Forgotten $196M 90s Classic on Prime is a Must-Watch for Sci-Fi Fans

Summary

• This sci-fi movie was released in 1994 to mixed reviews.
• Yet it won multiple awards.
• Audiences loved it - even if critics didn't.

In 1994, a sci-fi movie was released that was full of action, great one-liners, and incredible costumes. If you're a fan of the genre, this is a must-see.

Mixed reviews on release

The film was criticized for being a bit showy, with more focus on special effects than plot. It was also suggested that it might become a bit of a cult classic, a view that tends to suggest a movie is so bad it's good. And in a way, it really is bad. Ancient aliens, body snatching, giant spaceships hidden in the pyramids of Giza... Does this sound familiar? We're talking about the Stargate, of course. The movie you have to see at least once.

Yes, it’s cheesy. But is that so bad? Every cult classic needs a decent dose of cheese. And director Roland Emmerich is clearly not lactose intolerant. You only have to watch his 2022 movie, Moonfall to see that.

Stargate got a 54% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 42% on Metacritic, but despite all that, there's a strong case to be made that this is a must-see sci-fi movie.

Multiple awards

Okay, we're not talking Oscars here, but this movie won 60% of the awards it was nominated for in 1995. It won the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Film Award for Best Science Fiction Film. It also won Best Special Effects in a Genre Film, Best Supporting Actress in a Genre Film, and Best Science Fiction Film from Sci-Fi Universe magazine: Universe Reader's Choice Awards.

If you value the opinions of those dedicated to the genre, these awards more than indicate that it's a movie worth seeing.

Award-winning cast

Stargate was not without its stars. Its lead actor, Kurt Russell, has won numerous awards in a career that has seen him appear in films ranging from Backdraft to The Christmas Chronicles. Despite his success, however, Russell has never been nominated for an Academy Award.

Jaye Davidson has, but you may not have heard of him. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Dil in 1992's The Crying Game. He went on to play Ra in Stargate before retiring from acting with only two films under his belt. Since then, he's been involved in a few small projects, but can claim that 25% of his acting credits have led to Oscar nominations.

Other notable actors include James Spader, who went on to play Red in The Blacklist and Robert California in The Office, and Viveca Lindford. The Swedish actress died at the age of 75, one year after the release of Stargate (her penultimate film).

Nine spin-offs

Spin-offs are no guarantee of a movie's quality, but this one has spawned two more movies, three TV series, an animated show, and a web series:

Films

2008 saw the release of two military science fiction films; Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum. Neither reached the same heights as the original, grossing $32 million and $27 million respectively.

TV shows

• Stargate SG-1 is arguably the most well-known of the spin-offs with 10 seasons running from 1997 to 2007.
• Stargate: Universe (2009-2010) starred Robert Carlyle and saw an exploration team seven billion light years away trying to get back to Earth while learning along the way.
• Stargate: Atlantis (2004-2008) cemented Jason Momoa’s place in the acting world. The plot follows an exploration team sent to the ancient city of Atlantis after it is discovered that it was once inhabited by aliens.

Other series

2003 animated series Stargate Infinity is a spin-off that's not considered part of the franchise canon. In it, Gus Bonner is prevented from returning to Earth after being framed for opening the Stargate.

The web series Stargate Origins is a prequel set in 1939. It follows Catherine Langford, a minor character in the original film, as she travels through the Stargate to save her father.

The original Stargate movie is available to stream at:

• Prime
• Apple TV+
• YouTube
• Google Play Movies