The Neverending Story (1984)
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 31
Fresh: 25 | Rotten: 6
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.
Average Rating: 5.2/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 2
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.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 371,415
Movie Info
Wolfgang Petersen adapted Michael Ende's children's story for this charming fantasy film that spawned several sequels. Bastian (Barret Oliver) is dealing with his mother's recent death. His father (Gerald McRaney) is an imperious sort who continually lambastes Bastian for daydreaming and falling behind in school. On top of his father's badgering, he has to contend with a bunch of school bullies waiting for him in the schoolyard. One day he decides to play hooky and walks into a strange
Jul 20, 1984 Wide
Sep 4, 2001
Warner Home Video
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Noah Hathaway
Atreyu -
Barret Oliver
Bastian -
Tami Stronach
Childlike empress -
Moses Gunn
Cairon -
Patricia Hayes
Urgl -
Sydney Bromley
Engywook -
Gerald McRaney
Bastian's Father -
Deep Roy
Teeny Weeny -
Thomas Hill
Koreander -
Tilo Prückner
Night Hob -
Darryl Cooksey
Bully -
Drum Garrett
Bully -
Nicholas Gilbert
Bully -
Alan Oppenheimer
Falkor
ADVERTISEMENT
The Neverending Story Trailer & Photos
All Critics (32) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (6) | DVD (9)
A marvelously realized flight of pure fantasy.
Despite the sophistication of the source material, the film isn't particularly successful.
A fairytale of the very best kind.
Top CriticThe world of this movie looks like a very particular place, and the art direction involved a lot of imagination.
The Neverending Story may have cost a mint to produce, but the result is bargain-basement.
Here is a little adventure that fed on our uncultivated need to think, and wonder. It gave many of us our first taste of cinematic possibility.
The NeverEnding Story remains a testament to the power of imagination and the type of inventive cinema that was possible in a pre-digital era.
All in all, The Neverending Story is a silly fantasy movie that often shows its age, but as a kids' movie it still has enough exciting action and you-can-do-it attitude to earn itself a place in a family's DVD collection.
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.
Only a certified grump could dislike this engaging fantasy that wends its way into the imagination and is a delight on most levels.
As a testament to the power of books, the often gloomy The Neverending Story comes off as a Reading Rainbow episode covering existentialism.
It's very hard not to give in to The Neverending Story's heart-in-the-right-place charms amidst an increasingly anti-literate society. [Blu-ray]
...has enough charm, delight, and wonder going for it to entertain most youngsters, and that's all that matters.
Magical storytelling targeted at children still fascinates.
Even better if you never see the sequels.
An enjoyable departure from both Das Boot and Kajagoogoo.
An above-average children's flick with interesting characters and an imaginative premise.
The 'NeverEnding' part of the title is certainly accurate.
Nowhere near as good as the book, but not bad for the kids.
Classic fantasy, full of wonderful creatures and characters.
Audience Reviews for The Neverending Story
Super Reviewer
I saw it years ago and didn't think much of it. Gave it another try and it is still mostly a bore.
It's like SId & Marty Kroft meets Jim Henson without all the fun.
Super Reviewer
Movies Like The Neverending Story
-
- Engywook: To the winch, wench.
-
- Falkor: Never give up and good luck will find you.
-
- Falkor: Never give up and good luck will find you.
-
- Falkor: I like children.
- Atreyu: [nervously] For breakfast?
- Falkor: [laughs] Never!
-
- Koreander: The video arcade is down the street. Here we just sell small rectangular objects. They're called books. They require a little effort on your part, and make no bee-bee-bee-bee-beeps. On your way please.
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| It Ended | 50 days ago | 2 |
What's Hot On RT
New Desolation of Smaug trailer!
Naomi Watts is Princess Di
Gravity sets new record
Trailer for a squirrely heist flick
See what's on TV tonight
Latest News on The Neverending Story
February 26, 2009:
A Retelling for The Neverending StoryWarner Bros. has announced plans to collaborate with the Kennedy Marshall Company and Leonardo...
October 26, 2005:
Vaughn to Adapt Gaiman's "Stardust"When we last heard from filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, he was bailing on the "X-Men 3" project...
Fresh Links
Featured
Halloween Movies For Wimps
Scary movies too scary for you? Here are some alternatives for October 31st.
10 Best Superhero TV Shows
HitFix combs through TV history to compile a superpowered list.
Ridiculous Movie Mistakes
RollingStone proves even the best movies miss a details here and there.
Deadly Movie Kids
Moviefone lists 11 Movie Kids Who Could Kick Our Asses.
50 States, 50 Movies
For July 4th, TimeOut has compiled 50 state-specific movie choices.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
Featured on RT
- Primetime Preview: Beauty and the Beast, Sleepy Hollow and More 0
- NYFF: Joaquin Phoenix and James Gray talk The Immigrant 2
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Gravity Stuns with Record $55M Launch 66
- Primetime Preview: Witches of East End, Once Upon a Time and More 2
- Weekly Ketchup: Disney Plans Live Action Cruella de Vil Movie 36
- Primetime Preview: Last Man Standing, The Neighbors and More 5
- Critics Consensus: Gravity is Certified Fresh 68
Top Headlines
-
Fox Animated Series, ABC Comedies Tumble in Sunday Ratings
0
-
Bong Joon-ho Reportedly "Furious" About Snowpiercer Cuts
0
-
Record-Setting Number of Films Competing in Foreign-Language Oscar Race
0
-
Woody Allen Cancels Blue Jasmine's India Premiere
0
-
Lionsgate Wants Gary Ross and Jennifer Lawrence's Burial Rites
0
-
ABC Plans Kevin Hart-Inspired Series
0
-
The Shining's Danny Torrance Is All Grown Up
0
Foreign Titles
- Die unendliche Geschichte (DE)
- The Neverending Story (UK)
