Flash Gordon

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Flash Gordon

PG

Released Dec 5, 1980

1h 50m

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

83%

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53 Reviews

69%

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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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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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Pedro Henrique C

Flash Gordon is a pretty crazy movie and out of touch with reality, even though it's a 1980 adventure it could have had a much more interesting story to follow.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

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Emerson H.

The story is pretty random, and the CGI isn’t great, but you’ll still have a fun time watching it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/03/25

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Leon C

Cheese fest, poor CGI, but love it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

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Mitch B

One of my all-time favorites. You will have a blast watching this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

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Rob A

FLASH - aahaaa - he saved every one of us! The OG campy classic from my childhood; that Queen soundtrack will rock you...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/01/25

Full Review

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Mike Hodges

Director

Sam Jones

Flash Gordon

Melody Anderson

Dale Arden

Max von Sydow

The Emperor Ming

Topol

Dr. Hans Zarkov

Ornella Muti

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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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