The Neverending Story

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1:22

The Neverending Story

PG

1984

1h 34m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

On his way to school, Bastian ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. Sneaking away with a book called "The Neverending Story," Bastian begins reading it in the school attic. The novel is about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by "The Nothing," a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive.

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Critics Consensus

A magical journey about the power of a young boy's imagination to save a dying fantasy land, The NeverEnding Story remains a much-loved kids adventure.

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

08/02/2024

4/5

The effects look cardboardy by today’s standards but the puppets and animatronics are great, especially Falkor, the dog-like “luck dragon”.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

08/01/2024

4/5

There’s no doubt of the rousing urgency and terrific design of this likable movie.

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Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

11/26/2012

2/5

This was sweet and charming at the time but now it just lacks either the comedy or sophistication of kids' fantasy film that we've all become accustomed to.

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Charles Mudede

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

05/10/2024

Though not as wonderfully bizarre as Jim Henson's Labyrinth, it does have an existential monster called the Nothing—it's something like a black hole that sucks the life out of a fantastic world.

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Carey-Ann Pawsey

Orca Sound

09/25/2022

3/5

If you are looking for a family film that will not be offensive to any member of the family then Wolfgang Petersen’s (Troy, The Perfect Storm) “The Neverending Story” is a safe pick.

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Andrew Galdi

Movie Bitches

08/04/2022

This movie is dark!

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Casey

Jan 25

Classic. The Big Screen really brought it back to life.

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Sheena P

03/12/2023

Very entertaining movie... Enjoyed the classic very much.

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Gregory

08/21/2022

Such nostalgia! This movie is still perfect!

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Richard L

08/20/2022

Great acting. Dated animations. Impressive plot and plot twists.

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Christopher C.

@PapaTangooo May 16

I hate this movie and I hate Bastian most of all.

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Romas M

@Romas May 13

Greetings from Lithuania. I've watched "The Neverending Story" (1984) for the first time in 2026 the newly remastered 4K UHD release. I've enjoyed this film more than I thought I will do. Directed by the great late Wolfgang Petersen this film looks so good in 2026. The practical effects, make up, set design of a fantasy world is were this film truly shines. It does look amazing, and of course the amazing 4K restoration added a lot for my experience. Music, mostly the title song by Giorgio Moroder is very good. Acting was convincing enough but it's the craftsmanship of the film and terrific creature design is what elevated this movie for me. Overall, "The Neverending Story" is a fantasy film for kids, but I a grown up in my 40's enjoyed this film very much first time seeing in 2026. It's practical effects hold well enough I did appreciate of just how much job was put into creating this fantasy world. Good film.

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Wolfgang Petersen

Director

Barret Oliver

Bastian

Noah Hathaway

Atreyu

Tami Stronach

The Childlike Empress

Moses Gunn

Cairon

Patricia Hayes

Urgl

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The Neverending Story: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

On his way to school, Bastian ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. Sneaking away with a book called "The Neverending Story," Bastian begins reading it in the school attic. The novel is about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by "The Nothing," a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive.

Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Producer: Bernd Eichinger, Dieter Geissler
Screenwriter: Wolfgang Petersen, Herman Weigel
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 20, 1984, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 21, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)