Action thriller

Flash Gordon (1980): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Name: Flash Gordon
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: 1980-12-05
Duration: 1 h 51 min
Cast: Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson

Flash Gordon is a 1980 action thriller directed by Mike Hodges, starring Sam J. Jones and Melody Anderson. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $27.2 million worldwide. It earned 4 award nominations, including Best Costume Design at the BAFTA 1981. Critics gave it 58 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating: 6.5/10
worldwide gross: $27.2M
award nominations: 4
Metascore: 58

Where to watch Watch the trailer

Released: December 5, 1980
Runtime: 1h 51m (111 min)
Director: Mike Hodges
Genres: Action , Adventure , Sci-Fi , Thriller
Original language: English
Studio: Universal Pictures
After the credits: No No extra scene

The story

What Is Flash Gordon About?

The premise of Flash Gordon without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

When Emperor Ming’s boredom turns to a destructive campaign against Earth, the planet is struck by devastating hailstorms and earthquakes. Seeking answers, the brilliant Dr. Hans Zarkov inadvertently takes Dale Arden and Flash Gordon aboard his rocket. Transported to the distant planet Mongo, they must find a way to stop Ming’s tyrannical rule and save Earth from annihilation, facing incredible dangers and unlikely allies along the way.

Flash Gordon Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags

girl from outer space
mind reading
cult film
apocalypse
torture
action hero
megalomaniac
space opera
mind control
end of the world
floating city
meteor shower

+38 more

castle in the sky
weather manipulation
magical ring
campy
planet
american football
emperor
sword and planet
princess from outer space
telekinesis
brawl
eroticism
sex slave
human alien
one man army
spacecraft
spaceship
mad scientist
dictator
surrealism
forest
lightning
impalement
green blood
laser gun
fight to the death
female whipping
torture chamber
futuristic torture
royal wedding
princess
canceled wedding
super villain
rocket ship
robot
laser beam
the end question mark title card
trial by combat

Where to watch

Where to Watch Flash Gordon

Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Rent or buy 5

Streaming availability in the US, powered by

Cast & crew

Flash Gordon Cast

Sam J. Jones leads the cast, with Melody Anderson. Directed by Mike Hodges.

Director Mike Hodges

Ratings

Flash Gordon Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Flash Gordon 58 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb

6.5 /10
See on IMDb
Metacritic

58 Metascore

User score 6.7
See on Metacritic
TMDB

62% User score
See on TMDB

Plot

Flash Gordon Plot Summary

What happens in Flash Gordon from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The tale begins with Emperor Ming the Merciless declaring his intent to wreak havoc on Earth through a series of catastrophic disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, and even something he ominously terms as “hot hail.” In the midst of this chaos, Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones), a star player for the New York Jets, boards a small plane where he encounters a determined travel journalist, Dale Arden (Melody Anderson). Their flight takes a perilous turn when a meteorite sent by Ming strikes the cockpit, causing the pilots to be ejected from the plane. Flash, in a show of heroism, manages to take control and crash-lands in a greenhouse owned by Dr. Hans Zarkov.

Full summary

The whole story of Flash Gordon, scene by scene

Read the full summary

Timeline of events

Box office

Flash Gordon Box Office

Flash Gordon grossed $27.2 million worldwide. $27.1 million came from the US and Canada and $68,861 (0%) from the rest of the world.

1980 box office

Worldwide gross

$27.2M

US & Canada: $27.1M
International: $68.9K

US & Canada 100% Rest of the world 0%

Awards

Flash Gordon Awards & Nominations

Flash Gordon earned 4 award nominations, including Best Costume Design at the BAFTA 1981. The 4 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the BAFTA 1981.

4 nominations2 ceremonies

BAFTA 1981 3 nominations
- Nominated Best Costume Design
- Nominated Best Original Music
- Nominated Best Production Design
Saturn Awards 1981 1 nomination
- Nominated Best Supporting Actor

Videos

Flash Gordon Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

Flash Gordon Trailer: Flash Gordon 1980 TV trailer #1 — Flash Gordon 1980 TV trailer #1

Trailer Flash Gordon ≣ 1980 ≣ Trailer
Behind the Scenes FLASH GORDON 1980 and DUNE 1984 miniatures

Quiz

How Well Do You Know Flash Gordon?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

Question 1: not answered
Question 2: not answered
Question 3: not answered
Question 4: not answered
Question 5: not answered
Question 6: not answered
Question 7: not answered
Question 8: not answered
Question 9: not answered
Question 10: not answered

Who plays the role of Emperor Ming the Merciless?

Cars

Cars in Flash Gordon

2 cars on screen: the 1976 Chevrolet Caprice Estate and the 1978 Chevrolet Chevy Van.

1976 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Minor role
1978 Chevrolet Chevy Van Minor role

Details

Flash Gordon Also Known As

13 alternative titles, including “フラッシュ・ゴードン” and “Φλας Γκόρντον”.

Also known as: フラッシュ・ゴードン
Φλας Γκόρντον
Blixt Gordon
Флэш Гордон
飞侠哥顿
Jens Lyn
פלאש גורדון
Fezada Çarpışanlar
Флеш Гордон
Флаш Гордън
제국의 종말
แฟลช กอร์ดอน ผ่ามิติทะลุจักรวาล

+1 more Show fewer

Guy L'éclair

Seen Flash Gordon?

Movies Like Flash Gordon

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Flash Gordon, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe and Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All.