Dark Star

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Dark Star

G

1974

1h 23m

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A satiric look at the problems experienced by a crew of bumbling astronauts on a mission to destroy rogue planets.

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Critics Consensus

A loopy 2001 satire, Dark Star may not be the most consistent sci-fi comedy, but its portrayal of human eccentricity is a welcome addition to the genre.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Nov 10

4/5

It’s fascinating and strangely enthralling. And funny too, in places.

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Joe Pollack

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

10/12/2023

[Dark Star] can be praised for imagination and effort, if not for results... The story is mostly turgid, the acting is nothing special, and the waits between the bright spots seem interminable.

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Adam Smith

Empire Magazine

06/06/2007

5/5

Hats off nonetheless to young whippersnapper John Carpenter, whose studenty tale of space tedium, aliens and molasses-black humour remains approximately a thousand times better than the director's last 15 years.

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Phoenix Staff

Boston Phoenix

09/23/2024

3/4

It's great fun, and the ending makes gleeful hash of pretentious, "metaphysical" science fiction.

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

09/13/2024

4/5

Witty, profound and cleverly scored by its producer/director John Carpenter.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

07/08/2024

3/5

Careers were launched with this student film-turned-sci-fi cult classic, blasting the genre into hyperspace (almost literally!) without actually being an especially good or interesting flick.

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Harsh .

@H_A_R_S_H Jan 14

Trust me—get wasted before you watch this

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Joe W

@JoeWasik Jan 7

Ancient effects. Bad acting. Improbable behaviors. Impossible science. What else? Star Trek is older, but had much better effects.

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Doctor V

@ReviewTime Nov 1

Time to feed the alien....Get your best buds, kick the lights, and trip into this unforgettable sci-fi experimental masterpiece. This is the beginning of some of the best directed, acted and scored cult classic ever. It might just take you somewhere in your mind you never thought existed, sure took me..hats off JC you da man.

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J H

@RT24634690 04/23/2025

This absurdist sci-fi comedy isn't for everyone. I prefer the shorter Director's Cut.

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Madam D

@Madam1948 02/19/2025

Interesting as the student film of 2 friends who became famous in later life. The copy I got from the library could not play the last 2 chapters...how did it end?

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 01/09/2025

Just can’t get over the awful production value. Didn’t find anything enjoyable about watching this. Gave up after half an hour. Painful stuff. Watched on Amazon Prime.

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Synopsis

A satiric look at the problems experienced by a crew of bumbling astronauts on a mission to destroy rogue planets.

Director: John Carpenter
Producer: John Carpenter
Screenwriter: John Carpenter, Dan O'Bannon
Production Co: University of Southern California (USC), Jack H. Harris Enterprises
Rating: G
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 7, 2020
Runtime: 1h 23m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, 16mm, Flat (1.85:1)