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Starman

Play trailer Poster for Starman PG Released Dec 14, 1984 1h 55m Sci-Fi Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 109 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Answering a NASA message intended for aliens, a space being tries to contact mankind, but an American missile grounds his ship. Scrambling, the so-called Starman (Jeff Bridges) inhabits the body of a late Wisconsinite and kidnaps the dead man's widow, Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen). Determined to reunite with a vessel from his home planet at a predetermined site, Starman and Jenny travel to Arizona. Pursued by military officials trying to kill him, Starman forges a lasting bond with Jenny.
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Critics Consensus

Starman initially begins as an offbeat sci-fi adventure, but transforms into a surprisingly sweet drama, courtesy of Jeff Bridges' disarming performance and John Carpenter's careful direction.

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Critics Reviews

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Rex Reed New York Post It's both an exciting sci-fi adventure and a sexy love story, and it succeeds happily on both levels. Aug 28, 2025 Full Review Mike Clark USA Today Starman is a film without a single surprise or suspenseful moment. Rated: 2/4 Aug 22, 2025 Full Review Rita Kempley Washington Post Despite Allen's sincere face; Bridges' quirky, effective portrayal; some exquisite effects; and many funny moments, the film falters at the finish, if not a little before. Mostly it never delivers what it promises -- an alien with all the right answers. Aug 21, 2025 Full Review Tom Ensign Toledo Blade Its best effect is that it is a truly enjoyable movie. Aug 20, 2025 Full Review Don Dahlstrom Flint Journal "Starman" is alternately touching and thrilling. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 19, 2025 Full Review Kirk Honeycutt Escondido Times-Advocate (CA) At least you care about its characters, which is no small thing in a genre where hardware usually predominates. Aug 19, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Karen H It’s been many years since I first saw this film and it has lost none of its charm. Thank you Roku. I have enjoyed watching Jeff's work since his family Sea Hunt days on tv and I have appreciated all of his films. He is one heck of a special man way beyond his many talents as an actor. I wish he and wife Susan were my neighbors. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/13/25 Full Review William L Wonderful movie, its at its heart a love story, beautifully done by two professionals in Jeff Bridges & Karen Allen Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/25 Full Review Audience Member One of John Carpenter’s best films. Period. The score is sublime, the casting superb, the cinematography gorgeous, warm and inviting. Truly one of the best films I have ever seen and always a treat to watch with close friends and family. I will never tire of this masterpiece! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/28/24 Full Review Manuel C I have seen this movie several times since it was released. I always saw it as it is described, an alien who came accepting the "invitation" and the adventures he lived with Jenny Hayden. However, I recently watched it again and realized that there are probably many of us who are misinterpreting it. In reality, this story is not about him, but about her, Jenny Hayden. When the movie introduces her to us, she is a woman destroyed by memories. She, it is perceived, lost the love of her life with the death of her husband, with whom she could not even conceive a child. Out of nowhere this creature arrives to, in a way, occupy the body of her deceased husband and, what should have been the story of the alien racing to reach the meeting point for his escape, was transformed into the story of how this woman had the unimaginable opportunity to have closure, "say goodbye" to her deceased husband and, on top of that, conceive "his" child. In fact, the story even has messianic elements (her son will be a "teacher" with the knowledge of the "messenger", Starman). But back to her, the journey gave her the chance to express her sorrow, her loss and, ultimately, to gather the strength to say goodbye. I think the evidence is in the fact that her face at the end shows a clear contrast with the depressed and destroyed woman at the beginning. Starman is, in essence, a film about learning to get closure and learn to "let go". Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/15/24 Full Review Eric M It is one of my favourite movies. Why ? Jeff bridges acting is superb throughout. And Karen Allen is the perfect match. It is a I fi but very huma emotions of the full range here (death, redemption, etc.). I know people might dismiss as pure fiction but it hints at the best and worst of us as humans. That’s the appeal Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review judy b One of my top five favorite movies! I am watching it for maybe the fourth time. A real mix of sci-fi, action and surprisingly, romance! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/01/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Starman

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Movie Info

Synopsis Answering a NASA message intended for aliens, a space being tries to contact mankind, but an American missile grounds his ship. Scrambling, the so-called Starman (Jeff Bridges) inhabits the body of a late Wisconsinite and kidnaps the dead man's widow, Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen). Determined to reunite with a vessel from his home planet at a predetermined site, Starman and Jenny travel to Arizona. Pursued by military officials trying to kill him, Starman forges a lasting bond with Jenny.
Director
John Carpenter
Producer
Larry J. Franco
Screenwriter
Bruce A. Evans, Raynold Gideon, Dean Riesner
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Delphi II, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Industrial Light & Magic
Rating
PG
Genre
Sci-Fi, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 14, 1984, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2015
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio
70mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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