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Starman

Play trailer Poster for Starman PG 1984 1h 55m Sci-Fi Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 122 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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Starman

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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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Critics Reviews

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Warren Clements Globe and Mail Jul 13
Beyond his sweet chemistry with Allen, Bridges delivers a physical performance so striking that it won him an Oscar nomination for best actor. Go to Full Review
Jeff Millar Houston Chronicle May 11
The problems I had with Starman were equally divided between taste and execution. Go to Full Review
Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle May 11
3/4
"Starman" is an awkward but entertaining movie. Go to Full Review
John Kiely Waterloo Region Record May 11
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. Go to Full Review
Robert W. Butler Kansas City Star May 11
2.5/4
It's a noble effort, but one that never rises above the limitations of its unoriginal script. Go to Full Review
Morley Walker Winnipeg Sun May 11
Director John Carpenter recognizes the strength of the material, and wisely avoids saddling it with needless gimmickry. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Alejandro E @Alex970 6d 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. See more John S @LoneJohnny5 Jun 26 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. See more Farah R. @Farah May 19 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. See more Jeepers C @RT12312147 Jan 24 Bridges is really good in this movie. It has everything in it. It has scfi, romance, comedy, drama and action. A really compelling and complete movie. See more A.L.Jude P @judebd Nov 28 Credit goes to Bridges for the portrait where he does his utmost to salvage a boring naive next to nothing movie. See more John L @view2views Nov 3 Starman is a film that lifts my spirit every time I return to view it once again.....a story telling that lifts the soul upwards!..... See more 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)