Magnum Force (1973) (screenplay) (story)
Dillinger (1973)
The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)
Jeremiah Johnson (1972) (screenplay)
Dirty Harry (1971) (uncredited)
Evel Knievel (1971) (screenplay)
The Devil's 8 (1969)
The Emperor (1967)
Glut (1967)
The Reversal of Richard Sun (1966)

Director - filmography
(In Production) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s)
Jornada del muerte (2007) (in production) ... aka Journey of the Deadman
The Son Tay Raid (2005) (in production)
Rough Riders (1997) (TV)
Motorcycle Gang (1994) (TV)
Flight of the Intruder (1991)
Farewell to the King (1989)
"The Twilight Zone" (1985) TV Series (episode "Opening Day")
Red Dawn (1984)
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Big Wednesday (1978) ... aka Summer of Innocence
The Wind and the Lion (1975)
Dillinger (1973)
Marcello, I'm Bored (1966)
The Reversal of Richard Sun (1966)
Producer - filmography
(2000s) (1980s) (1970s)
"Rome" (2005) TV Series (executive producer)
Uncommon Valor (1983/I) (producer)
Used Cars (1980) (executive producer)
1941 (1979) (executive producer)
Hardcore (1979) (executive producer) ... aka The Hardcore Life (UK) Actor - filmography
(1980s) (1970s)
Conan the Barbarian (1982) (uncredited) .... Foodseller in the Old City
Deadhead Miles (1972) .... 2nd State Trooper

Miscellaneous Crew - filmography
Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) (spiritual advisor)

Himself - filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1970s)
A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope (2004) (V) .... Himself
Rated 'R': Republicans in Hollywood (2004) (TV) .... Himself
An Opera of Violence (2003) (V) .... Himself
Something to Do with Death (2003) (V) .... Himself
The Wages of Sin (2003) (V) .... Himself
Discovering Treasure: The Story of 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre' (2003)(V) ... Narrator
Capturing the Swell (2003) (V)
Go West, Young Man! (2003) .... Himself
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003) .... Himself
Iron and Beyond (2002) (V) .... Himself
Jaws: The E! True Hollywood Story (2002) (TV) .... Himself
Dirty Harry: The Original (2001) (V) .... Himself
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan' (2000) (V) .... Himself
... aka Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan the Barbarian' (USA)
Hell Hath No Fury (1999) (V) (voice) .... Narrator
... aka Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' (USA: DVD box title)
Hollywood Salutes Arnold Schwarzenegger: An American Cinematheque Tribute (1998) (TV) .... Himself
Frank Capra's American Dream (1997) (TV) .... Himself
In Search of da Cat (1996) (TV) .... Himself ... aka In Search of 'Da Cat' (USA)
Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right (1996) .... Himself
The Making of '1941' (1996) (V) .... Himself
"American Cinema" (1995) TV Series .... Himself
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991) .... Himself
The Lion Roars Again (1975) (uncredited) .... Himself