Starman

PG

Released Dec 14, 1984

1 hr. 55 min.

Sci-Fi

Romance

List

86%

36 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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

What initially begins as sci-fi transforms into a surprisingly sweet, offbeat drama, courtesy of John Carpenter's careful direction.

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Alec B

A reminder of what a great filmmaker Carpenter was at this time. The movie could easily have veered into overly sentimental trash at any moment and never does. The ending is just beautiful, mostly due to Bridges and Allen

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/26/24

Full Review

Ann C

Beautiful! Jeff Bridges is perfect as Starman. You'd completely believe that he is an alien learning to inhabit his Earth body. The way he and Karen Allen learn about each other and discover their feelings for each other is completely believable. You're rooting for them completely! A bittersweet ending, but hopeful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

Mike P

Grieving widow Karen Allen has a close encounter...She is visited upon by an alien (Jeff Bridges) who takes the guide of her deceased husband...And then they engage in an inter-species romance; as he flees his adversaries; foreign and domestic. It's very ET meets The Return of Martin Guerre... It also like an 80s version of Ghost in some ways.. I think there should have been more of a question of is this the spirit of her husband or an alien...More suspense and ambiguity on that issue...I also think they should have made it edgier; like The Shape Of Water which covers similar issues; but it's a little more explicit and shocking, to an effective degree..Whereas this feels kind of standard issue; kind of formula; kind of mid; kind of meh. It's a little too ho-hum for me to recommend this... Also I know Jeff's performance was critically acclaimed; but I thought it was pretty High School, to be honest... Overall: thumbs👎

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/24

Full Review

helder f

It's a nice movie for a Saturday afternoon. It plays with the idea of extraterrestrial life but also with our idea of what makes us human. Nothing in the movie is extraordinary but it's entertaining. Surprisingly, it does not fell outdated for great part. It's a bit too long and the story drags out a bit more than it probably should.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/24

Full Review

Lomer A

Super movie - grossly underrated!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/14/23

Full Review

KB B

This movie is the standard in the alien visitation type though I think "Signs" is right up there as well. Jeff Bridges is phenomenal as the alien. It's definitely worth the watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/12/23

Full Review

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John Carpenter

Director

Jeff Bridges

Starman

Karen Allen

Jenny Hayden

Charles Martin Smith

Mark Shermin

Richard Jaeckel

George Fox

Robert Phalen

Maj. Bell

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Starman: Official Clip - Not From Around Here

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Starman: Official Clip - I Send Greetings

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Starman: Official Clip - The Deer Hunters

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Starman: Official Clip - Arizona Maybe

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Starman: Official Clip - Yellow Light, Go Very Fast

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Duane Byrge

Hollywood Reporter

Give ample credit to director John Carpenter also for his fluid storytelling.

Dec 17, 2018

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

There is little that is original in Starman, but at least it has chosen good models.

Jun 6, 2007

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

It isn't pleasant to watch a talented filmmaker like John Carpenter willfully distort his personality to fit a commercial (read Spielbergian) profile, and only the opening suspense-horror sequences have the weight of real involvement.

Jun 6, 2007

Full Review

Howard Waldstein

CBR

Starman is a standout in the auteur's body of work.

Jul 18, 2023

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

John Carpenter shows a softer side in changing genres.

Jan 17, 2023

Full Review

Alan Jones

Starburst

Yes, it is illogical, safe and predict- able, but it is also emotionally uplift- ing and has a sense of warmth about it which is a welcome addition to the Carpenter canon.

Jul 22, 2022

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Michael Douglas
Screenwriter: Bruce A. Evans, Raynold Gideon, Dean Riesner
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Industrial Light & Magic, Delphi II
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 1984, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2015
Sound Mix: Stereo, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
Aspect Ratio: 70mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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