The Last Starfighter

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The Last Starfighter

PG

1984

1h 40m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

90 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

After finally achieving the high score on Starfighter, his favorite arcade game, everyday teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) meets the game's designer, Centauri (Robert Preston) -- who reveals that he created Starfighter as a training ground for developing and recruiting actual pilots to help fight a war in space. Whisked away from the banality of his trailer park life to a distant alien planet, Alex struggles to use his video game-playing skills to pilot a real ship, with real lives at stake.

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Critics Consensus

While The Last Starfighter is clearly derivative of other sci-fi franchises, its boundary-pushing visual effects and lovably plucky tone make for an appealing adventure.

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

Perhaps the one area in which it’s ahead of its time is in its conceit of an arcade game being used as a military recruiting tool.

May 5, 2023

Full Review

Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

Writer Jonathan Betuel, to his credit, has invested a very human element in this film, an ingredient that all too many sci-fi, hardware presentations lack.

Jul 13, 2022

Full Review

Paul Taylor

Financial Times

An engaging enough comic fantasy for the post-'60s generation who've given up entirely on the Gutenberg Galaxy and are tracking Horatio Alger's footsteps via the video circuitry route.

May 3, 2022

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Careens with an unwieldy gait from one idea to the next, representing an admirable number of plates with a regrettable lack of hands to keep them spinning apace. It's basically a wonderful musical theme and a killer concept in search of high adventure.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jul 24, 2024

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Alan Jones

Starburst

Manages to draw some charm from its two-dimensional characters.

Jul 21, 2022

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William Wolf

Gannett News Service

The movie is entertaining in an unpretentious way. It also is extremely good-natured, despite the combat scenes, and some may find it a welcome relief from the summers more intense fantasy films.

May 3, 2022

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Ch

What a great revisiting of my childhood this was! I remember seeing this when I was young and jumped at the chance to see it on the big screen again! Thanks for showing great movies like this!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

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Ryan

Great story, though campy at times but thats part of charm Wonderful characters Dated graphics, program to date would make timeless.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/17/24

Full Review

kevin c

I just got out of this masterpiece. I was lucky enough to see this as a kid when I was 9. Ive watched this so many times Ive lost count, but seeing it on the big screen today was awesome. Happy 40th anniversary to The Last Starfighter

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/24

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Noel L

It basically felt like a Star Wars rip off. I can also see where Gran Turismo got the idea from. The acting seemed solid but the CGI was dated.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the best soundtracks ever, great for kids, fun characters and a good message about confidence and the power of a individual. Robert Preston is perfectly cast as Centauri a futuristic used car salesman. Characters have heart and are well established. The story line is great and even though the special effects are dated the overall movie is beautiful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

Full Review

Joe M

Great fantasy film from the 80s with a great premise, that unfortunately never got the sequel it deserved to have. Rewatchable as ever. Best line(s), spoiler free. - I'm just a kid from a trailer park. - If that's what you think, then that's all you'll ever be!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

Full Review

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Nick Castle

Director

Lance Guest

Alex Rogan

Robert Preston

Centauri

Dan O'Herlihy

Grig

Catherine Mary Stewart

Maggie Gordon

Barbara Bosson

Jane Rogan

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - The Last Starfighter

2:33

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - A Gung Ho Iguana

1:35

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Death Blossom

2:50

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - We Die

1:50

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - A Terrible Nightmare

1:43

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Victory or Death!

2:36

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Interstellar Hit Beast

2:02

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Centauri's Proposition

3:00

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - A New Adventure

2:34

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Record Breaker

2:08

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Synopsis

After finally achieving the high score on Starfighter, his favorite arcade game, everyday teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) meets the game's designer, Centauri (Robert Preston) -- who reveals that he created Starfighter as a training ground for developing and recruiting actual pilots to help fight a war in space. Whisked away from the banality of his trailer park life to a distant alien planet, Alex struggles to use his video game-playing skills to pilot a real ship, with real lives at stake.

Director: Nick Castle
Producer: Gary Adelson, Edward O. DeNault
Screenwriter: Jonathan R. Betuel
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Surround

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