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IMDbPro

The NeverEnding Story

Original title: Die unendliche Geschichte
  • 19841984
  • PGPG
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
142K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
737
55
Noah Hathaway, Sydney Bromley, Tilo Prückner, and Deep Roy in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Official Trailer 2
Play trailer1:22
4 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Family
A troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.A troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.A troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
142K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
737
55
  • Director
    • Wolfgang Petersen
  • Writers
    • Wolfgang Petersen(screenplay by)
    • Herman Weigel(screenplay by)
    • Michael Ende(novel)
  • Stars
    • Noah Hathaway
    • Barret Oliver
    • Tami Stronach
Top credits
  • Director
    • Wolfgang Petersen
  • Writers
    • Wolfgang Petersen(screenplay by)
    • Herman Weigel(screenplay by)
    • Michael Ende(novel)
  • Stars
    • Noah Hathaway
    • Barret Oliver
    • Tami Stronach
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 390User reviews
    • 102Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 7 nominations

    Videos4

    The Neverending Story
    Trailer 1:22
    The Neverending Story
    The Neverending Story
    Trailer 1:23
    The Neverending Story
    What to Stream With Your Family Right Now
    Clip 3:57
    What to Stream With Your Family Right Now
    Take Five With "GLOW" Star Sydelle Noel
    Video 1:52
    Take Five With "GLOW" Star Sydelle Noel

    Photos178

    Noah Hathaway in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
    Noah Hathaway in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
    Barret Oliver in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
    Alan Oppenheimer in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
    Barret Oliver in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
    Noah Hathaway in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
    Noah Hathaway in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
    Noah Hathaway, Tami Stronach, Sydney Bromley, Barret Oliver, Alan Oppenheimer, Tilo Prückner, and Deep Roy in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
    Barret Oliver in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
    A0 movie poster - 84 x 118 cm or 33 x 46 inches
    A0 movie poster - 84 x 118 cm or 33 x 46 inches
    A0 movie poster - 84 x 118 cm or 33 x 46 inches

    Top cast

    Edit
    Noah Hathaway
    Noah Hathaway
    • Atreyuas Atreyu
    Barret Oliver
    Barret Oliver
    • Bastianas Bastian
    Tami Stronach
    Tami Stronach
    • The Childlike Empressas The Childlike Empress
    Gerald McRaney
    Gerald McRaney
    • Bastian's Fatheras Bastian's Father
    Chris Eastman
    Chris Eastman
    • 1st Bullyas 1st Bully
    • (as Drum Garrett)
    Darryl Cooksey
    • 2nd Bullyas 2nd Bully
    Nicholas Gilbert
    • 3rd Bullyas 3rd Bully
    Thomas Hill
    Thomas Hill
    • Carl Conrad Coreanderas Carl Conrad Coreander
    Deep Roy
    Deep Roy
    • Teeny Weenyas Teeny Weeny
    Tilo Prückner
    Tilo Prückner
    • Night Hobas Night Hob
    Moses Gunn
    Moses Gunn
    • Caironas Cairon
    Sydney Bromley
    Sydney Bromley
    • Engywookas Engywook
    Patricia Hayes
    • Urglas Urgl
    Beth Anderson
    • The 2nd Balladeeras The 2nd Balladeer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Donald Arthur
    • School's Caretakeras School's Caretaker
    • (uncredited)
    Bernd Eichinger
    Bernd Eichinger
    • Man next to Man Who Drops Milkas Man next to Man Who Drops Milk
    • (uncredited)
    Dee Harris
    • The Balladeers' Lead Guitaristas The Balladeers' Lead Guitarist
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Lenart
    Frank Lenart
    • Teeny Weenyas Teeny Weeny
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Wolfgang Petersen
    • Writers
      • Wolfgang Petersen(screenplay by)
      • Herman Weigel(screenplay by)
      • Michael Ende(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    7.7
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Noah Hathaway was hurt twice during the making of the movie. While learning to ride a horse, his horse threw him off, then stepped on him. While shooting the drowning sequence in the "swamp of sadness," his leg got caught on the elevator and he was pulled under water. He was unconscious by the time he was brought to the surface.
    • Goofs
      When Atreyu is in the Swamps of Sadness with his horse, the horse sinks because it gives into the sadness, but Atreyu doesn't sink, even though he is crying and sad that his friend has died. Though not properly shown in the movie, the book explains how AURYN is protecting him. (His eventual near-sinking at the end of the scene, which never occurred in the book, is due to the plot changes that were made for the movie.)
    • Quotes

      Rock Biter: They look like big, good, strong hands, don't they? I always thought that's what they were.

    • Alternate versions
      The theatrical and VHS releases have the WB logo with the Warner Communications byline, the opening title being horizontal, and the closing Big \\' logo. In the DVD and Blu Ray releases, all of it was replaced by the WB logo with the TimeWarner byline, the opening title being vertical, and the closing shield logo.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Neverending Story/The Last Starfighter/Electric Dreams/That Sinking Feeling (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      The Neverending Story
      Music by Giorgio Moroder

      Lyrics by Keith Forsey

      Performed by Limahl Feat. Beth Anderson (uncredited)

      Guitar solo Dee Harris (uncredited)

      Courtesy of EMI Records, Ltd.

    User reviews390

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    "The NeverEnding Story" is magical
    This is something special. "The NeverEnding Story" is a truly remarkable movie experience. A stunning and unique movie with this fantastic feeling and the feeling of being something "out-of-this-world". The finest fantasy movie of all time. A timeless and nostalgic classic.

    The rich production is notorious in so many ways: the gorgeous settings and landscapes/sceneries; the amazing special effects, visual effects and blue-screen effects; the magic; the spectacular combination of sounds, which impress even more if heard loud; the music...

    Another major strength is the wonderful soundtrack, work of Giorgio Moroder and Klaus Doldinger, with that genial synthpop orientation. It's so 80's and I very much welcome that. The songs are all beautiful. Another great song is Limahl's "Never Ending Story", as well as the two lovely Tami Stronach's singles "Fairy Queen" and "Riding on a Rainbow". It's impressing how she sings so well.

    The movie is thrilling, very involving, exciting, great fun, contains lots of adventure, danger, strong suspense, darkness, drama, strong emotions, fantastic and strange creatures, interesting and well developed characters and a great cast.

    There are strange and fantastic creatures such as the Racing Snail, the creepy Gmork, Morla the ancient one, the friendly Rockbiter (a gentle giant), the Sleepy Bat and Falkor the luckdragon. I like Falkor very much: he's so big, so cool, so fluffy, so cute and so friendly. He also has a great sense of humor and his dog-like appearance makes him irresistible.

    Other interesting characters are the somewhat rude Nighthob, Teeny Weeny, the hilariously typically grumpy old man Mr. Koreander, the eccentric and amusing gnomes Engywook and Urgl, Cairon and especially Atreyu (and his horse Artax), Bastian and the Childlike Empress. Atreyu, Bastian and the Childlike Empress are all terrific kids. Atreyu is a different kind of hero: a true hero child, which is unusual and amazing. Bastian himself is another hero child.

    The movie is promising since the very beginning, with those stunning, dazzling and colorful clouds, which bring it a magical touch. The beauty of the Ivory Tower palace, the golden of the Sphinxes and the blue of the Southern Oracle are also magical details about this movie, among many others. On the other hand, the storm called "The Nothing" is spectacular but slightly creepy. Nevertheless, it is another precious help to give magic and beauty to the film. Not to mention details like the sky full of stars and no clouds and when the sky has clouds...

    It's amazing how one gets involved into the story. While watching the movie, one can feel deeply involved in the story as much as Bastian does. It's impossible to ignore it because it captures one's attention and heart. Also, one can't help but get deeply involved in Atreyu's quest and everything he confronts to save Fantasia, including his emotions and despair.

    The actors are all wonderful. Barret Oliver is amazing as the shy and imaginative Bastian, Noah Hathaway is awesome in the role of the young warrior Atreyu and Tami Stronach is terrific as the Childlike Empress. Her role is minor but very relevant and significant. She really looked like a little princess by portraying the Childlike Empress. It's kinda surprising that this was her only movie role ever. Noah Hathaway... that long hair really fitted very well on him and his character Atreyu resembles an Indian, but only a little bit.

    "The NeverEnding Story" is more than one of the greatest movies from the 80's. It is one of the best, most beautiful, magical and distinguish movies ever. A fine movie with a very good message as well. I can positively say that Mr. Wolfgang Petersen knew what he was doing. This is his masterpiece.

    The movie is a German production filmed in English with mostly American and English actors. The majority of the film takes place in Germany. And it was officially launched under its original title, "Die Unendliche Geschichte", despite being filmed in English. By the way, I was born in 1984 and I'm very proud that this movie is from that year. After all, it's a movie that I love.

    This should definitely be on Top 250.
    helpful•81
    18
    • Atreyu_II
    • Jun 28, 2007

    FAQ6

    • Why does Atreyu have to go alone and leave behind his weapons when he goes out on his journey to save the world?
    • What name does Bastian scream out the window towards the end of the movie?
    • What are the differences between the US theatrical cut and the German theatrical cut?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 20, 1984 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • West Germany
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die unendliche Geschichte
    • Filming locations
      • Blood Alley, Gastown, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Constantin Film
      • Bavaria Studios
      • Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $27,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,192,381
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,325,823
      • Jul 22, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $20,284,984
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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    Noah Hathaway, Sydney Bromley, Tilo Prückner, and Deep Roy in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
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