6.8/10
37,496
167 user 87 critic

The Last Starfighter (1984)

Trailer
2:48 | Trailer
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.

Director:

Nick Castle

Writer:

Jonathan R. Betuel (as Jonathan Betuel)
Reviews
Popularity
2,752 ( 657)
4 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

Photos

Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kay E. Kuter ... Enduran
Dan Mason ... Lord Kril
Lance Guest ... Alex Rogan / Beta Alex
Dan O'Herlihy ... Grig
Catherine Mary Stewart ... Maggie Gordon
Barbara Bosson ... Jane Rogan
Norman Snow ... Xur
Robert Preston ... Centauri
Chris Hebert ... Louis Rogan
John O'Leary John O'Leary ... Rylan Bursar
George McDaniel ... Kodan Officer
Charlene Nelson ... Rylan Technician
John Maio John Maio ... Friendly Alien
Robert Starr ... Underling
Al Berry ... Rylan Spy
Edit

Storyline

Alex Rogan lives in a trailer court where his mother is manager and everyone is like a big extended family. He beats the Starfighter video game to the applause of everyone in the court and later that day finds he has been turned down for a student loan for college. Depressed, he meets Centauri, who introduces himself as a person from the company that made the game, before Alex really knows what is going on he is on the ride of his life in a "car" flying through space. Chosen to take the skills he showed on the video game into real combat to protect the galaxy from an invasion. Alex gets as far as the Starfighter base before he really realized that he was conscripted and requests to be taken back home. When he gets back home, he finds a Zando-Zan (alien bounty hunter) is stalking him. Unable to go home and live, Alex returns to the Starfighter base to find all the pilots have been killed and he is the galaxy's only chance to be saved from invasion. To defeat the invaders, who are ... Written by John Vogel <jvogel@dgs.dgsys.com> & Spokavriel updated

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

He didn't find his dreams... his dreams found him. See more »


Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Nick Castle enjoyed working with Robert Preston, and thought he was fun to work with. See more »

Goofs

The interior set of the Star Car does not match the exterior shots. See more »

Quotes

Beta: [to a startled Louis, while working on his detached head and sitting at a work bench] Louis, you're having a terrible nightmare. Go back to sleep.
See more »

Alternate Versions

In the 1998 VHS release of the film in Australia and New Zealand, both the Universal Pictures and the Lorimar logos were replaced by the Warner Brothers logo at the beginning of the film. See more »


Soundtracks

Red Eyes
(Craig Safan & Mark Mueller)
Performed by Clif Magness
See more »

User Reviews

A "gem" from the 80's
13 January 2004 | by dirvine-2See all my reviews

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.


105 of 111 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
Review this title | See all 167 user reviews »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more »
Edit

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 July 1984 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Last Starfighter See more »

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA See more »

Edit

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,011,695, 15 July 1984

Gross USA:

$28,733,290

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$28,733,290
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)| Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1
See full technical specs »

Contribute to This Page

Your Next Binge Watch Awaits

Looking for something to watch? Choose an adventure below and discover your next favorite movie or TV show.



Recently Viewed