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The Last Starfighter

  • 1984
  • PG
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
48K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,415
212
Lance Guest in The Last Starfighter (1984)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:48
2612
1 Video
99+ Photos
Space Sci-FiTeen AdventureActionAdventureSci-Fi

High schooler Alex Rogan conquers the Starfighter video game, only to find out it was just a test, and is transported to another planet. He has been recruited to join a team of the best star... Read allHigh schooler Alex Rogan conquers the Starfighter video game, only to find out it was just a test, and is transported to another planet. He has been recruited to join a team of the best starfighters to defend their world from the attack.High schooler Alex Rogan conquers the Starfighter video game, only to find out it was just a test, and is transported to another planet. He has been recruited to join a team of the best starfighters to defend their world from the attack.

  • Director
    • Nick Castle
  • Writer
    • Jonathan R. Betuel
  • Stars
    • Lance Guest
    • Robert Preston
    • Kay E. Kuter
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    48K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,415
    212
    • Director
      • Nick Castle
    • Writer
      • Jonathan R. Betuel
    • Stars
      • Lance Guest
      • Robert Preston
      • Kay E. Kuter
    RENT/BUY
    Watch on Prime Video
    from $3.99
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    • 206User reviews
    • 112Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:48
    Trailer
    2612

    Photos115

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    Top cast40

    Edit
    Lance Guest
    Lance Guest
    • Alex Rogan…
    Robert Preston
    Robert Preston
    • Centauri
    Kay E. Kuter
    Kay E. Kuter
    • Enduran
    Dan Mason
    Dan Mason
    • Lord Kril
    Dan O'Herlihy
    Dan O'Herlihy
    • Grig
    Catherine Mary Stewart
    Catherine Mary Stewart
    • Maggie Gordon
    Barbara Bosson
    Barbara Bosson
    • Jane Rogan
    Norman Snow
    Norman Snow
    • Xur
    Chris Hebert
    Chris Hebert
    • Louis Rogan
    John O'Leary
    • Rylan Bursar
    George McDaniel
    George McDaniel
    • Kodan Officer
    Charlene Nelson
    Charlene Nelson
    • Rylan Technician
    John Maio
    • Friendly Alien
    Robert Starr
    Robert Starr
    • Underling
    Al Berry
    Al Berry
    • Rylan Spy
    Scott Dunlop
    Scott Dunlop
    • Tentacle Alien
    Vernon Washington
    Vernon Washington
    • Otis
    Peter Nelson
    • Jack Blake
    • Director
      • Nick Castle
    • Writer
      • Jonathan R. Betuel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews206

    6.748.3K
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    Featured reviews

    8davehawk-1

    Its not the plot or effects, its the characters that work...

    None of the other reviews of this film (at least those that I have seen) understand what makes this movie so wonderful. This is one of the few movies I can recall that treat teenagers with some respect, instead of as cartoon characters. Alex has the same kinds of dreams and problems we all had at the age of 18, but he really does try to do the right thing, even when it goes against his desires. The film does not show the generation gap as a battlefield, but as a fact of life that Alex has to live with, and not one that is entirely negative.

    This film is totally driven by the characters. The plot, and even the CGI, while groundbreaking for the day, are not the real magic here. It is the characters.
    dirvine-2

    A "gem" from the 80's

    This is a lost gem of a movie from the generation of "E.T.", Indiana Jones, Star Wars, etc...

    When a friend showed it to me on VHS in 1984 I loved it for its originality, warmth & humor, as well as being impressed with the first-time computer-generated special effects for this kind of sci-fi film.

    When I saw the 'special edition' DVD in Widescreen I snatched it right up and found that I enjoyed it as much as I did 20 years ago! The movie's special effects still looked good to me, especially the "Star Car" (my personal favorite).

    But the special effects are not the centerpiece of this film. It has plenty of charm of its own to offer in plot, story, warmth, humor & good performances. Craig Safan's music score for this film is one of my all-time favorites. It almost outsizes this movie but it fits just the same.

    "Starfighter" is a real gem from the 80's I will treasure in my movie collection.
    7Space_Mafune

    Juvenile Space Opera Fun

    This video game/ STAR WARS inspired space opera epic is more fun than it probably has any right to be. While there is an instant or two where the film suffers greatly from a case of the "cutes", the great casting here makes this one remain worthwhile. In particular Dan O' Herlihy, with his performance as Alex Rogan's alien friend Grig, absolutely steals this movie and gets to deliver most of the best lines. And when he's not stealing the picture, another veteran character actor named Robert Preston (Centauri) is. Good stuff especially suitable for teenage sci-fi fans but even as an adult I cannot help but have a soft spot for this cast...even Lance Guest and Catherine Mary Stuart do alright here.
    7radiopal

    A fun movie and... hey in it's own way... Legendary

    I love THE LAST STARFIGHTER... it's a good, fun movie. A matinee type of film. It's not as great as Star Wars or some of the big budget movies of the time... (hmmm, where there any big budget Sci Fi movies other than Star Wars at the time?) The acting, though not great was charming. Lance Guest (brillantly playing Alex and the very naive Beta), Greg O'Herlihy (sp) playing the loveable Lizard creature Grig and of course.... Robert Preston as rascalous Centauri. And something that I forgot for a long time (until I saw it at a local store and had to buy it on DVD) was that this was one, if not THE, first movie to utilize CGI. Yeah, it's a far cry from what filmakers can do now with Apple Rendering software. But when I saw the movie in the Theater, I was impressed and thought that if Computer Graphics were this good in the this first movie... how much it will grow. It's a movie well worth having in your library. And as I'm watching it right now, I'm glad that I have it in mine.
    7chvylvr80

    80's Sci-Fi at it's best

    Being a child of the eighties, I can remember this movie fondly and with a lot of nostalgia for a time when movies that are corny now were just pretty damn cool then. The Last Starfighter is a great example except it isn't corny.

    Some people are complaining about the visual effects but let me tell ya, they are pretty good even by today's standards. Some of these effects snobs think that if a movie's effects aren't groundbreaking or super realistic, they aren't good. Special effects are effective if they enhance a movie, not just because they use the latest computer effects or bring something entirely new to the movie world. Anyway, back to the movie.

    The cast all does a good job but none of them ever went on to fame, a occurance that I blame solely on soulless Hollywood execs. Lance Guest especially, come on he did a good job. He deserves better. The plot is simple but fun and this movie is perfect for kids, as I was at the time I saw this the first thru 300th time. This movie has everything: video games, aliens, space dogfights, lasergun battles, teen angst, and 80's cheese. The Last Starfighter is a classic. Bottom Line: What a movie. If you were alive in the 80's and you missed this then you are so deprived. If you haven't seen it yet then stop reading this and go rent it or something.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All visual effects (not practical effects like make-up and explosions) were made on a Cray X-MP computer.
    • Goofs
      When Grig is trying to restore power shortly after using the Death Blossom, there is a cable for a 9-volt battery attached to the circuit board in his hand. However, it does not automatically mean that it can only connect to a 9-volt battery, or that something that looks like Earth-technology must be from Earth.
    • Quotes

      Centauri: [voice in video game] Greetings, Starfighter. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan armada.

    • Alternate versions
      On the 25th Anniversary Blu-ray and DVD, a brief musical cue is missing from the soundtrack. In previous versions, the reveal of Beta's half-formed face as he pulls the bed covers away (about a half-hour into the film) is accompanied by a string/cymbal crescendo, followed by a loud, low brass/percussion sting, which then crescendos into the next scene. This cue is completely absent on the 25th Anniversary Edition (though it is audible on the commentary track).
    • Connections
      Edited into No Feat But What We Make: 'Terminator 2' and the Rise of Digital Effects (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Never Crossed My Mind
      (Craig Safan and Mark Mueller)

      Performed by Clif Magness

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    FAQ24

    • How long is The Last Starfighter?Powered by Alexa
    • What is The Last Starfighter About?
    • How is it that Wil Wheaton was listed in the cast as "Louis' friend" when he at no point had anything to do with Louis, he was only seen in the background "Playing ball" and you didn't actually see his face!!
    • Has there ever been a "Starfighter" game released?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 13, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El último guerrero espacial
    • Filming locations
      • 9411 Soledad Canyon Rd., Canyon Country, California, USA(small town where Alex lived)
    • Production companies
      • Lorimar Film Entertainment
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $28,733,290
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,011,695
      • Jul 15, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $28,736,154
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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