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Stargate

Play trailer Poster for Stargate PG-13 Released Oct 28, 1994 2h 0m Sci-Fi Adventure Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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54% Tomatometer 50 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.
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Stargate

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert M From the moment the colossal ring whirred to life, Stargate launched audiences into an adventure that transcended typical science fiction, creating a truly exhilarating cinematic experience. Far from a mere special effects showcase, the film, helmed by the visionary Roland Emmerich, masterfully blended ancient myth with futuristic concepts, crafting a narrative that was both intellectually stimulating and undeniably thrilling. Kurt Russell, as Colonel Jack O'Neil, delivered a wonderfully nuanced performance, portraying a man wrestling with personal grief while stoically facing an impossible mission. His understated heroism provided a grounding force amidst the otherworldly spectacle. James Spader, as the quirky and brilliant Dr. Daniel Jackson, brought an infectious enthusiasm to the discovery of the Stargate's secrets, making his character's journey of understanding genuinely engaging. The interplay between these two disparate personalities, one a seasoned military man and the other an academic, formed the heartwarming core of the film. The production design was simply breathtaking, transporting viewers to a meticulously crafted alien world that felt both ancient and utterly convincing. The visual effects, groundbreaking for their time, have aged remarkably well, especially the iconic wormhole sequence which remains a marvel of cinematic engineering. Beyond the technical achievements, Stargate succeeded in building a rich mythology, hinting at a vast universe waiting to be explored. The concept of ancient civilizations being influenced by extraterrestrial visitors was presented with a captivating blend of wonder and intrigue, sparking the imagination and leaving audiences eager for more. Even Ra, the primary antagonist, despite his imposing presence, contributed to the film's overall mystique, serving as a formidable, almost god-like, obstacle. This film was a triumphant blend of action, discovery, and genuine human emotion, proving that big-budget science fiction could be both intellectually satisfying and profoundly entertaining. It's a journey well worth taking, leaving you with a lasting sense of awe and the irresistible urge to explore the stars. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/19/25 Full Review Mark J Strong sci-if which only falls with a lower score due to a bit of aging. Also I’m not sure how the people believe the headgear of the “gods” are real heads. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/11/25 Full Review K K One of Spader's other movies really interested me and made me pull up his body of work. I saw this movie when dating someone. Sci-fi and football were not really my thing so much, but I went to plenty of sci-fi movies, including watching at home as well as football. The things we do for love or when in love and young and dumb. At the time, I didn't connect to this genre but gave re-watch and, for what it is, it works. A larger-budget, commercial sci-fi movie with movie stars. Action and fantasy come in to play along with sci-fi. A unique story line really and I liked tying in with Egyptian and Egyptian hieroglyphs and not in a mummy sort of movie. Worth a watch but take it or the type of movie it is. Good special effects, visuals, sounds for the time and not to be compared to today, but what they had back then. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/05/25 Full Review Michael P I was very surprised with this. Yes, there are some writing issues, mainly with the villain and there's pacing issues at the beginning and parts of the 2nd act but wow, the mythology and idea was great and really entertaining. The acting was mostly pretty good and I thought the VFX looked really good for a movie that's 30 years old. If the rest are similar, I look forward to watching more Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/28/25 Full Review nick s A fairly decent adventure/action movie. Lots of big sfx and nice world building. The story concept was good although the execution could have been better. A little too heavy on space opera tropes and plot conveniences. Still, I think younger viewers would enjoy it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/21/25 Full Review Rich J Spader and Russel work well with each other. Jaye Davidson is a good Ra with the modulated voice being a good touch. A good flick that is still enjoyable after all these years. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Stargate

Stargate: Official Clip - Activation of the Stargate Stargate: Official Clip - Activation of the Stargate 2:13 Stargate: Official Clip - The Stargate Is Discovered Stargate: Official Clip - The Stargate Is Discovered 2:38 Stargate: Official Clip - Stepping Through the Stargate Stargate: Official Clip - Stepping Through the Stargate 2:38 Stargate: Official Clip - I Wouldn't Feed That Thing Stargate: Official Clip - I Wouldn't Feed That Thing 2:38 Stargate: Official Clip - Ambushed! Stargate: Official Clip - Ambushed! 3:06 Stargate: Official Clip - Mistaken for Gods Stargate: Official Clip - Mistaken for Gods 2:11 Stargate: Official Clip - Taken Before Ra Stargate: Official Clip - Taken Before Ra 3:13 Stargate: Official Clip - Only One Ra Stargate: Official Clip - Only One Ra 2:12 Stargate: Official Clip - Give My Regards to King Tut Stargate: Official Clip - Give My Regards to King Tut 1:40 Stargate: Official Clip - How Ya Doing? Stargate: Official Clip - How Ya Doing? 2:08 View more videos
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Movie Info

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
Le Studio Canal +, Centropolis Film Productions, Carolco Pictures Inc.
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
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