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Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel, Robert Phalen ... see more see more... , Tony Edwards , Russ Benning , Dirk Blocker , Stephen Brennan , Dennis Burkley , Kenny Call , Ron Colby , Ralph Cosham , Alex Daniels , John Walter Davis , James Deeth , M.C. Gainey , Charlie Hughes , Mickey Jones , Lu Leonard , Jeff Ramsey , Carol Rosenthal , David Wells , John Anderson , John Carpenter , George 'Buck' Flower , Jerry Gatlin , Ted White , Pat Lee , Jennifer Shull , Betty Bunch , Sean Faro

Having crashed to Earth, an extraterrestrial space traveller must assume a human identity lest he be captured by the authorities. The alien (Jeff Bridges) chooses the likeness of the recently deceased... read more read more... husband of Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen). At first dumbstruck, Jenny becomes both hostile toward and frightened of her guest. He gradually wins her confidence, learning a few vital English-language phrases so that he can explain his presence. The "starman" has come to Earth with a message of peace, in response to the similar message sent out on Voyager One. He asks for Jenny's help in transporting him to the Nevada desert, where his fellow aliens are to pick him up and take him to his home planet. Soon he and Jenny form a united front against a mean-spirited National Security Council agent (Richard Jaeckel), who intends to seize the starman and turn him over for scientific scrutiny (and possible extermination). While en route to Nevada, Jenny grows closer to the gentle-natured Starman, eventually making love with him. By the time he is poised to leave, she is carrying his child, leaving the field wide open for a sequel--which was never produced, though a weekly TV version surfaced in 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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61% liked it

23,101 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

24 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: John Carpenter

Release Date: December 14, 1984

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DVD Release Date: March 6, 2001

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Stats: 855 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (855)

  • fb1664868775
    November 13, 2011
    fb1664868775
    The most touching film John Carpenter ever made, a strange love story disguised as science fiction.
  • cosmo313
    August 4, 2011
    cosmo313
    Directing something a little different from his normal fare, this film is one of John Carpenter's best and most interesting that he has ever come up with. The story is a sci-fi tale (with elements of romance) about an alien who crash lands on Earth and journeys across the country... read more to rendezvous with his kind in three days, or he will die. The film is as much a road movie as it is a sci-fi fantasy. And no, despite a dew similarities, this is not a rip-off of E.T. This is not quite as famous, but it's almost just as good.

    The film has aged decently well, al lthings considered. The music and effects are both good, the chemistry between Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen is terrific, and the performances are dynamite. Bridges got an Oscar nomination for his work here, and his performance is really something. As the alien, Bridges does a great job of playing quirky and unique without going too over-the-top. All of his mannerisms, movements, and speaking manner are just a joy to observe, and he does a great job of conveying being a stranger in a strange land both verbally, and especially nonverbally. Karen Allen is also quite nice, and alongside Raiders of the Losrt Ark, this is one of her best performances as well.

    John Carpenter said he made this movie as a way of ensuring the survival of his career since The Thing was initially regarded as a disappointment. This is an odd choice for him, since it's not like any of his other films, but in a way, that's awesome, and maybe for the best. "Beautiful" is not a term one uses often if ever in a conventional sense to describe one of Carpenter's films, but it certainly applies here.

    Give this one a shot. It's a nice film filled with wonder, hope, and a really touching story filled with terrific performances and some great imagery and music.
  • SajinPA
    July 31, 2011
    SajinPA
    Nothing much thought provoking or refreshingly innovative, in this mix of sci-fi / road trip/ romance flick. Jeff Bridges delivered an intriguing performance as the "alien-in-distress", though most of the times he kept reminding of a futuristic cyborg than a hyper-intelligent ali... read moreen.

    Anyway I do love that 80's sci-fi approach to the movie. Rather than making it a special effects spectacle, it gives more attention to the emotions and development of the characters. A fairly decent chemistry between Bridges and Karen Allen make up for many glitches in the script and story.
  • SirPant
    February 21, 2011
    SirPant
    Starman hasn't dated too badly, to be honest though, I love the 80's special effects, add Carpenter's signature saying soundtrack and you have an ace film every time. I've only just seen this film recently and I have to say I liked it. The fact Jeff Bridges got an Oscar nominatio... read moren for it and the fact that it actually makes no sense at all (Why did he land, just to go back again?) is a bit puzzling but it's still one of those films that has a certain thing about it that makes it instantly likable.
  • theylovealexis
    January 18, 2011
    theylovealexis
    Starman is the incredible story of an alien coming to earth and taking the body of the ever sexy, Jeff Bridges, who happens to be the dead husband of a now shocked and confused, Karen Allen.
    I loved it! Heartwarming, sexy, sad, cute, funny and it's probably my new favorite Jeff ... read moreBridges movie.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 27, 2010
    FilmFanatik
    Haven't seen this in years, but mediocrity and uninteresting was how I felt watching it.
  • ythelastman89
    December 18, 2010
    ythelastman89
    I finally accomplished seeing this in widescreen and it made all the difference. Being plagued with crapping pan&scan full screen versions forever, John Carpenter's alien masterpiece hasn't been truly seen for years. It's an amazing movie about aliens and totally unique for wen i... read moret came out; being a complete 360 from ET. Jeff Bridges is all kinds of crazy as an alien who sings "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and plays sick games on Karen Allen by emulating her dead husband. In many ways this is like a modern day Superman, showing how he would be treated in the real world. However, there's something so special about this that isn't borrowed of relatable to any other movie. It's definitely amongst my favorites now.
  • stormyweather980
    September 14, 2009
    stormyweather980
    I've always liked Jeff Bridges and this one didn't let me down. Didn't know this was a John Carpenter film, but I'm not surprised, cause I usually like his stuff too. Bridges manages to be funny at times, but it's a more heartwarming and charming sci-fi movie than anything.
  • DrZeek
    September 4, 2009
    DrZeek
    Starman: I send greetings.
    Brad Heinmuller: What the hell's going on here?
    Jenny Hayden: I'm being kidnapped!
    Starman: Greetings.
    Brad Heinmuller: You better let her go pal, I'll give you some greetings.

    The issue with many John Carpenter movies are that the characters are u... read moresually lacking. This film manages to be a change in pace for that reason. This is a much warmer film for Carpenter, who manages to combine his affinity towards genre filmmaking with the plot of a road movie/love story.

    After an encounter with one of the Voyager satellites, sent out to probe space with greetings messages from earth, an alien visitor is knocked off course and lands in Wisconsin. The alien, Starman, assumes the form of the dead husband of a widow, Jenny played by Karen Allen. Starman is now played by Jeff Bridges.

    After dealing with the startling revelation of seeing her dead husband, let alone the fact that she is dealing with an alien, Jenny is basically forced to help Starman make it to his rendezvous in Arizona before his human form dies out in three days time. Jenny is at first apprehensive, but grows a bond with Starman and tries to help him learn. Meanwhile, the government has tracked the crash of the Alien and is in pursuit of the being.

    George Fox: Do you seriously expect me to tell the President that an alien has landed, assumed the identity of a dead house painter from Madison, Wisconsin and is presently out tooling around the countryside in a hopped up orange and black 1977 Mustang?

    Its a tender John Carpenter film. By that I mean that all the various qualities of a Carpenter film are present. The premise fits a B-movie. The score is simplistic, but effective. His style of special effects use. All of this is aided by these two lead performances that keep the film from entering camp territory.

    Starman: Shit!
    Jenny Hayden: Don't mind him. He's just learning English.
    Roadhouse Waitress: Well, he's got a hell of a start on it!

    Bridges is playing an alien in a human body. His movements are kind of birdlike, his language is fractured, and he is constantly observing what it is to be on earth. Karen Allen is very good as well. Her character has to do two things. She is essentially teaching Starman to be human on earth, in her own way defining things that range from simple explanations to something like love. The other thing her character gets to do is deal with being around her dead husband. She now has a chance to gain closure on the grief over her loss.

    The elements involving the government aren't great, but they come standard for this kind of story, and break up the pacing appropriately. Charles Martin Smith, who I really disliked in The Untouchables, manages to be decently entertaining as a government employee who dreams of meeting an alien.

    I found this film to be very enjoyable. Its a bit dated, but Bridges and Allen are both solid, the story works, and the closing scene is just kind of great.

    Starman: Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you? You are at your very best when things are worst.
  • shiftyeyeddog
    August 13, 2008
    shiftyeyeddog
    Guess the movie: Alien gets stranded on Earth, is dying, and must reach a rendezvous or be stuck on Earth. Alien forms special bond with first human contact and has healing powers. Government agents are in pursuit except for one who befriends them. In the end everyone watche... read mores as alien says goodbye to his human friend and goes home. E.T.? No, This is Starman!

    A blatant E.T. rip-off, just altered for an older audience and the alien takes human form. Oh yeah, and with drastically inferior acting, directing, score... everything. Why do I even try to watch John Carpenter movies? I keep thinking, "maybe this one will be the one I enjoy, and I'll understand why people like this guy (and why decent actors will work for him)," yet every time I just get burned again. Starman was no different.

    I thought the always-reliable Jeff Bridges would be enough to make it good, yet he turns in one of the worst performances of his career under Carpenter's direction. Then I see he got an OSCAR nomination for this??!? Wow, must have been REALLY slim pickings that year.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
June 6, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

There is little that is original in Starman, but at least it has chosen good models. Full Review

Dave Kehr
June 6, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

It isn't pleasant to watch a talented filmmaker like John Carpenter willfully distort his personality to fit a commercial (read Spielbergian) profile, and only the opening suspense-horror sequences ha... Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Starman contains the potential to be a very silly movie, but the two actors have so much sympathy for their characters that the movie, advertised as space fiction, turns into one of 1984's more touchi... Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

In Mr. Bridges' hands [his role] becomes the occasion for a sweetly affecting characterization -- a fine showcase for the actor's blend of grace, precision and seemingly offhanded charm. Full Review

Randy White
January 2, 2011
Randy White, Common Sense Media

Jeff Bridges as appealing alien; best for teens. Full Review

James Plath
July 29, 2009
James Plath, Movie Metropolis

Bridges' portrayal of Starman can be as hard to take as the lapses in logic. Full Review

June 6, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

An enjoyable film filled with the kind of sensitivity, love, and humor seldom seen on today's screens. Full Review

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

The best special effects are in the first five minutes. Thereafter, it's all rather predictable. Full Review

Steve Crum
October 30, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Early Jeff Bridges starrer is fun sci-fi.

David Nusair
August 1, 2003
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

Carpenter is a master of framing for widescreen, and Starman is certainly a forum for him to show off his prowess behind the lens. Full Review

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