Starcrash
Directed by Luigi Collo4.033%35%4.2
Outlaw smugglers Stella Star and Akton manage to pick up a castaway while running from the authorities, who turns out to be the only survivor from a secret mission to destroy a mysterious superweapon designed by the evil Count Zarth Arn. The smugglers are soon recruited by the Emperor of the Galaxy to complete the mission, as well as to rescue the Emperor's son, who has gone missing.
Starcrash Ratings & Reviews
- RichardDecember 13, 2025I first saw this one on late night TV and it’s exactly the kind of campy sci fi that thrived in that slot. A smuggler roped into saving the galaxy from Count Zarth Arn’s superweapon. Along the way she teams up with Akton (Marjoe Gortner), a robot cop, and even Christopher Plummer as the Emperor of the Galaxy. And yes, David Hasselhoff shows up as Prince Simon, the Emperor’s son. Long before Knight Rider or Baywatch, here he’s decked out in space armor, fighting alongside Stella in gloriously cheap set pieces. It’s one of those cult trivia gems that makes the film even more fun to revisit. The film is a shameless riff on Star Wars, but with bargain bin effects, psychedelic visuals and dialogue that feels like it was translated twice before filming. Munro brings charisma, the costumes are gloriously impractical and the stop motion battles are charmingly rough. On late night TV, the grainy broadcast only added to the cult vibe, the kind of movie you stumble across and can’t quite look away from. Compared to Hollywood’s polished space operas, Starcrash is pure pulp. It knows exactly what kind of movie it is: a low budget curiosity that mixes camp, fantasy, and sci fi excess.
- Mike MartinsSeptember 29, 2025This is pure B-movie joy—a wild, campy space opera that wears its low-budget charm like a badge of honor. Directed by Luigi Cozzi, the film is often remembered as Italy’s answer to Star Wars, but it has its own quirky flavor that makes it memorable. The story follows Stella Star (Caroline Munro), a glamorous space adventurer who gets pulled into a mission to stop an evil count bent on galactic domination. Along the way she teams up with a robot sidekick, a psychic alien, and even the Emperor himself—played with unexpected gravitas by Christopher Plummer. Yes, the special effects are dated, the dialogue is cheesy, and the plot is over the top—but that’s what makes it so fun. It’s colorful, energetic, and unashamed of its pulp sensibilities. There’s a genuine sense of imagination that keeps it entertaining from start to finish. For fans of cult sci-fi, Starcrash is a treat worth revisiting. Verdict: Not high art, but highly enjoyable. A three star cult classic that proves sometimes the best space adventures are the strangest ones. --- 🚀 “Did You Know?” Trivia Pre-Star Wars Clone: Starcrash was rushed into production to ride the wave of Star Wars mania, but it actually premiered just a year later in 1978. Young David Hasselhoff: Before Knight Rider and Baywatch, a young Hasselhoff appears as Simon, the Emperor’s son. Christopher Plummer’s Reason: Plummer admitted he only took the role so he could spend a vacation in Rome while filming. Italian Flair: Despite its American cast, the movie was shot in Italy with a largely Italian crew, adding to its unusual aesthetic. Cult Status: While mocked on release, the movie later found a loyal following, even being riffed on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
- PJ KixSeptember 14, 2025Amazing classic.
Starcrash Trivia
Starcrash was released on December 21, 1978.
Starcrash was directed by Luigi Collo.
Starcrash has a runtime of 1 hr 31 min.
Starcrash was produced by Nat Wachsberger, Patrick Wachsberger.
The key characters in Starcrash are Akton (Marjoe Gortner), Stella Star (Caroline Munro), The Emperor (Christopher Plummer).
Starcrash is rated PG.
Starcrash is a Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action film.
Starcrash has an audience rating of 3.5 out of 10.