X
- 1984
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 40 m
- 1984
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 40 m
Summary Video game expert Alex Rogan finds himself transported to another planet after conquering The Last Starfighter video game only to find out it was just a test. He was recruited to join the team of best starfighters to defend their world from the attack.
Directed By: Nick Castle
Written By: Jonathan R. Betuel
- 1984
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 40 m
- 1984
- PG
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 40 m
The Last Starfighter
67
7.6
Where to Watch
Summary Video game expert Alex Rogan finds himself transported to another planet after conquering The Last Starfighter video game only to find out it was just a test. He was recruited to join the team of best starfighters to defend their world from the attack.
Directed By: Nick Castle
Written By: Jonathan R. Betuel
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 8 Critic Reviews
67
88% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
13% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 8 Critic Reviews
67
88% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
13% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
With The Last Starfighter, director Nick Castle and writer Jonathan Betuel have done something so simple it's almost awe-inspiring: they've taken a very human story and accented it with sci-fi special effects, rather than the other way around.
Clever, exciting, and fun, The Last Starfighter boasts good performances by Guest and Preston, and a literate, funny script that highlights the real story: not the space war that only Guest can win but the difficulty of leaving home, family, and security for a totally new life when the opportunity presents itself.
A sweet, unabashedly corny, matinee-friendly science-fiction adventure starring Lance Guest as a trailer-park videogame prodigy, and Robert Preston as the alien who recruits him to save the day from some space-baddies.
At once warmly earthbound and nobly starstruck, it should give receptive spectators a savory pick-me-up. [13 July 1984, p.E1]
Though it is occasionally talky, and though its plot takes a while to crank up, The Last Starfighter, directed by Nick Castle, is more often than not good-humored, bent on action and even touching. [13 July 1984, p.C5]
The Last Starfighter is a well-made movie. The special effects are competent. The acting is good, and I enjoyed Robert Preston's fast-talking The Music Man reprise (we've got trouble, right here in the galaxy) and the gentle wit of Dan O'Herlihy's extraterrestrial. But the final spark was missing, the final burst of inspiration that might have pulled all these concepts and inspirations and retreads together into a good movie.
Video-game-come-true plot is corny, but somehow it works. [13 July 1984, p.D10]
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 15 User Ratings
7.6
80% Positive
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
20% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 15 User Ratings
7.6
80% Positive
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
20% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
Production Company
Lorimar Film Entertainment,
Universal Pictures
Release Date Jul 13, 1984
Duration 1 h 40 m
Rating PG
Tagline Alex Rogan was a small town boy with big time dreams. But in his wildest dreams, he never suspected that tonight he would become... The Last Starfighter.
Awards
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 1 Nomination
Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Young Artist Awards
• 1 Nomination
