Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

The Last Starfighter

Play trailer Poster for The Last Starfighter PG 1984 1h 40m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

The Last Starfighter

The Last Starfighter

What to Know

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (90)
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 Full Review 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 Full Review Alan Jones Starburst Manages to draw some charm from its two-dimensional characters. Jul 21, 2022 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+)
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 Full Review 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 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 mean s 1984 was the BEST year for movies. "The Last Starfighter is".... GOOD CLEAN FAMILY FUN! I saw this film in the Theater in 1984 when I was 14 years old with friends & family. This movie ended on a great note and was left wide open for a sequel. This story & character deserve one. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/14/25 Full Review Tom T Catherine Stewart was the girl of my dreams when I was like 9. I totally believed I was a member of Gunstar 1. No better way to kick off 2025 with this rewatch. #RIPCentauri Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/08/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Last Starfighter

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

The Last Starfighter

The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - The Last Starfighter The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - The Last Starfighter 2:33 The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - A Gung Ho Iguana The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - A Gung Ho Iguana 1:35 The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Death Blossom The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Death Blossom 2:50 The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - We Die The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - We Die 1:50 The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - A Terrible Nightmare The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - A Terrible Nightmare 1:43 The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Victory or Death! The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Victory or Death! 2:36 The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Interstellar Hit Beast The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Interstellar Hit Beast 2:02 The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Centauri's Proposition The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Centauri's Proposition 3:00 The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - A New Adventure The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - A New Adventure 2:34 The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Record Breaker The Last Starfighter: Official Clip - Record Breaker 2:08 View more videos
2010 68% 61% 2010 Watchlist Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 78% 70% Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Watchlist TRAILER for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Yor, the Hunter From the Future 14% 47% Yor, the Hunter From the Future Watchlist Flash Gordon 83% 69% Flash Gordon Watchlist Suburban Commando 15% 33% Suburban Commando Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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
Most Popular at Home Now