Supernova (2000)

10% of critics liked it
(61 reviews)
20% of users liked it
(10,072 ratings)

In the early years of the 22nd century, a medical rescue team is traveling the netherworlds of deep space, waiting to answer emergency calls aboard what amounts to an interstellar ambulance. Captain Marley (Robert Forster), pilot Vanzant (James Spader), medical officer Evers (Angela Bassett),… More In the early years of the 22nd century, a medical rescue team is traveling the netherworlds of deep space, waiting to answer emergency calls aboard what amounts to an interstellar ambulance. Captain Marley (Robert Forster), pilot Vanzant (James Spader), medical officer Evers (Angela Bassett), medical technician Penalosa (Lou Diamond Phillips), paramedic Lund (Robin Tunney), and computer technician Sotomejor (Wilson Cruz) pick up a distress signal from a group of workers involved in a mining operation on a comet. But as they move in for a rescue, they discover that this isn't the mission of mercy they were expecting. They pick up Larson (Peter Facinelli), a mysterious and menacing man with a strange alien artifact, who draws the ship into the orbit of a huge star that is due to explode into a supernova at any time. Supernova had a production history that can be charitably described as "troubled." Australian filmmaker Geoffrey Wright was replaced by Walter Hill shortly before filming began. Actor Vincent D'Onofrio left the project shortly after Wright, replaced by Cruz. Hill then left the project in post-production and requested that his name be removed from the film. Francis Ford Coppola was hired to supervise a final re-cut, nearly a year after the completion of photography. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Walter Hill, Jack Sholder
Written By: David Campbell Wilson
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jan 14, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Aug 15, 2001
Studio: MGM/UA

Critic Reviews

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Murky and dull.
John Anderson, Newsday
A decent enough thriller.
Jonathan Foreman, New York Post
A perfectly enjoyable sci-fi thriller.
Michael Atkinson, Mr. Showbiz
A Frankenstein monster, with more obvious story patches, post-dubbed exposition, and missing money shots than most straight-to-video fare.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
Goes nowhere and when it gets there, it's not anywhere.
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Supernova, though predictable, isn't half bad.
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
If the 20 minutes of deleted scenes on the DVD had been inserted back into the actual film, Supernova would have been much better.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...the supernova business is only a tiny fraction of the movie's story line, just enough, I suppose, to justify its title.
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine
Hill disciples will no doubt find it a fascinating film.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
a half-baked science fiction rip-off that manages to be both excruciatingly simplistic and utterly incoherent at the same time

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jason O

It looks like very few people like "Supernova." A spaceship that is carrying a crew of people that are involved in the medical field, picks up a mysterious drifter named Karl (Peter Facinelli). Karl is a mystery by himself, but he brought along an equally mysterious space… More
It looks like very few people like "Supernova." A spaceship that is carrying a crew of people that are involved in the medical field, picks up a mysterious drifter named Karl (Peter Facinelli). Karl is a mystery by himself, but he brought along an equally mysterious space artifact. Will Karl and this strange object prove to be a help to the medical crew, or is danger closer to being the word? I don't see where "Supernova" is that bad of a movie to be honest. Sure, it's bigtime cliched and it doesn't have a spectacular cast or acting (except by Angela Bassett), but nonetheless, it's an interesting movie with good special effects. For awhile at the beginning, it's a little slow paced and not that exciting, but once a certain enemy starts rampaging, "Supernova" gets a lot more interesting. If you like sci-fi movies in the least sense, I recommend at least watching "Supernova." Even though it's not the most original film ever made, it's not that bad. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001.
Curtis L

Boo.
Steve S

The first decent deep space movie I've seen in awhile. Everything is going fine for the crew, until, you guessed, they just have to answer a distress signal. They pick up a really fine chap and matters digress from there. Takes up where Alien and Dead Calm left off. NEVER… More
The first decent deep space movie I've seen in awhile. Everything is going fine for the crew, until, you guessed, they just have to answer a distress signal. They pick up a really fine chap and matters digress from there. Takes up where Alien and Dead Calm left off. NEVER pick up hitchhikers! Even in, make that ESPECIALLY in outer space!
Christopher B

Let it be known that if Coppola had kept the scenes in the deleted scenes section in the DVD in the film I would be giving this an easy 4 stars. Not only is Coppla supposedly a hack nowadays, but he irrecoverably hurt Walter Hill's career with his attempt to make a great sci-fi… More
Let it be known that if Coppola had kept the scenes in the deleted scenes section in the DVD in the film I would be giving this an easy 4 stars. Not only is Coppla supposedly a hack nowadays, but he irrecoverably hurt Walter Hill's career with his attempt to make a great sci-fi more "mainstream".
Leo L

This film is an interesting one despite the critics' opinions. Interesting scene: Robin Tunney's and Lou Diamond Phillips' character are filling out an application for "reproduction." Very interesting! Who thought of that masterpiece!? Ingenious… More
This film is an interesting one despite the critics' opinions. Interesting scene: Robin Tunney's and Lou Diamond Phillips' character are filling out an application for "reproduction." Very interesting! Who thought of that masterpiece!? Ingenious thought...genius!
FanGirl B

James Spader is fun to look at but the rest of the movie isn't worth anything.