Stardust (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 49m (109 min)
- Director
- Gabriel Range
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- IFC Films
- Budget
- $5.5M
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
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 Show fewer
- 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 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.
Stream 4
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.
- Director Gabriel Range
-
Johnny Flynn as David Bowie -
Jena Malone as Angie Bowie -
Julian Richings as Tony Defries -
Marc Maron as Ron Oberman
Also Starring in Stardust
· 13 more- Paulino Nunes Tom Ayers
- Aaron Poole Mick Ronson
- Richard Clarkin Mickelson
- Monica Parker Mrs. Oberman
- Gord Rand Michael Oberman
- Anthony Flanagan Dr. Reynolds
- Derek Moran Terry Burns
- Ryan Blakely Tom Classon
- Lara Heller Jemima
- Jorja Cadence
- Jimmy Star
- Allie Dunbar
- Roanna Cochrane
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).
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.
-
IMDb 4.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 19% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 21%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 35 Metascore
User score 8.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 38% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 1.9 /5
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.7 /5
See on Movie Insider
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.
Worldwide gross
$62.3K
- US & Canada
- $9.1K
- International
- $53.2K
- Budget
- $5.5M
Stardust Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.
- Teaser Stardust First Clip Official Teaser (2020)
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?
Movies Like Stardust
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Stardust, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and Moonage Daydream.
-
Stardust 1974 -
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 1979 -
Moonage Daydream 2022 -
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story 2006 -
Stardust in Your Eyes 1953 -
Stardust Memories 1980 -
David Bowie: Out of this World 2021 -
Stoned 2006 -
The Man Who Fell to Earth 1976 -
The Legend of the Stardust Brothers 1985 -
Almost Famous 2000 -
David Bowie: Jazzin’ for Blue Jean 1984
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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