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Flash Gordon

Play trailer Poster for Flash Gordon PG Released Dec 5, 1980 1h 50m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Although NASA scientists are claiming the unexpected eclipse and strange hot hail are nothing to worry about, Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol) knows better, and takes football star Flash Gordon (Sam Jones) and travel agent Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) with him into space to rectify things. They land on planet Mongo, where the despot Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow) is attacking Earth out of pure boredom. With the help of a race of Hawkmen, Flash and the gang struggle to save their home planet.
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Flash Gordon

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Critics Consensus

Campy charm and a knowing sense of humor help to overcome a silly plot involving a spacefaring ex-football player, his adoring bevy of groupies, and a supervillain named Ming the Merciless.

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Critics Reviews

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Charlotte O'Sullivan London Evening Standard Basically, whether laughing with this film, or at it, you'll have a blast. Rated: 4/5 Aug 10, 2020 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian Perhaps, like many a superhero film, this one flags just a little in the final battle sequences, but Von Sydow is always there to keep things bizarre, playing it absolutely straight. Rated: 4/5 Jul 31, 2020 Full Review Anton Bitel Little White Lies a mid-air skirmish of corny old-fashioned retrofuturism and knowing postmodernism, even as its veneer of homespun innocence keeps being subverted by the corrupting powers of kink. Jul 31, 2020 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com ...a deserved cult-classic with the widest of appeal. It’s camp, it’s silly, it’s funny and it manages to update the Boys Own charm of the original serials... Rated: 5/5 Nov 30, 2023 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills The movie itself is pure fun, and its status has only benefitted from the resurgence of interest in Queen, who wrote and performed the original score. Sep 7, 2022 Full Review Alan Jones Starburst If the character of Flash Gordon reminds you of Buster Crabbe's exploits in vintage 1930s serials, then this new version of Flash Gordon is definitely for you. Jul 26, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mr W While a couple of the alien costumes and special FX are outright tacky and unrealistic-looking, the script and top quality acting makes up for it! Even though it may seem unoriginal at first glance, (and it is due to it being the classic scenario of saving the world from aliens), the final scene at the end involving Emperor Ming's ring, the unseen person laughing eerily and evilly, I can safely say, was the single best cliff-hanger I've ever seen in a film. And I'm perfectly comfortable with saying that any attempt to produce a sequel (regardless of whether it was done in the 1980s or today) would be a filthy insult to the screenwriter's ingenuity. HE'S SAVIN' THE UNIVERSE!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/25 Full Review Gael C ME GUSTO MUCHO FLASH GORDON ME GUSTARÍA VERLA OTRA VEZ EN PRIME VIDEO Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Alan T It's cheesy for its time and there were moments of dodgy acting skills. Nevertheless, the film was ahead of its time like Star Wars and had me entertained. Though I wish they had fleshed out more on the titular character than just an ordinary guy trapped in another world in outer space. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/16/24 Full Review 80er F Wie "Ted" schon sagte: So schlecht und doch so gut!(Oder so ähnlich;)) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/26/24 Full Review Tony B The lead actors are mediocre at best, but I absolutely love this movie. Fantastic supporting actors led by Max Von Sydow and a very sexy Ornella Muti. The soundtrack by Queen and the beautiful sets make this one of the most rewatchable films ever. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/03/24 Full Review Devil C Never seen but FLASH AHHHHHHH Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/22/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Although NASA scientists are claiming the unexpected eclipse and strange hot hail are nothing to worry about, Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol) knows better, and takes football star Flash Gordon (Sam Jones) and travel agent Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) with him into space to rectify things. They land on planet Mongo, where the despot Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow) is attacking Earth out of pure boredom. With the help of a race of Hawkmen, Flash and the gang struggle to save their home planet.
Director
Mike Hodges
Producer
Dino De Laurentiis
Screenwriter
Alex Raymond, Michael Allin, Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Distributor
Cinema Classics, Video Classics, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Universal Pictures
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
PG
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 5, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2012
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Surround
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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