Starman

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Starman

PG

1984

1h 55m

Sci-Fi

Romance

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Popcornmeter

83%

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122 Reviews

70%

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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

Beginning as an offbeat sci-fi adventure, Starman evolves into a surprisingly tender love story, courtesy of Jeff Bridges' disarming performance and John Carpenter's careful direction.

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Warren Clements

Globe and Mail

Jul 13, 2026

Beyond his sweet chemistry with Allen, Bridges delivers a physical performance so striking that it won him an Oscar nomination for best actor.

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Jeff Millar

Houston Chronicle

May 11, 2026

The problems I had with Starman were equally divided between taste and execution.

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Peter Stack

San Francisco Chronicle

May 11, 2026

3/4

"Starman" is an awkward but entertaining movie.

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John Kiely

Waterloo Region Record

May 11, 2026

The screenplay for Starman is comprise of clever situations interrupted by yawning gaps of credibility that might have sunk a film, with lesser parties involved.

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Robert W. Butler

Kansas City Star

May 11, 2026

2.5/4

It's a noble effort, but one that never rises above the limitations of its unoriginal script.

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Morley Walker

Winnipeg Sun

May 11, 2026

Director John Carpenter recognizes the strength of the material, and wisely avoids saddling it with needless gimmickry.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 5, 2026

Starman = A *4* star Movie!

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic Sep 2, 2026

A romantic movie of an Alien sends greeting to earth and falls in love with the women whose dead husband he was impersonating while experiencing the beauty, horror, and wonder of the Human species.

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Cameron B

@CameronLand Aug 26, 2026

Starman is John Carpenter proving that the guy who gave us killer aliens, suburban nightmares, and general cinematic mayhem could also make a genuinely sweet-ass love story. Jeff Bridges is fantastic as the bewildered alien trying to figure out Earth, while Karen Allen brings warmth and heart without turning the whole thing into sentimental mush. It’s funny, charming, weird, and surprisingly touching. Basically E.T. for people who’d rather have a little whiskey with their extraterrestrial. Carpenter keeps things moving with just enough sci-fi weirdness, while the banter gives the movie its human heartbeat. Starman is proof that sometimes the guy from outer space isn’t the biggest asshole in the room.

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Alejandro E

@Alex970 Jul 19, 2026

Here, the idea must have been to create a version of *E.T.* for an older audience. It lacks the charm of the iconic 1980s classic, but it’s watchable if you’re not too fussy. It’s nothing like David Bowie’s equally iconic song.

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John S

@LoneJohnny5 Jun 26, 2026

Really good. Makes the government look like the bad guys (aren't they though?). The engaging plot is well acted. Just sad they didn't get their HEA.

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Farah R.

@Farah May 19, 2026

I expected more from the great mind behind The Thing. John Carpenter’s non-horror extraterrestrial sci-fi film is far less compelling. His attempt to explore a Spielberg approach left me wondering just how much inspiration he got from E.T. The roadtrip, friendly alien, and romance were a bit predictable, and the slow pace was a huge contrast to the sharp tension of his classics. Starman is not a film I would revisit.

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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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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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