Flash Gordon
“Pathetic earthlings...who can save you now?”
Synopsis
A football player and his mates travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Why Did They Laugh? | The Making of Flash Gordon (1980)
Type: Featurette • Published 2026-09-04
Top Cast
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Sam J. Jones
Flash Gordon
Melody Anderson
Dale Arden
Max von Sydow
The Emperor Ming
Chaim Topol
Dr. Hans Zarkov
Ornella Muti
Princess Aura
Timothy Dalton
Prince Barin
Brian Blessed
Prince Vultan
Peter Wyngarde
Klytus
Mariangela Melato
Kala
John Osborne
Arborian Priest
Richard O'Brien
Fico
John Hallam
Luro
Philip Stone
Zogi, the High Priest
Suzanne Danielle
Serving Girl
William Hootkins
Munson
Bobbie Brown
Hedonia
Ted Carroll
Biro
Adrienne Kronenberg
Vultan's Daughter
Release History & Theatrical Window
Royal Charity premiere
Festival / Special Debut
December 5, 1980
Wide Cinema Exhibition
June 15, 2010
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$35M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$27.1M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.77x
-$7.9M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Mike Hodges
- Screenplay & Story
- Lorenzo Semple Jr.
- Original Score
- Howard Blake, Brian May, Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon
- Original Title
- Flash Gordon
- Country of Origin
- Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 51m
- Production Budget
- $35M
- Worldwide Gross
- $27.1M
- Production Studios
- Starling Films, Universal Pictures, Famous Films Productions, Flash Gordon Productions, DDL Cinematografica
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Mike Hodges
Lorenzo Semple Jr., Alex Raymond, Michael Allin
Howard Blake, Brian May, Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon
Gilbert Taylor
Malcolm Cooke
Dino De Laurentiis, Bernard Williams
Department Leadership Roster
Mike Hodges
Director
Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Screenplay
Howard Blake
Original Music Composer
Gilbert Taylor
Director of Photography
Malcolm Cooke
Editor
Dino De Laurentiis
Producer
Danilo Donati
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Flash Gordon.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Flash Gordon.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Flash Gordon
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Flash Gordon about?
A football player and his mates travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.
Who directed Flash Gordon?
Flash Gordon was directed by Mike Hodges.
Who stars in Flash Gordon?
The principal cast of Flash Gordon includes Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Chaim Topol, Ornella Muti.
When was Flash Gordon released and how long is it?
Flash Gordon was released in 1980 with a total runtime of 1h 51m.
What was the box office and production budget of Flash Gordon?
Flash Gordon had a reported production budget of $35M and grossed $27.1M at the worldwide box office (0.77 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Flash Gordon?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Flash Gordon was composed by Howard Blake, Brian May, Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon.
Is Flash Gordon based on a book or true story?
Flash Gordon is adapted from the following source material: Characters: "Alex Raymond".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Flash Gordon?
Flash Gordon holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 12A (12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).