Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon

1980Movie111 minEnglish

A football player and his mates travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.

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Insights

IMDb6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes44%
Metacritic34/100
Google Users74%
Director: Mike HodgesGenres: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Comedy

Plot Summary

Flash Gordon, an American football hero, is taken by mad scientist Dr. Zarkov to the planet Mongo. There, Flash and his companions must battle the tyrannical Ming the Merciless, who seeks to conquer Earth. Flash becomes embroiled in a series of bizarre adventures and battles, all while trying to save his planet and his love interest, Dale Arden.

Critical Reception

Flash Gordon (1980) is a cult classic known for its vibrant, campy aesthetic and Queen's iconic soundtrack. While critically panned upon its release for its over-the-top performances and B-movie sensibilities, it has since garnered a dedicated following for its unique charm and unapologetic embrace of its comic strip origins. Audiences often praise its entertainment value and memorable moments, despite its narrative and technical shortcomings.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unique visual style and memorable Queen soundtrack.
  • Acknowledged for its campy charm and cult appeal, despite critical shortcomings.
  • Often cited as an enjoyable, if nonsensical, sci-fi adventure.

Google audience: Viewers generally enjoy Flash Gordon for its fun, campy, and over-the-top nature, often highlighting the memorable soundtrack by Queen and the colorful visuals. While many recognize its flaws, such as a weak plot and acting, its overall entertainment value and nostalgic appeal make it a beloved cult film.

Fun Fact

The distinctive costumes for the film were designed by legendary fashion designer Danilo Donati, who won an Oscar for his work on Fellini's '8½'.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Now then, anyone who thinks that Max von Sydov's best film was "the Seventh Seal" (1957) really does need to get their priorities right: forget Ingmar Bergman - it has to be this marvellously camp effort from Mike Hodges and Dino de Laurent...
JPV852

JPV852

Campy and fun science fiction fantasy-adventure flick has some cheesy but colorful and good production designs and the performances for the most part were fine, with Max Von Sydow lending prestige to a goofy character and Sam J. Jones was o...
tmdb27219454

tmdb27219454

One of the least appreciated movies made in my lifetime. Done right after the glory that was The Empire Strikes Back and released to a public that had forgotten who Flash Gordon was or what the 1930's serials with Larry "Buster" Crabbe repr...