The Last Starfighter

Name: The Last Starfighter
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Released: July 13, 1984
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 67
Cast: Barbara Bosson, Catherine Mary Stewart, Chris Hebert, Dan Mason, Dan O'Herlihy

1984

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Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Ratings

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The Last Starfighter

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 13, 1984 | PG

Starring: Barbara Bosson, Catherine Mary Stewart, Chris Hebert, Dan Mason, Dan O'Herlihy, John O'Leary, Kay E. Kuter, Lance Guest, Norman Snow, Robert Preston

Summary: 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

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 101 min

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Critic Reviews

Staff (Not Credited)

With The Last Starfighter, director Nick Castle and writer Jonathan Betuel have done something so simple it's almost awe-inspiring: they've taken a very human story and accented it with sci-fi special effects, rather than the other way around. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Clever, exciting, and fun, The Last Starfighter boasts good performances by Guest and Preston, and a literate, funny script that highlights the real story: not the space war that only Guest can win but the difficulty of leaving home, family, and security for a totally new life when the opportunity presents itself. Read full review

Keith Phipps

A sweet, unabashedly corny, matinee-friendly science-fiction adventure starring Lance Guest as a trailer-park videogame prodigy, and Robert Preston as the alien who recruits him to save the day from some space-baddies. Read full review

David Ansen

Director Castle has studied his Spielberg well. While the movie may be composed of borrowed parts, it remains bouncy and good-natured throughout. Guest has charm and a deft comic touch, and Stewart is lovely as his girl. [30 July 1984, p.80]

Gary Arnold

At once warmly earthbound and nobly starstruck, it should give receptive spectators a savory pick-me-up. [13 July 1984, p.E1]

Roger Ebert

The Last Starfighter is a well-made movie. The special effects are competent. The acting is good, and I enjoyed Robert Preston's fast-talking The Music Man reprise (we've got trouble, right here in the galaxy) and the gentle wit of Dan O'Herlihy's extraterrestrial. But the final spark was missing, the final burst of inspiration that might have pulled all these concepts and inspirations and retreads together into a good movie. Read full review

Tony Chiroldes Jr.

Video-game-come-true plot is corny, but somehow it works. [13 July 1984, p.D10]

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Kai82

Sep 16, 2021

For some it is a true classic, hidden gem or insider tip. I consider it as a real good science fiction movie that is nearly forgotten with a unique idea. It can be argued that this is one of the first video game movie (not adaption) or at least a movie that uses the videogame idea quiteFor some it is a true classic, hidden gem or insider tip. I consider it as a real good science fiction movie that is nearly forgotten with a unique idea. It can be argued that this is one of the first video game movie (not adaption) or at least a movie that uses the videogame idea quite well. The story starts with the teenager Alex Rogan who lives in a trailer park. He has not much perspective in life as he was rejected for scholarship. However he is a masterful videogame player. His favorite game at the arcade is named Starfighter. It is a space shooter were the player fights against an invading fleet. There is more to the game than he can imagine. After he archives the highscore he is approached by the games inventor who wants to give him a prize. This is the start to the adventure. I stop here to avoid spoilers. The story has a unique idea and works well enough for me. To be fair it is also foreseeable and uses a lot of tropes but not in a way that ruins the experience. Maybe it is slightly in the so bad its good category and I fail to see it that way. Lets say it is entertaining but not a Shakespearean experience or “The Godfather” to give a more modern example. The cast works well for the genre. Again this means a solid to good performance and not “The Godfather”. I liked Lance Guest as Alex Rogan, Dan O’Herlihy as Grig, Robert Preston as Centauri and Catherine Mary Steward as Maggie. I freely admit that the bad guys are a bit stereotypical but work well enough that way. In total I say we got a good performance and no serious missteps. The special effects are divisive. They look good for the time but a bit to too artificial. Lets say they are good but not entirely my cup of tea. Maybe they aged not that well too. The practical effects are mostly good. The soundtrack is really good and they tell the story that the composer wanted to surpass even Star Wars. Not sure if it was just made up but this story keeps being told. Overall this is an entertaining movie that I enjoyed. Will not end on my top movie list but is rememberable. Bonus knowledge: At the time of writing the full movie was available for free on YouTube.… Expand

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