Activate your BLOCKBUSTER On Demand device

The Last Starfighter (1984) Reviews

The Last Starfighter (1984)
Member Rating:  
Trailer-park teenager Lance Guest regularly escapes from his humdrum existence by playing the video game Starfighter. His expertise at this recreational endeavor attracts the attention of affable stranger Robert Preston. Before he knows what's happening, Guest is whisked by Preston into the outer reaches of the galaxy! It turns out that the Starfighter game is being played in deadly earnest in outer space, and that Guest is expected to join Preston's Star League, then do battle with the wicked Kodan forces. Guest's principal ally is the lizardlike Grig (Dan O'Herlihy--and we didn't recognize him either). His great rival is the traitorous Xur (Norman Snow). The contrast between Guest's earthbound life as the son of single-mother Barbara Bosson and his new position as Starfighter is daunting at first, but soon the boy is manning a spacecraft and zapping the baddies as though he's been doing it all his life. The Last Starfighter was clearly designed with "sequel" in mind: giveaways include the resurrection of a "dead" character and the surprisingly casual escape of the villain. While the film didn't stir up enough business to warrant a sequel, the Starfighter video game remained a much-sought-after commodity by joystick-happy "warriors" all over the country. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

 Read More


Starring:
Lance Guest, Robert Preston, (more)
Director(s):
Nick Castle, Jr.
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG
Format(s):
DVD  |  Blu-ray  | Digital SD
View All Versions to rent and buy
 
 
 
 
 
 

Average Ratings

(38 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

Marc B.

The Last Starfighter pioneered the concept of video game recruitment from among the stars. Originally designed to sell copies of Star Raiders II for the Atari 800 personal computer, this movie provides an indepth plot, a campy fun storyline, and impressive computer graphic visuals for its time. This movie provides hope to all super-nerd videogame players nagged by their mothers that there might actually be a purpose to their gaming beyond the evident uselessness their parents see. A very enjoyable movie.

Yes   |   No


Leland M.

My son saw it with me, and he really liked it. And he is a tough movie critic.

Yes   |   No


Ralph D.

I have seen it several times. Always liked it

Yes   |   No


Michael B.

saw it opening day in theater, and ran up ramp in movie theatre when i saw the guy that looked like his face was melting off. Everyone laughed, not so scary now. Still an awesome movie to watch again:)

Yes   |   No


Douglas H.

i liked the movie as a kid so i wanted my little girl (8) to watch it... she hated it, and we had to turn it off. however i believe its becouse shes so use to the special effects of today. she kept saying "FAKE" thru what she saw if it & shes not a fan of "fake" looking movies, i still feel as though its a good family movie & worth a try with your kids, especialy with the boys

Yes   |   No


Doyil B.

Good movie. I enjoy SI FY.

Yes   |   No


Sean M.

I really enjoyed this movie as young buck, back when sci-fi and gaming was getting a good grasp on the media. This movie actually has a good story to it and makes you feel good by the end of it! Young kids and teens especially will enjoy this movie, since it's geared towards their age group; although, I've caught it half-way through on t.v. about a dozen different times since its original release on the big screen and it still manages to keep my attention.

Yes   |   No


Todd S.

This movie was just plain fun! Yes, it's cheesy, but it has a great message. Very excellent family film. It's dated, but I have fond memories!

Yes   |   No


Jay H.

I saw this movie at a sneak preview viewing back in '84. I was excited because it was the first time I (or anyone) had ever seen computer generated effects used that extensively in a movie. Even at the time as a child, I knew this movie was not great and, when I rented this for my 9 year old, his review was, "It was okay, but the effects looked kinda bad." True enough, this film has not aged well at all. Coincidentally, I ended up working with some of the folks who had made the CG for this film, but I think even they'd admit that the computer graphics that could be done at the time just don't hold up for modern audiences. It the CG equivalent of watching the space ships in the old Buck Rogers serials with visible strings and smoke bomb exhaust. Great history, but not great cinema.

Yes   |   No


Andrew M.

Love, love, love movies like this. It was so 80's and I'm a huge fan of 80's flicks with this type of plot and storyline Sci-Fi. OMG watch this if you love 80's movies!

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

BY MAIL

Monthly Subscription 
NEW! 7 - Day Rental
No subscription required. Usually ships in 24 hours.
 
Buy New  $10.99
 

IN-STORE

 

ON DEMAND


Available to:  Watch on 132 devices.
See system requirements.
 

What's Your Take?

Add to FavoritesIn Favorites  |  Share:     Email to a friendShare on FacebookShare on Twitter
YOUR REVIEW
WRITE A REVIEW
 
1000 
 
Member Reviews
Read all (38)
 
Marc B.

The Last Starfighter pioneered the concept of video game recruitment from among the stars. Originally designed to sell copies of Star Raiders II for the Atari 800 personal computer, this movie provides an indepth plot, a campy fun storyline, and impressive computer graphic visuals for its time. This movie provides hope to all super-nerd videogame players nagged by their mothers that there might actually be a purpose to their gaming beyond the evident uselessness their parents see. A very enjoyable movie.

Yes   |   No

 
Leland M.

My son saw it with me, and he really liked it. And he is a tough movie critic.

Yes   |   No

 
Ralph D.

I have seen it several times. Always liked it

Yes   |   No

 
Read All 38 Reviews
 

Quick Links

Email Exclusives

Find Us Online: BLOCKBUSTER Blog - BLOCKBUSTER Widgets - BLOCKBUSTER RSS FEED - BLOCKBUSTER Facebook Page - BLOCKBUSTER Twitter Page - BLOCKBUSTER Wiki

FIND MOVIES

ALL MOVIES

Popular | # | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

ALL ACTORS AND DIRECTORS

Popular | # | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

BLOCKBUSTER CORPORATE

 

BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C. © 2012 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. © 2012 Rovi Corporation.