The Neverending Story (1984) | Rotten Tomatoes

The Neverending Story

PG

In Theaters Sun Jul 21

1h 34m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Adventure

TRAILER

for The Neverending Story: Trailer 1

List

The Neverending Story: Trailer 1

1:22

View more videos

83%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

81%

Audience Score

250,000+ Ratings

On his way to school, Bastian (Barret Oliver) ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. Sneaking away with a book called "The Neverending Story," Bastian begins reading it in the school attic. The novel is about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by "The Nothing," a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive.

Read More

Read Less

Coming Soon

In Theaters Sun Jul 21

Reserve Tickets

Critics Consensus

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Wolfgang Petersen

Director

Barret Oliver

Bastian

Noah Hathaway

Atreyu

Tami Stronach

The Childlike Empress

Moses Gunn

Cairon

Patricia Hayes

Urgl

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

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.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 26, 2012

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

A marvelously realized flight of pure fantasy.

Nov 26, 2012

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Despite the sophistication of the source material, the film isn't particularly successful.

Nov 26, 2012

Full Review

Charles Mudede

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

Though not as wonderfully bizarre as Jim Henson's Labyrinth, it does have an existential monster called the Nothing—it's something like a black hole that sucks the life out of a fantastic world.

May 10, 2024

Full Review

Carey-Ann Pawsey

Orca Sound

If you are looking for a family film that will not be offensive to any member of the family then Wolfgang Petersen’s (Troy, The Perfect Storm) “The Neverending Story” is a safe pick.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 25, 2022

Full Review

Andrew Galdi

Movie Bitches

This movie is dark!

Aug 4, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Koi P

Wonderful movie that is a fun and enjoyable watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/04/24

Full Review

Adam M

This movie doesn't age well. The effects are "average" for the time, but the acting is very poor. The story itself is nothing special. The best part of the movie is the theme song, and only for nostalgia purposes.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Luke R

Such a great adventure movie!!! Should've watch this in my childhood! Medieval Fantasy is one of the best climates of all! I love it when books turn out to be real and magical! The Wolf is such a terrifying secondary antagonist!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/24

Full Review

Bruce H

This iconic children's fantasy was a touchstone for Gen X, especially '80s kids. It features marvelous special effects, as well as great acting by the tween stars: Noah Hathaway (Atreyu), Barret Oliver (Bastian), and Tami Stronach (the Childlike Empress). The film is poignant, wise, and inspiring, but is widely remembered for a deeply upsetting scene in which a beloved animal dies. It ranks with the killing of Bambi's mother and that of Old Yeller as among history's most traumatic movie moments for children.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

Full Review

Andrew C

From the age where puppetry peaked before CGI became a thing. Does exactly what it sets out to do in pushing kids to explore their imaginations

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/01/24

Full Review

Arianna B

Watching the movie as an adult didn't give the same breathtaking adventure feeling that I got as a kid. Maybe I have become too cynical and lost the power to see magic, but some of the most powerful scenes that I remember left big marks back then, just passed through without any effect. The movie is greatly done for the time, there is a special atmosphere that it is imperceptible and I don't think even more modern movies have gained yet. The real hero and protagonist of the movie is not Bastian though, is Atreyu - but that is definitely obvious. Sadly Bastian is the key for the story to succeed - but, to be honest, his character (and acting) is quite disappointing. When watching the movie again, I also thought that also the actor of Atreyu was probably very green as his passions and true feelings came through in a quite intimidating manner. The movie is a classic, but with the eyes of today has quite some imperfections that would have needed some retuning. Still, it keeps its magic intact despite the years and mostly, for the ones that were kids when it was first shown.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

New on Netflix in August

Here Be Dragons! Famous TV and Movie Fire-Breathers

New on Netflix in October

The Neverending Story: Trailer 1

1:22

View more videos

View more photos

14%

40%

The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter

94%

70%

The Witches

81%

82%

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

TRAILER

for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

%

63%

Jumanji

TRAILER

for Jumanji

29%

76%

Hook

TRAILER

for Hook

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Synopsis

On his way to school, Bastian (Barret Oliver) ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. Sneaking away with a book called "The Neverending Story," Bastian begins reading it in the school attic. The novel is about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by "The Nothing," a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive.

Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Producer: Bernd Eichinger, Dieter Geissler
Screenwriter: Wolfgang Petersen, Herman Weigel
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 20, 1984, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 21, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now