Stargate

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Stargate

PG-13

Released Oct 28, 1994

2h 0m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

53%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In modern-day Egypt, professor Daniel Jackson (James Spader) teams up with retired Army Col. Jack O'Neil (Kurt Russell) to unlock the code of an interstellar gateway to an ancient Egypt-like world. They arrive on a planet ruled by the despotic Ra (Jaye Davidson), who holds the key to the Earth travelers' safe return. Now, in order to escape from their intergalactic purgatory, Jackson and O'Neil must convince the planet's people that Ra must be overthrown.

Critics Consensus

Stargate has splashy visuals and James Spader to recommend it, but corny characterization and a clunky script makes this a portal to ho-hum.

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David Hunter

The Hollywood Reporter

Stargate is a blast from the past in many ways, but it imaginatively employs the latest special effects technology to give audiences new thrills.

Oct 29, 2019

Full Review

Zaki Hasan

San Francisco Chronicle

The kind of flick where Kurt Russell dispatches an Anubis-looking baddie after first telling him, in the kind of bon mot that elevates the thing an entire letter grade, "Give my regards to King Tut, a**hole."

Oct 13, 2019

Full Review

Jay Carr

Boston Globe

It works not because ridiculousness is concealed, but because ridiculousness on this scale becomes something else. Don't let anyone tell you that Stargate, lifeless script and all, isn't clunky fun, proudly trembling on the brink of classic camp.

May 2, 2018

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Not enough of the plot was designed well enough to stand out from the pack of other ’90s sci-fi flicks; creative complications are simply far too few.

Rated: 5/10

Jul 21, 2024

Full Review

Alan Jones

Radio Times

Emmerich's film may not be a lot of things, but as an action-packed, science-fiction rollercoaster ride, it's fabulous fun.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 25, 2024

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

The spirit of adventure keeps the cheesy parts fun.

Mar 31, 2023

Full Review

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Audience Member

Did the screenwriters even consider constructing a coherent PLOT for this PoS? It makes Water World look like a masterpiece! I bailed at the 90 minute mark. I guess the special effects were pretty cool for three decades ago, but besides the usual saboteur subplot that would embarrass Dr. Zachary Smith, what TF is in this?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/11/24

Full Review

azeem h

Stargate is a conundrum, it failed spectacularly at the Box Office, yet was the start of Roland Emmerich's blockbuster career after getting a box office hit with Universal Soldier. The film itself would then inspire the probably the greatest Sci-Fi show of the 21st Century Stargate SG-1. It's odd because all the ingredients that the show use was originated in the film. Essentially the film does the heavy lifting the world building the mythology and SG-1 uses it as a jumping point. I think it failed because it is exactly that it looks like a big budget TV pilot it doesn't help that prime Kurt Russell looks disinterested having barely any lines, at the start he's supposedly suicidal after his child is dead from an accidental gun discharge, that rarely pays off here unlike in the show. James Spader is solid as the professor who is isn't believed by his peers but turns out us right all along. On its own it's a solid Sci-Fi film not particularly terrible but not blow your mind good but we do have to thank it for what came after.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

Full Review

Shay W

It's Kurt Russel versus ancient Egyptians. But, not just any ancient Egyptians, alien ancient Egyptians!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/24/24

Full Review

Steve Z

This movie didn't get a fair shake at the time simply because of who the villain was played by. But it was epic then, and continues to be epic today.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/13/24

Full Review

Arthur B

just boring nonsense

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/07/24

Full Review

Cera F

One of my absolute favorite guilty pleasures. Loved this movie since I was a kid. It's just a fun time as long as you don't think about it too much

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/21/24

Full Review

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Roland Emmerich

Director

Kurt Russell

Colonel Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neil

James Spader

Dr. Daniel Jackson

Jaye Davidson

Ra

Viveca Lindfors

Catherine Langford, Ph.D.

Alexis Cruz

Skaara

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Stargate: Official Clip - Activation of the Stargate

2:13

Stargate: Official Clip - The Stargate Is Discovered

2:38

Stargate: Official Clip - Stepping Through the Stargate

2:38

Stargate: Official Clip - I Wouldn't Feed That Thing

2:38

Stargate: Official Clip - Ambushed!

3:06

Stargate: Official Clip - Mistaken for Gods

2:11

Stargate: Official Clip - Taken Before Ra

3:13

Stargate: Official Clip - Only One Ra

2:12

Stargate: Official Clip - Give My Regards to King Tut

1:40

Stargate: Official Clip - How Ya Doing?

2:08

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Synopsis

In modern-day Egypt, professor Daniel Jackson (James Spader) teams up with retired Army Col. Jack O'Neil (Kurt Russell) to unlock the code of an interstellar gateway to an ancient Egypt-like world. They arrive on a planet ruled by the despotic Ra (Jaye Davidson), who holds the key to the Earth travelers' safe return. Now, in order to escape from their intergalactic purgatory, Jackson and O'Neil must convince the planet's people that Ra must be overthrown.

Director: Roland Emmerich
Producer: Joel B. Michaels, Oliver Eberle, Dean Devlin
Screenwriter: Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin
Distributor: Artisan Entertainment, Warner Home Vídeo, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Centropolis Film Productions, Carolco Pictures Inc., Le Studio Canal +
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 28, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $70.9M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, DTS, Stereo