Stargate

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Stargate

PG-13

Released Oct 28, 1994

2h 0m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

54%

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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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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

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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

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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

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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

Frans B

I think Emmerich did good with this one. Plot with some holes and is sometimes confusing, yes, but overall well written and plausibly interpreted by a very able and convincing cast. Great cinematography, given the constraints of the time. I enjoyed it, good and clean old "pie in the sky" fun

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/09/25

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

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: 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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