Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983)

20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
29% of users liked it
(2,981 ratings)

In this weakly scripted, dull sci-fi adventure, three women have been shipwrecked somewhere in the galaxy on planet Terra Eleven and now Wolff (Peter Strauss), the pilot of a salvage ship, his friend Washington (Ernie Hudson), and the orphaned Niki (Molly Ringwald) are out to rescue them. Along the… More In this weakly scripted, dull sci-fi adventure, three women have been shipwrecked somewhere in the galaxy on planet Terra Eleven and now Wolff (Peter Strauss), the pilot of a salvage ship, his friend Washington (Ernie Hudson), and the orphaned Niki (Molly Ringwald) are out to rescue them. Along the way, the trio face several life-threatening situations, and as they escape each danger intact, their final encounter with the evil Overdog McNabb (Michael Ironside) draws ever closer. With a wobbly storyline, one-note theme (people versus machines), and unintentionally funny dialogue, Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone has a few things going for it: quick-paced action scenes, unusual sets, a 3-D format, a good musical score, and creative sound effects. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Lamont Johnson
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: May 20, 1983 Wide
On DVD: Dec 4, 2001
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
Ages like good cheese

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

If you're a big fan of either Molly Ringwald or 80s sci-fi movies in general, I highly recommend this movie. I loved it, it has a good story, good actors, and it's fun. Of course it isn't one of the best sci-fi movies of the 80s, but I love it anyway.
Phil H

With a small known cast of Ernie Hudson, Molly Ringwald and a well hidden Michael Ironside this sci-fi film starts off nicely with pretty good looking spaceships, land transports, costumes and a quirky neat feel that reminds you of 'The Ice Pirates' and a gentle 'Mad… More
With a small known cast of Ernie Hudson, Molly Ringwald and a well hidden Michael Ironside this sci-fi film starts off nicely with pretty good looking spaceships, land transports, costumes and a quirky neat feel that reminds you of 'The Ice Pirates' and a gentle 'Mad Max 3'. Unfortunatley the film starts to slide badly from the midway point and loses its reasonable sensible side to become a silly and tacky...almost barbarian type film with amazonian women and dragon type water creatures to a stupid looking evil villian that Clive Barker may have stolen for the Channard Cenobite idea in 'Hellraiser 2' .
Red L

Peter Strauss, interplanetary adventurer and 15 year old Molly Ringwald team up to defeat the Forbidden Zone - a planet with all sorts of evil beings. I found this a really corny movie, although who knew that Molly acted in science fiction movies?
vieras e

Oh, good grief...
Lafe F

Junky 80's Sci-Fi mess. There are amusing relations between Peter Strauss and Molly Ringwald, but that couldn't save it. They team up with Ernie Hudson to rescue the three ditsy space princesses from the freakish Overlord played by Michael Ironside. It ends up being a… More
Junky 80's Sci-Fi mess. There are amusing relations between Peter Strauss and Molly Ringwald, but that couldn't save it. They team up with Ernie Hudson to rescue the three ditsy space princesses from the freakish Overlord played by Michael Ironside. It ends up being a cheesy runaround on a junky planet, with the team encountering plenty of freaks. I did enjoy their run-in with the dangerous tribe of little people. Overall, the junky set design ruins the experience. Amongnst other 80's sci-fi greats, it's very forgettable; perhaps in 3-D it would be more fun. This movie can be safely discarded and no great loss to film history.
Lee K

cheese with a capital c.