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Dark Star

  • 19741974
  • AA
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
24K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Dark Star (1974)
Home Video Trailer from Unknown
Play trailer2:23
2 Videos
57 Photos
ComedySci-Fi

In the far reaches of space, a small crew, 20 years into their solitary mission, find things beginning to go hilariously wrong.In the far reaches of space, a small crew, 20 years into their solitary mission, find things beginning to go hilariously wrong.In the far reaches of space, a small crew, 20 years into their solitary mission, find things beginning to go hilariously wrong.

IMDb RATING
6.2/10
24K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • John Carpenter(original story by)
    • Dan O'Bannon(original story by)
  • Stars
    • Dan O'Bannon
    • Dre Pahich
    • Brian Narelle
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • John Carpenter(original story by)
    • Dan O'Bannon(original story by)
  • Stars
    • Dan O'Bannon
    • Dre Pahich
    • Brian Narelle
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 199User reviews
    • 123Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos2

    Dark Star
    Trailer 2:23
    Dark Star
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary

    Photos57

    A1
    Dark Star (1974)
    Brian Narelle in Dark Star (1974)
    Cal Kuniholm in Dark Star (1974)
    Cal Kuniholm in Dark Star (1974)
    Brian Narelle in Dark Star (1974)
    Miles Watkins in Dark Star (1974)
    Brian Narelle and Dan O'Bannon in Dark Star (1974)
    Dre Pahich in Dark Star (1974)
    Nick Castle and Dan O'Bannon in Dark Star (1974)
    Brian Narelle in Dark Star (1974)
    Dark Star (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dan O'Bannon
    Dan O'Bannon
    • Pinbackas Pinback
    Dre Pahich
    Dre Pahich
    • Talbyas Talby
    Brian Narelle
    Brian Narelle
    • Lt. Doolittleas Lt. Doolittle
    Cal Kuniholm
    Cal Kuniholm
    • Boileras Boiler
    Adam Beckenbaugh
    • Bomb #20as Bomb #20
    • (uncredited)
    John Carpenter
    John Carpenter
    • Talby voiceas Talby voice
    • (uncredited)
    Nick Castle
    Nick Castle
    • Alienas Alien
    • (uncredited)
    Cookie Knapp
    • Computeras Computer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Joe Saunders
    Joe Saunders
    • Commander Powellas Commander Powell
    • (uncredited)
    Alan Sheretz
    • Bomb #19as Bomb #19
    • (uncredited)
    Miles Watkins
    Miles Watkins
    • Watkins - Mission Controlas Watkins - Mission Control
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • John Carpenter(original story by) (screenplay by)
      • Dan O'Bannon(original story by) (screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    A low budget, sci-fi satire that focuses on a group of scientists whose mission is to destroy unstable planets. 20 years into their mission, they have battle their alien mascot, that resembles a beach ball, as well as a "sensitive" and intelligent bombing device that starts to question the meaning of its existence. —yusufpiskin
    aliencult filmspoofsatireparody84 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • What Do You Say To A Talking Bomb? All Systems Snafu!!!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • A
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A computer screen flashes: "FUCK YOU HARRIS" during the film. This was a message directed toward Jack H. Harris, the producer, who annoyed director John Carpenter during production. Supposedly, the offensive sentence was his revenge. However, many people have a hard time finding it.
    • Goofs
      The incoming message at the beginning of the movie says that there is a 10 year lag time, and that Dark Star is 18 parsecs from Earth. 18 Parsecs is 58.7 light years, therefore any radio transmissions from Earth would take 58.7 years to reach the ship, traveling at the Speed of Light: the perceived fastest velocity that radio waves can travel. But, being that the Dark Star has an advanced technological propulsion system which provides it the ability to travel significantly faster-than-light to its various destinations, it is entirely feasible that there also exists advancements in technology which allows forms of communication to be transmitted faster-than-light as well.
    • Quotes

      [Doolittle convinces the bomb not to explode]

      Doolittle: Hello, Bomb? Are you with me?

      Bomb #20: Of course.

      Doolittle: Are you willing to entertain a few concepts?

      Bomb #20: I am always receptive to suggestions.

      Doolittle: Fine. Think about this then. How do you know you exist?

      Bomb #20: Well, of course I exist.

      Doolittle: But how do you know you exist?

      Bomb #20: It is intuitively obvious.

      Doolittle: Intuition is no proof. What concrete evidence do you have that you exist?

      Bomb #20: Hmmmm... well... I think, therefore I am.

      Doolittle: That's good. That's very good. But how do you know that anything else exists?

      Bomb #20: My sensory apparatus reveals it to me. This is fun.

    • Alternate versions
      Originally released in a shorter 68-minutes version, later expanded to a longer 83 minute version with the addition of new scenes (including the meteor storm, the visit to the crew's quarters and Doolittle playing his music).
    • Connections
      Edited into Prison Ship (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Benson Arizona
      Music by John Carpenter
      Lyrics by Bill Taylor
      Vocals by John Yager (uncredited)
      [Played over the opening and closing credits]

    User reviews199

    Review
    Top review
    The captain is dead, but that is no problem
    It all started out as a short film made at film school made by the now legendary John Carpetenter, but then they wanted to make a longer version, however they couldn't get money to remake it, so they simply added extra scenes in the middle (example, the beach ball alien).

    The story is this, on a ship where the captain is dead (but you can unfreeze to ask him questions) and the rest crew are going basically crazy they have problem. One of their bombs has become sentient and is busy contemplating the nature of existence.

    The effects are OK, and who would have thought the beach ball would become the inspriration for the movie Alien.

    Over all one of the great classics of science fiction and of low budget film making.

    I heard of this movie a long time ago and it took me over 10 years before I finally found it in my local video shop. Great and amazing movie.

    What will bomb number 20 do, now it is intelligent...watch the film and find out.
    helpful•40
    12
    • flingebunt
    • Sep 27, 2004

    FAQ2

    • What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Director's Cut?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 9, 1979 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Temna zvezda
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Jack H. Harris Enterprises
      • University of Southern California (USC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $60,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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