The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Play trailer

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

PG

Released Apr 29, 2005

1h 49m

Sci-Fi

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

195 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is trying to prevent his house from being bulldozed when his friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) whisks him into outer space. It turns out Ford is an alien who has just saved Arthur from Earth's total annihilation. Ford introduces Arthur to his myriad friends, including many-headed President Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell) and sexy refugee Trillian (Zooey Deschanel). Arthur makes his way across the stars while seeking the meaning of life, or something close to it.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A frantic and occasional funny adaptation of Douglas Adams' novel. However, it may have those unfamiliar with the source material scratching their heads.

Read Critics Reviews

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Adams would be pleased.

Rated: 3/4

May 6, 2005

Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

A disappointingly potholed ride.

May 4, 2005

Full Review

Anthony Lane

The New Yorker

The problem is not that the film debases the book but that movies themselves are too capacious a home for such comedy, with its tea-steeped English musings and its love of bitty, tangential gags.

May 2, 2005

Full Review

Kathi Maio

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

I was quite pleased with the not-too-Hollywood movie version of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Adams might have been, too. Adams zealots might be a bit disappointed, but maybe they will be happy that the movie was, at least, finally made.

Feb 28, 2020

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

There were moments in Hitchhiker where I was mildly amused, including a musical number by dolphins right before they leave Earth, but for the most part, the dry British humor just fell flat.

Nov 18, 2019

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

Could surely be a lot better, but there's much to enjoy in the film that exists, with its organic mixture of comic tones, and generally upbeat attitude of breezy fun.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 19, 2017

Full Review

Read all reviews

Samantha H

What is wrong with rotten tomato here is the most bestest movie ever!!!! They are stupid!!!!! This movie should of been 1000000% best scifi movie ever!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

Full Review

Alex F

I love the books by Douglas Adams, and this movie completely failed to capture the tone, the charm, the humor, or even the most important parts of the original story.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

Tim R

Anybody that doesn't like this is probably a purist and a nerd. One of my all-time faves!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/16/25

Full Review

Lluvia A

It’s definitely a niche kind of humor. It’s not for me! That being said it is a good adaptation. The cast is definitely talented. Watch to see if it’s for you.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/16/25

Full Review

Obi-wan K

I was supposed to watch this on a Friday And also kinda boring but fine

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/15/25

Full Review

Juan Francisco A

One of the wittiest and most charming movies of the early 00’s and it has a 63% in rotten tomatoes? I’ve seen turds get better rating than this!!! A great adaptation to a fantastic book. Martin Freeman and Zooey Deschanel are a fantastic duo with an incredibly funny and talented supporting cast. Definitely an irreverent must-watch!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/10/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Garth Jennings

Director

Martin Freeman

Arthur Dent

Yasiin Bey

Ford Prefect

Sam Rockwell

Zaphod Beeblebrox

Zooey Deschanel

Tricia McMillan ("Trillian")

Warwick Davis

Marvin the Paranoid Android

Alien Trespass

38%

32%

Alien Trespass

Watchlist

Coneheads

39%

38%

Coneheads

Watchlist

Back to the Future

93%

95%

Back to the Future

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Back to the Future

Superintelligence

30%

52%

Superintelligence

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Superintelligence

Meet Dave

20%

35%

Meet Dave

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is trying to prevent his house from being bulldozed when his friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) whisks him into outer space. It turns out Ford is an alien who has just saved Arthur from Earth's total annihilation. Ford introduces Arthur to his myriad friends, including many-headed President Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell) and sexy refugee Trillian (Zooey Deschanel). Arthur makes his way across the stars while seeking the meaning of life, or something close to it.

Director: Garth Jennings
Producer: Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Jonathan Glickman, Jay Roach, Nick Goldsmith
Screenwriter: Karey Kirkpatrick, Douglas Adams
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Spyglass Entertainment
Rating: PG (Mild Language|Action|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 29, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 25, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.0M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now