critics consensus

Ground control to Major Tom, Stardust did not put its helmet on. Read critic reviews

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Stardust Videos

Stardust: Trailer 1

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Stardust Photos

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Movie Info

Singer David Bowie reinvents himself as Ziggy Stardust while touring America to promote his new album "The Man Who Sold the World."

Genre:

music, biography, drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Gabriel Range
Producer:

Matt Code, Nick Taussig, Paul Van Carter
Writer:

Christopher Bell, Gabriel Range
Release Date (Theaters):

Nov 25, 2020 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Nov 25, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA):

$8.5K
Runtime:

1h 49m
Production Co:

Salon Pictures, Film Constellation, Wildling Pictures
Aspect Ratio:

Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Johnny Flynn
David Bowie

Jena Malone
Angie

Marc Maron
Ron

Anthony Flanagan
Dr. Reynolds

Aaron Poole
Mick Ronson

Derek Moran
Terry

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Critic Reviews for Stardust

All Critics (70) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (55)

The whole thing feels strangely pedestrian, unable to capture or channel Bowie's maverick spirit.

January 17, 2021 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
A by-the-numbers biopic that does a disservice to its star and subject, and sorely missing a killer soundtrack. Watch The Man Who Fell To Earth instead.

January 16, 2021 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

John Nugent
Empire Magazine
Listen to your records. It's all there. There's nothing this film gives you that you didn't already know.

January 16, 2021 | Full Review…

Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo's Film Review
Exasperating viewing for fans and certain to baffle newcomers, it's a curious, imaginative thing, but who exactly is it for?

January 15, 2021 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Tara Brady
Irish Times
Flynn carries off Bowie's clothes and delicate mannerisms plausibly enough and, impressively, he does his own singing. But, all too often, this Bowie looks as if he is presenting TV's Bake Off.

January 14, 2021 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
The clunk of it all is deafening, the dialogue booby-trapped.

January 14, 2021 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Danny Leigh
Financial Times
A revelatory road trip movie...

April 29, 2021 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Mark Beaumont
NME
Crossing it is prohibited as it leads to a magical realm where nothing is to be believed and no-one is to be trusted. Such a charming fantasy love story with an incredible cast and this banger of a theme song.

April 13, 2021 | Full Review…

Charlotte Harrison
Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies
If you compare Stardust to Bohemian Rhapsody or Rocketman ... then this David Bowie drama is like a rare groove B-side.

March 16, 2021 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

James Mottram
South China Morning Post
An unauthorized David Bowie biopic without the music begs the question, what's the point?

February 17, 2021 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Eric Marchen
Rogers TV
As a true-to-life biopic Stardust doesn't really make the grade, and Bowie fans may need to hold their nose, but there's an interesting piece lurking beneath Johnny Flynn's wig. It's just probably not the one you're looking for.

February 10, 2021 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Marc Burrows
HeyUGuys
...a small, intelligent drama that riffs creatively on the legend of David Bowie...

February 1, 2021 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Eddie Harrison
film-authority.com