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Biographical drama

Stardust (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Stardust (2020) movie poster

Stardust is a 2020 biographical drama directed by Gabriel Range, starring Johnny Flynn as David Bowie, Jena Malone and Julian Richings. It runs 1 hour 49 minutes and earned $62,251 worldwide on a $5.5 million budget. Critics gave it 19% on Rotten Tomatoes and 35 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.4/10. Stream it on AMC+ and Kanopy, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
4.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
19%
worldwide gross
$62.3K
Echo Score
24
Stardust (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 49m (109 min)
Director
Gabriel Range
Genres
Biography , Drama , Music
Original language
English
Budget
$5.5M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Stardust About?

The premise of Stardust without spoilers.

In 1971, a young and uncertain David Bowie, portrayed by Johnny Flynn, undertakes a pivotal journey across America to promote his first album. Facing an audience not quite ready for his groundbreaking music, he grapples with the pressures of fame and the struggle to connect. Through these experiences, Bowie confronts his insecurities and gradually evolves, ultimately leading to the creation of his iconic persona, Ziggy Stardust.

Stardust Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • 1970s
  • year 1971
  • david bowie character
  • singer
  • singing
  • song
  • 24 year old
  • 24 year old man
  • pregnancy
  • recording
  • husband wife relationship
  • music tour
+38 more
  • mercury records
  • publicist
  • musician
  • ziggy stardust character
  • countdown
  • astronaut
  • space suit
  • airplane
  • airline stewardess
  • man with long hair
  • washington d.c.
  • passport
  • visa
  • telephone
  • telephone call
  • reference to michael fish
  • customs inspection
  • british in the united states
  • man wears a dress
  • mirror
  • looking at oneself in a mirror
  • overhead camera shot
  • dancer
  • dancing
  • marc bolan character
  • party
  • cigarette smoking
  • drink
  • drinking
  • open marriage
  • female female kiss
  • reciting poetry
  • applause
  • acid the drug
  • poet
  • poetry
  • gay character
  • bisexual character
Where to watch

Where to Watch Stardust

Stream it on AMC+ and Kanopy, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Stardust Cast & Characters

Johnny Flynn leads the cast as David Bowie, with Jena Malone as Angie Bowie and Julian Richings as Tony Defries. Directed by Gabriel Range; 17 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Stardust

· 13 more
Ratings

Stardust Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Stardust 19% on Rotten Tomatoes and 35 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 24/100, strongest in character & emotion (55) and weakest in rewatch factor (15).

24 /100

Stardust Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Stardust falls short of expectations, exhibiting consistent weaknesses across narrative and technical dimensions. The film’s story is undermined by uneven pacing and contrivances, while the lack of authentic musical elements diminishes its immersive quality. Although the lead performance occasionally captures Bowie’s spirit, character depth remains limited and visual design feels underdeveloped. The cumulative effect is a biopic that struggles to engage, resulting in an overall experience that feels unbalanced and unmemorable.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 30

    In terms of art and craft, Stardust exhibits notable shortcomings in production design and visual cohesion. Reviews frequently point to cheap costumes, clichéd set pieces, and inconsistent editing that disrupt the film’s flow. The direction occasionally glimpses creative intent but is undermined by uneven execution and uninspired camera work. Overall, the technical presentation lacks polish and fails to support the narrative effectively.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When it comes to character and emotion, Stardust delivers a commendable lead performance but lacks deeper development. The portrayal of Bowie benefits from nuanced facial work and measured delivery, yet supporting characters often feel underwritten. Emotional resonance is sporadic, with key relationships failing to achieve genuine chemistry. As a result, the film offers limited insight into its protagonists and struggles to establish a compelling emotional core.

  • Story & Flow 25

    In terms of story and flow, Stardust suffers from a fragmented narrative and uneven pacing. Critics highlight reliance on glum flashbacks and clichéd plot turns that diminish originality and coherence. Audience feedback also underscores a lack of authentic events, resulting in disengagement from the journey. Consequently, the film struggles to maintain momentum or deliver a satisfying dramatic arc.

  • Sensory Experience 20

    When evaluating the sensory experience, Stardust’s absence of authentic musical elements and sound design hinders engagement. Viewers note the lack of Bowie’s songs and minimal soundtrack presence, which undermines mood and period authenticity. Additionally, sound mixing and design are unremarkable, offering little dynamic range or atmospherics. The aggregate sensory components therefore fail to elevate the film’s atmosphere or emotional impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 15

    In terms of rewatch factor, Stardust offers minimal incentive for subsequent viewings. The combination of limited emotional resonance, underdeveloped narrative, and absent musical highlights reduces replay appeal. Audience comments emphasize a lack of memorable moments and low engagement on first viewing, suggesting little to be gained from revisiting. Overall, the film’s modest strengths are insufficient to justify repeated viewing.

Box office

Stardust Box Office & Budget

Stardust grossed $62,251 worldwide on a $5.5 million budget. $9,087 came from the US and Canada and $53,164 (85%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$62.3K

US & Canada
$9.1K
International
$53.2K
Budget
$5.5M
US & Canada 15% Rest of the world 85%
Videos

Stardust Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

Stardust – Official Trailer
  • Teaser Stardust First Clip Official Teaser (2020)
Details

Stardust Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “Девід Боуї: Історія людини з зірок” and “Дэвид Боуи: Человек со звезды”.

Also known as
  • Девід Боуї: Історія людини з зірок
  • Дэвид Боуи: Человек со звезды
  • Stardust - David prima di Bowie
  • 스타더스트
  • Звезден прах
  • Девід Бові: Історія людини з зірок
  • 搖滾變色龍:大衛鮑伊
  • 大衛寶兒:無盡星塵
  • 星尘
  • Stardust - O Nascer de uma Estrela

Seen Stardust?

FAQ

Stardust FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Stardust, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Stardust?

Stardust runs 1 hour 49 minutes (109 minutes).

When was Stardust released?

Stardust was released on November 25, 2020.

Who directed Stardust?

Stardust was directed by Gabriel Range.

More films by Gabriel Range

Who is in the cast of Stardust?

Stardust stars Johnny Flynn as David Bowie, Jena Malone as Angie Bowie and Julian Richings as Tony Defries, among 17 credited actors.

Where can I watch Stardust?

In the US, Stardust is streaming on AMC+, Kanopy and Philo and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Stardust make at the box office?

Stardust grossed $62,251 worldwide ($9,087 domestic, $53,164 international) on a budget of $5.5 million.

How is Stardust rated?

Stardust has 4.4/10 on IMDb, 19% on Rotten Tomatoes, 35 on Metacritic and 38% on TMDB.

Does Stardust have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Stardust has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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