Stargate (film)

Stargate
Company type	Film
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	October 28, 1994; 32 years ago
Founder	Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin
Products	Science fiction action-adventure film

Stargate is a 1994 sci-fi action-adventure film helmed by director Roland Emmerich, with a screenplay co-written by Emmerich and Dean Devlin. This film initiated the namesake media franchise and features performances from Kurt Russell, James Spader, Jaye Davidson, Alexis Cruz, Mili Avital, and Viveca Lindfors. The narrative centers on the "Stargate," an ancient circular apparatus that generates a wormhole, permitting instantaneous travel to a corresponding device located elsewhere in the cosmos, while delving into concepts of alien impact on human history.

Premiering on October 28, 1994, distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the United States and AMLF in France, Stargate was produced with a budget of $55 million and earned $196.6 million globally. Critical reception was varied, with the film’s ambiance, plot, character development, and visual elements eliciting both commendation and critique.

Plot

In 1928 at Giza, Egypt, archaeologist Professor Paul Langford and his daughter Catherine discover engraved stones bearing Egyptian hieroglyphs alongside a large metallic ring of mysterious origin.

By 1994, Catherine enlists the help of Egyptologist and linguist Daniel Jackson, Ph.D. to interpret the hieroglyphs. These stones are now part of a secretive U.S. Air Force project housed at a military base in Colorado under the command of Special Operations Colonel Jack O'Neil. Jackson decodes that the inscriptions describe a "stargate" which utilizes star constellations as coordinates for spatial navigation. Activating the Stargate—this ring recovered from Giza—by aligning its seven chevrons opens a wormhole to a remote planet. Jackson joins O’Neil’s expedition team (Reilly, Porro, Freeman, Brown, Ferretti, Kawalsky) as they travel through the portal.

Upon arrival inside a pyramid on the desert world Abydos, Jackson attempts to locate return symbols but is unsuccessful. O’Neil establishes a base camp; meanwhile, Jackson encounters a mastadge creature and is captured. The team encounters a local human tribe engaged in mining a mineral identical to that composing the Stargate. Communicating in Ancient Egyptian, Jackson learns that the tribe regards him as an emissary of their deity Ra due to an amulet given by Catherine. The tribe leader Kasuf offers his daughter Sha'uri to Jackson, who develops a romantic relationship with her. O’Neil forms an alliance with Kasuf’s son Skaara. That night, Ra’s spacecraft arrives; his forces capture Ferretti and Freeman while killing Porro and Reilly.

Jackson discovers Ra is an extraterrestrial who possessed humans in Ancient Egypt to prolong his life and enslaved them to extract minerals on Abydos. Earth inhabitants rebelled and concealed the Stargate to block its use. Jackson identifies six of seven return symbols; one remains missing.

Returning to the pyramid triggers a battle; Brown is killed and Kawalsky wounded. Jackson and O’Neil are seized by Ra’s humanoid guards after their helmets retract. During another skirmish, Jackson dies but is revived within a regenerative sarcophagus. Ra reveals that O’Neil smuggled a nuclear bomb and intends to send it through the Stargate with the mineral to Earth, aiming for devastating destruction. Ra coerces Jackson into executing others as intimidation; however, Skaara’s distraction allows Jackson, O’Neil, Kawalsky, and Ferretti to flee while Freeman is killed. While hiding in caves, they discover the final Stargate symbol needed for their return.

O’Neil’s team aids Skaara in overthrowing the overseers and launching an assault on Ra. Ra deploys fighter ships as his vessel prepares for departure. Running out of ammunition, humans surrender; upon realizing their so-called gods are humanoid beings, the tribe revolts against their captors. Sha'uri is fatally wounded; Jackson sneaks aboard Ra’s ship using teleportation with her body. He revives Sha'uri using the regeneration device but is discovered by Ra. O’Neil eliminates Ra’s guard captain Anubis through teleportation activation, enabling their escape. They teleport the nuclear device onto Ra’s ship, destroying it and killing Ra. With their oppressor defeated, humans are liberated; O’Neil, Kawalsky, and Ferretti return to Earth while Jackson remains with Sha'uri and her people.

Cast

Kurt Russell portrays Colonel Jonathan J. "Jack" O'Neil, a seasoned U.S. Air Force Special Operations officer coping with a personal loss. Russell, who previously served in the California Air National Guard, agreed to the role after reviewing the finished script.
James Spader plays Dr. Daniel Jackson, an archaeologist and linguist whose unconventional theory regarding the Great Pyramid attracted him because of the project's adventurous spirit.
Jaye Davidson appears as Ra, an alien entity with immense power disguised in human form who subjugates Earth's population. Davidson accepted a $1 million fee for this role; Stargate marked his last major film before retiring from acting.
Viveca Lindfors takes on the role of Dr. Catherine Langford, the civilian head overseeing the Stargate project since its discovery in 1928. This film was Lindfors' second-to-last appearance.
Alexis Cruz acts as Skaara, Kasuf's son and a supporter of O'Neil's team.
Mili Avital portrays Sha'uri, Kasuf's daughter, who is promised in marriage to Daniel Jackson.
Leon Rippy plays Major General W. O. West, the commanding officer at the Stargate facility.
John Diehl is cast as Lt. Colonel Charles Kawalsky, serving as O'Neil's deputy.
Carlos Lauchu features as Anubis, leader of Ra's personal guard.
Djimon Hounsou appears as Horus, a member of Ra's elite guard.
Erick Avari portrays Kasuf, the local chieftain near the Stargate and father to Sha'uri and Skaara.
French Stewart plays Lt. Louis Ferretti, part of O'Neil's squad.
Christopher John Fields acts as Lt. Freeman.
Derek Webster appears as Senior Airman Brown.
Jack Moore is Senior Airman Reilly.
Steve Giannelli plays Lt. Porro.
Rae Allen portrays Dr. Barbara Shore, a researcher working on the Stargate project.
Richard Kind appears as Dr. Gary Meyers, another scientist involved with the Stargate.

Production

Hieroglyphic inscription on the coverstone alongside its chalkboard interpretation (featuring original and revised translations by Daniel Jackson)
<hiero>r:n:p-rnp-t:Z1Z1Z1-I8:V20-r:q-b-H-w-W15-N1:N25-p-w-r:a-C1-m-i-t:n-N8</hiero> Template:Big <hiero>m-x-m-t-S20-Aa18-n:f-q:r-s-T19-A24-Q6:A55-f:n-D&t-tA:r-G21-H-H-ra:N23</hiero> Template:Big <hiero>s-sbA-b-O32-n:Z1Z1Z1-s-b-A-sbA:ra-Z1Z1Z1:f</hiero> Template:Big
literal rendering of text: years million in sky this Ra as Aten (=sun disk) sealed buried enduringly and repeatedly door his to stars	Jackson’s final interpretation: million years into the sky is Ra Sun God sealed and buried for all time his Stargate

Development

Both the original and director’s versions of the film adhere to a chronological timeline. To enhance the storyline's flow, Devlin and Emmerich introduced an opening segment depicting Ra’s human host prior to alien possession, filmed exclusively showing Davidson’s upper torso. This sequence combined miniature model shots with a set located in Yuma, Arizona—the same location used for filming Rambo III. The scenes involving the Stargate excavation were completed over three days in Arizona, utilizing the natural glow of sunset to achieve a warm golden tone. Due to budget limitations, distant figures were represented by simple stick figures draped in cloth to simulate human presence. The Stargate prop was repainted silver instead of black to prevent it from resembling a large tire.

Daniel Jackson’s lecture scene was shot in a Los Angeles hotel and trimmed from a more extensive version that delved into alien pyramid theories, cut down for time constraints. The initial scenes featuring O’Neil at home marked Kurt Russell’s first on-set appearance; afterward, he shortened his hair and lightened its color for the role. The largest set constructed for the production was the Stargate facility, housed within the former Spruce Goose Dome in Long Beach, California. Egyptologist Stuart Tyson Smith provided expert advice to ensure the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and language depicted throughout the film were accurate.

Filming

The pharaoh’s mask shown during the opening credits was crafted from fiberglass and sculpted in a workshop setting. This sequence employed motion-control camera techniques to increase depth of field effects. The musical score for Stargate marked composer David Arnold’s debut on an American feature film. Upon meeting Arnold in London, Devlin and Emmerich recognized that his music significantly enhanced the overall impact of the movie. Arnold also conducted interviews with actors during principal photography to better tailor his compositions.

Visual effects

The visual effects team, led by Jeff Kleiser and Kleiser-Walczak Construction Co., consisted of 40 specialists who developed the Stargate’s visual design using proprietary image-generation and compositing software alongside commercial digital applications. Their work included creating the Stargate itself, the morphing helmets worn by Ra and Horus guards, and rendering the Nagada cityscape. The morphing helmet effect was achieved through 2D compositing, which required exact alignment between footage with and without headgear—a process complicated by camera movement.

Digital removal of footprints from sand surfaces was routinely performed. One of the most complex visual challenges involved crafting a fully digital wormhole; rippling effects were layered to enhance realism. Scanning lasers aligned parallel to the gate tracked actors as they passed through the Stargate plane, with digital mattes applied frame-by-frame to selectively remove or restore portions of their bodies. The water funnel sequence preceding the Stargate’s activation was filmed by firing an air cannon into a water tank—early tests caused flooding of cameras until optimal air pressure was determined.

Emmerich utilized computer-generated 3D storyboards during pre-production to explore various camera angles before finalizing shooting decisions.

Music

David Arnold composed the film’s score, which was performed by the Sinfonia of London under conductor Nicholas Dodd. This project represented Arnold’s second film score and his first major assignment. Over several months amid distribution delays, Arnold refined his soundtrack work during production. His goal was to create a bold and majestic sound that aligned with the film’s adventurous spirit, evoking the protagonist’s forward momentum rather than fear.

Theatrical

Stargate made its debut across the United States and Canada on October 28, 1994.

Home media

The film became available on VHS in 1995, alongside a two-disc laserdisc edition featuring Dolby Digital sound. Its initial DVD release occurred on June 18, 1997, followed by a reissue titled Stargate Special Edition in October 1999. In 2003, the movie was re-released on VHS and as a two-disc DVD set containing both remastered theatrical and extended cuts. The first Blu-ray edition was issued on August 29, 2006.

Lawsuit

In January 1995, Omar Zuhdi, an educator at the high school level, filed a lawsuit against the filmmakers of Stargate, alleging that the story was plagiarized from his 1984 script Egyptscape. This legal dispute was ultimately resolved through an out-of-court settlement.

Director's cut

The director's cut version restored scenes omitted from the theatrical release, including the abduction of the human host possessed by Ra and a scene showing a petrified Anubis guard beneath a shattered cover stone dating back to the 1928 excavation of the Stargate. The latter was intended to imply previous efforts to activate the Stargate but was removed for pacing reasons.

Box office

Stargate earned $71.6 million domestically and $125 million internationally, accumulating nearly $197 million globally. It established a new record for the largest October opening weekend at that time, maintaining this achievement for four years until Antz surpassed it in 1998.

Although critical reception was mixed, the movie outperformed industry forecasts and is considered director Roland Emmerich's breakthrough project. It garnered over $16.6 million during its first week in U.S. theaters and ranked as the 35th-highest October debut domestically. The film led box office charts for two consecutive weeks before being overtaken by Interview with the Vampire. Its weekly revenue steadily declined afterward, with a brief uptick late November, concluding its theatrical run with approximately $1.17 million domestically.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Stargate holds a 53% approval rating based on 51 critiques, averaging a score of 5.4/10. The consensus praises its visual effects and James Spader’s performance but points out weaknesses in the screenplay and character development. On Metacritic, it has a weighted average of 42 out of 100 from 17 critics, reflecting mixed or average reviews. At Movie Review Query Engine (MRQE), it scores 64 out of 100 based on 95 assessments. Audience polling by CinemaScore gave it a "B+" grade.

Critics often targeted the excessive reliance on special effects, simplistic plotline, and clichés. Roger Ebert awarded it one star, deeming it inferior to Ed Wood and including it among his least favored films. Mike DiBella from Allmovie remarked that the spectacle failed to compensate for its shortcomings. Nevertheless, the film reached number one on the Billboard Top Video Rentals list on April 29, 1995.

Positive commentary emphasized its emergence as an "instant camp classic," commending its visual effects and entertainment value. Chris Hicks of the Deseret News likened it to "Star Wars meets Ben Hur." Scott McKenzie from DVDactive admired the intricate world-building, suggesting it almost compelled viewers to explore the associated television series.

Accolades

In 1995, Stargate secured victories in six out of the ten international awards for which it was nominated.

Award	Category	Recipients	Result
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films	Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film	Stargate	Template:Won
	Saturn Award for Best Costume Design	Joseph A. Porro	Template:Nom
	Saturn Award for Best Special Effects	Jeffrey A. Okun and Patrick Tatopoulos	Template:Nom
BMI Film & TV Awards	BMI Film Music Award	David Arnold	Template:Won
Fantasporto	International Fantasy Film Award for Best Film	Roland Emmerich	Template:Nom
Germany's Golden Screen Awards	Golden Screen	Stargate	Template:Won
Hugo Award	Best Dramatic Presentation	Stargate	Template:Nom
Sci-Fi Universe Magazine: Universe Reader's Choice Awards	Best Science Fiction Film	Stargate	Template:Won
	Best Special Effects in a Genre Motion Picture	Jeffrey A. Okun	Template:Won
	Best Supporting Actress in a Genre Motion Picture	Mili Avital	Template:Won

Video Games

Acclaim Entertainment released two video game adaptations inspired by the movie: a 1995 side-scrolling platformer available on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis, alongside a puzzle game resembling Tetris for the Game Gear and Game Boy.

Cancelled film sequels

Devlin and Emmerich originally planned Stargate as the inaugural entry in a trilogy; however, Parts Two and Three never materialized. At Comic-Con 2006, Devlin disclosed preliminary discussions with MGM regarding continuation of the franchise.

The intended sequel would take place approximately twelve years after the original, with Jackson uncovering a new Stargate linked to a mythology distinct from the Egyptian motif of the first film. The third film was designed to integrate multiple mythological traditions into a unified narrative. Devlin aimed to reunite original leads Kurt Russell and James Spader, both of whom had shown enthusiasm for returning.

This trilogy was conceived to expand upon the film’s mythology independently from the television series Stargate SG-1, enabling both to exist separately. These concepts were independent of direct-to-DVD sequels tied to the TV franchise. While Devlin and Emmerich envisioned three films with potential for further installments, MGM chose to prioritize the television adaptations first.

Novel series

Drawing from some of Emmerich’s original notes, author Bill McCay produced a five-book novel series that continued the storyline envisioned by the creators, exploring interactions among Earth humans, indigenous populations, and Ra’s heirs.

Television spin-offs

Following the film’s release, the CD-ROM titled Secrets of Stargate offered insights into special effects along with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. Subsequently, Dean Devlin granted film rights to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). In 1996, MGM recruited Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner to develop a television spin-off. The series Stargate SG-1 debuted on Showtime on July 27, 1997, running for ten seasons until 2007. It led to additional projects including the non-canonical animated show Stargate Infinity (2002–03), as well as live-action series Stargate Atlantis (2004–09) and Stargate Universe (2009–11).

Variations Between Film and Television Franchise

The creators of SG-1, Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, introduced fresh ideas that modified the original film’s canon. Several roles were recast and character names adjusted: Daniel Jackson was portrayed by James Spader in the movie, while Michael Shanks assumed the role in the series; Kurt Russell’s Jonathan "Jack" O'Neil was reimagined as Richard Dean Anderson’s Jonathan "Jack" O'Neill. Rank alterations also took place—Lieutenant Louis Ferretti, played by French Stewart in the film, was promoted to Major Ferretti in SG-1. Name spellings underwent changes as well, with Daniel Jackson’s wife renamed from "Sha'uri" to "Sha’re," and O’Neill’s spouse from Sarah to Sara; additionally, O’Neil’s son’s name shifted from "Tyler" to "Charlie."

The Stargate Command base transitioned from Creek Mountain to the actual Cheyenne Mountain Complex. The previously unnamed planet received the designation Abydos and was redefined as the closest Stargate-accessible world to Earth within the Milky Way galaxy, contrasting with its depiction in the film as being millions of light-years away in a separate galaxy. Travel through Stargates was confined to the Milky Way system unless exceptional power allowed wormholes to extend beyond. The character of Ra was transformed from a humanoid alien into one among numerous parasitic Goa'uld System Lords.

Modifications were made to the Stargate device itself: the film’s singular set of 39 symbols was replaced by 38 common symbols plus a distinct point of origin unique to each gate. The wormhole “kawoosh” visual effect evolved from a filmed water vortex to a fully CGI-rendered sequence created by Rainmaker Digital Effects. Beginning with the ninth season of SG-1, the wormhole visuals were updated to align with those used in Stargate Atlantis—appearing blue in SG-1 (consistent with the film), green in Atlantis, and white in Universe.

Reboot

On September 5, 2013, Roland Emmerich announced intentions with MGM to develop a reboot of Stargate as a trilogy. Subsequently, on May 29, 2014, MGM and Warner Bros. formed a partnership for this reboot project, with Emmerich directing, Dean Devlin producing, and Nicolas Wright alongside James A. Woods handling the screenplay. Nevertheless, by November 17, 2016, Devlin disclosed that progress on both the reboot and a prospective new television series had stalled. On April 14, 2023, MGM reaffirmed its strategy to revive several film franchises across both cinematic and television platforms, including plans involving Stargate.

External links