6.5/10
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261 user 106 critic

Flash Gordon (1980)

PG | | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 5 December 1980 (USA)
Flash Gordon Poster
A football player and his friends travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (adaptation) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

, , | See full cast & crew »
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ON DISC
Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Flash Gordon
... Dale Arden
... The Emperor Ming (as Max Von Sydow)
... Dr. Hans Zarkov
... Princess Aura
... Prince Barin
... Prince Vultan
... Klytus
... Kala
John Osborne ... Arborian Priest
... Fico
... Luro
... Zogi, the High Priest
... Serving Girl
... Munson
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Storyline

Flash Gordon is an American football hero who is skyjacked aboard Dr. Hans Zarkov's rocketship along with his beautiful girlfriend Dale Arden. The threesome are drawn into the influence of the planet Mongo, ruled by Emperor Ming the Merciless. The evil Ming has been testing Earth with unnatural disasters, and deeming our world a threat to his rule. He also intends to take Dale as his concubine, attempts to execute Flash and intends to destroy Earth. Flash must avoid the amorous attentions of Ming's daughter, and unite the warring kingdoms of Mongo to rescue Dale and save our world. Written by David Thiel <d-thiel@uiuc.edu>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

flash gordon | american football | emperor | mind reading | cult film | See All (142) »

Taglines:

Pathetic earthlings... Who can save you now? See more »

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook | Official site

Country:

| |

Language:

Release Date:

5 December 1980 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Blixt Gordon  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,934,030, 7 December 1980, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$27,107,960, 31 December 1981
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

, ,  »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(70 mm prints)| (35 mm prints)

Color:

(Colour by) (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Leon Greene was dubbed by David de Keyser. See more »

Goofs

In the shot of the Ajax cruiser after the Hawkmen have taken it, it is seen with a swarm of Hawkmen following it. During this shot, the superimposed Hawkmen are not composited in for the first frame. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
The Emperor Ming: Klytus, I'm bored. What play thing can you offer me today?
Klytus: An obscure body in the S-K System, Your Majesty. The inhabitants refer to it as the planet... Earth.
The Emperor Ming: How peaceful it looks.
[He activates a console, and watches as earthquakes, floods, etc. start to occur. They both get a good laugh out of it]
Klytus: Most effective, Your Majesty! Will you destroy this, er, Earth?
The Emperor Ming: Later. I like to play with thing a while... before annihilation.
[laughs evilly]
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Crazy Credits

Closing credits: THE END ? See more »

Connections

Featured in Laserdisc Memories: Flash Gordon (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

In The Space Capsule (The Love Theme)
Written by Roger Taylor
Performed by Queen
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Howard Blake
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do the Hawkmen use rocket cycles if they have wings and, therefore, can fly by themselves?
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User Reviews

 
Better than Star Wars
26 March 2006 | by – See all my reviews

I'm not even joking. It's quite possibly one of the worst films ever made, but that is what makes it so marvellous. Loud, cheesy, poorly acted and about as subtle as a pitchfork rammed up the bum. Based on the long- running strips originally written by Alex Raymond, it tells the story of all- American goodie Flash Gordon and his teleportation onto the planet Mongo, lorded over by the eviler- than- evil Ming the Merciless, who has eyes on Flash's lady friend, Dale Arden. If you are a fan of comic books, the sci-fi genre, Queen, or, like me, all three, then this is, simply put perfect entertainment. They should make more films like this- cheesy, camp and stupid. by the way, if you hate this because you think it is too stupid, you REALLY don't understand it!!

LONG LIVE FLASH!!!
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