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Dark Star (1974)

6.1/10 IMDb 74% RT 66/100 MC
IMDb Trailer

A group of scientists are sent on a mission to destroy unstable planets. Twenty years into their mission, they have to battle their alien mascot as well as a "sensitive" and intelligent bombing device that starts to question the meaning of its existence.

Best Release

Fabulous Films · 4K + Blu-ray

B-Tier

Cast

Brian Narelle, Cal Kuniholm, Dan O'Bannon, Dre Pahich, Adam Beckenbaugh, Nick Castle, Joe Saunders, Cookie Knapp, Alan Sheretz, John Carpenter

Runtime

1 hour and 23 minutes (83 minutes)

More movies under 90 minutes

Editor's Notes

Note

Fabulous Films restored Carpenter's 1974 student debut from the 35mm OCN for a UK-only 2025 4K. The transfer is way better than the previous disc and online masters, but the source is a low-budget USC project and looks like one. The Online Exclusive is a 500-copy variant with different cover artwork and doesn't ship to the US. Carpenter completists need it for the box. In the Mouth of Madness is still the conspicuous gap in his 4K filmography.

noted Apr 30, 2026

Fabulous Films · 4K + Blu-ray , United Kingdom 2025

What's in the box

Packaging
Keepcase
In the box
Includes a reproduction of the original pressbook; 8 lobby card reprints; a double-sided foldout poster with the original U.K. poster artwork; a pseudo–Mission Log; and a 12-page booklet with an essay by Michael Doyle.
Discs
3 discs — DISC ONE | DISC TWO | DISC TWO
Video
1.85:1 · Dolby Vision + HDR10
Audio
English DTS-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles
English HoH · Spanish

Special features

DISC ONE (Blu-ray 4K)

  • Audio Commentary by super-fan Andrew Gilchrist (2010)
  • Trailer (2:26)

DISC TWO (Blu-ray)

  • Audio Commentary by super-fan Andrew Gilchrist (2010)
  • Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star (2010 documentary (116:39))
  • 2010 Interview with Alan Dean Foster (34:45)
  • 2010 Interview with Brian Narelle (40:10)
  • Written Introduction by Dan O'Bannon (text) (1:25)
  • Galleries
  • + 16 more
    Original Posters (5 stills)
    Original Lobby Cards (8 stills)
    Colour Images (11 stills)
    Black & White Images (12 stills)
    Biographies
    John Carpenter (8 pages) (4:10)
    Dan O'Bannon (5 pages) (2:36)
    Brian Narelle (1 page) (0:31)
    Jack Harris (3 pages) (1:33)
    3D Guide to the Dark Star Ship
    Observation (0:49)
    Fly Around (0:16)
    Bomb Bay (1:05)
    Warp (0:28)
    Trivia (10 pages) (5:00)
    Trailer (2:27)

Releases of Dark Star

Mentions

Fabulous Films releasing Dark Star (1974) in 4K 34 Dark Star 4K 1 Dark Star 4K UHD Review | Fabulous Films’ Limited Edition Collector’s Set 6 John Carpenter’s Dark Star Fabulous Films 4K UltraHD Blu-Ray Store Exclusive 500 copies Unboxing 4

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