The Neverending Story (1984)
81%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 7 nominations
A magical journey about the power of a young boy’s imagination to save a dying fantasy land, The NeverEnding Story remains a much-loved kids adventure
The NeverEnding Story is a classic fantasy film that has stood the test of time. While some critics may say it lacks sophistication, I say it’s a charming and whimsical adventure that takes you on a journey through a magical world filled with creatures you won’t find anywhere else. From the luck dragon Falkor to the rock biter, this movie has it all. And let’s not forget about the unforgettable theme song that will have you singing along for days. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and let The NeverEnding Story transport you to a world of imagination and wonder.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Act III Act III Communications,
Distributor
Warner Home Vídeo
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Blood Alley, Gastown, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1984
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby70 mm 6-Track
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 32m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 20, 1984 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 4, 2001
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, Tami Stronach, Moses Gunn, Patricia Hayes, Sydney Bromley, directed by Wolfgang Petersen, written by Wolfgang Petersen, Herman Weigel, Fantasy, Adventure, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Ian Nathan, Variety Staff, Dave Kehr, Verina Glaessner, Roger Ebert, Vincent Canby, Tim Brayton, James Croot, Sezín Koehler, Christopher Lloyd, Sarah Boslaugh, produced by Bernd Eichinger, Dieter Geissler, PG, The NeverEnding Story, Bastian, Atreyu, The Childlike Empress, Cairon, Urgl, Engywook, Warner Home Vídeo, Surround
Worldwide gross: $20,284,984
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $59,401,097
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,261
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,477,764
US/Canada gross: $20,192,381
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $59,129,925
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 998
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,325,823
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $12,667,431
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 877
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $27,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $79,064,870
Production budget ranking: 531
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $42,576,432
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$62,240,205
ROI to date (est.): -51%
ROI ranking: 1,699
Noah Hathaway – Atreyu
Tami Stronach – The Childlike Empress
Moses Gunn – Cairon
Patricia Hayes – Urgl
Sydney Bromley – Engywook
Director(s)
Wolfgang Petersen
Writer(s)
Wolfgang Petersen, Herman Weigel
Producer(s)
Bernd Eichinger, Dieter Geissler
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (8)
This was sweet and charming at the time but now it just lacks either the comedy or sophistication of kids’ fantasy film that we’ve all become accustomed to.
November 26, 2012 | Rating: 2/5
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A marvelously realized flight of pure fantasy.
November 26, 2012
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Despite the sophistication of the source material, the film isn’t particularly successful.
November 26, 2012
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A fairytale of the very best kind.
January 26, 2006
Verina Glaessner
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The world of this movie looks like a very particular place, and the art direction involved a lot of imagination.
October 23, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
The Neverending Story may have cost a mint to produce, but the result is bargain-basement.
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s got a sharp edge that fantasy movies rarely have.
May 17, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
What’s not in question is how this fantastic oddity stays with all those who have seen it, long, long after the credits roll…
February 15, 2022
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
The film has an almost overwhelming number of messages. From colonization and dispossession of land to the apathy of adulthood as well as the power of new beginnings
May 24, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Sezín Koehler
Black Girl Nerds
Though its foibles and failings haven’t improved with age, The NeverEnding Story emerges in retrospect as a more ambitious children’s movie than given credit.
March 11, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Christopher Lloyd
The Film Yap
…takes viewers back to a pre-CGI era when fantastic beasts and amazing worlds were created on screen using puppets and models.
July 9, 2018 | Rating: 6/10
Sarah Boslaugh
TheArtsStl
Carries with it a healthy amount of menace, and intensity, but it’s also a remarkable adventure.
August 31, 2016
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed…
Plot
Bastian is a young boy who lives a dreary life being tormented by school bullies. On one such occasion he escapes into a book shop where the old proprieter reveals an ancient story-book to him, which he is warned can be dangerous. Shortly after, he “borrows” the book and begins to read it in the school attic where he is drawn into the mythical land of Fantasia, which desperately needs a hero to save it from destruction.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for The NeverEnding Story.
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