Flash Gordon

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Flash Gordon

PG,

1980,

1h 50m,

Sci-Fi

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Watchlist

Watchlist

84%

50 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Although NASA scientists are claiming the unexpected eclipse and strange hot hail are nothing to worry about, Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol) knows better, and takes football star Flash Gordon (Sam Jones) and travel agent Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) with him into space to rectify things. They land on planet Mongo, where the despot Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow) is attacking Earth out of pure boredom. With the help of a race of Hawkmen, Flash and the gang struggle to save their home planet.

Critics Consensus

Campy charm and a knowing sense of humor help to overcome a silly plot involving a spacefaring ex-football player, his adoring bevy of groupies, and a supervillain named Ming the Merciless.

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

Aug 10, 2020

4/5

Basically, whether laughing with this film, or at it, you'll have a blast.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Jul 31, 2020

4/5

Perhaps, like many a superhero film, this one flags just a little in the final battle sequences, but Von Sydow is always there to keep things bizarre, playing it absolutely straight.

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

Jul 31, 2020

a mid-air skirmish of corny old-fashioned retrofuturism and knowing postmodernism, even as its veneer of homespun innocence keeps being subverted by the corrupting powers of kink.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Nov 30, 2023

5/5

...a deserved cult-classic with the widest of appeal. It’s camp, it’s silly, it’s funny and it manages to update the Boys Own charm of the original serials...

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Sep 7, 2022

The movie itself is pure fun, and its status has only benefitted from the resurgence of interest in Queen, who wrote and performed the original score.

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Alan Jones

Starburst

Jul 26, 2022

If the character of Flash Gordon reminds you of Buster Crabbe's exploits in vintage 1930s serials, then this new version of Flash Gordon is definitely for you.

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Ron M

Apr 16, 2019

Classic 70's Sci-Fi with a crackin' soundtrack.

Han R

Apr 5, 2019

There's enough cheese here to overdose a mouse.

Harry R

Mar 26, 2019

A funny and brilliantly casted sci-fi adventure flick. Max Von Sydow as "Ming" threatens to destroy the world with a push of a button. A crazy TV scientist, a beautiful girl and a football quarterback player "Flash" are here to stop them. Featuring a badass "Queen" theme and soundtrack with all the humor you can get. "Flash Gordon" is sci-fi fun for the whole family!

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Hagrid P

Mar 13, 2019

Funny and visually interesting. The story is rather bland but its still a marvel to look at all the handmade special effects.

Draco S

Mar 11, 2019

A beautifully styled film! This is one of those unique movies that has a look and feel like no other. The way it was shot still holds up. The soundtrack is amazing and the movie is a blast. Not really sure how anyone can watch this and not root for him to succeed.

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Hagrid R

Mar 10, 2019

One of my all time favorite movies. The camp aspect plays well with the comic book like design and Queen's music brings it up a notch above the original serials from the 30's and 40's.

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Mike Hodges

Director

Sam Jones

Flash Gordon

Melody Anderson

Dale Arden

Max von Sydow

The Emperor Ming

Topol

Dr. Hans Zarkov

Ornella Muti

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Synopsis

Although NASA scientists are claiming the unexpected eclipse and strange hot hail are nothing to worry about, Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol) knows better, and takes football star Flash Gordon (Sam Jones) and travel agent Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) with him into space to rectify things. They land on planet Mongo, where the despot Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow) is attacking Earth out of pure boredom. With the help of a race of Hawkmen, Flash and the gang struggle to save their home planet.

Director: Mike Hodges
Producer: Dino De Laurentiis
Screenwriter: Alex Raymond, Michael Allin, Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Distributor: Cinema Classics, Video Classics, MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Universal Pictures
Production Co: 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 5, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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