FilmsFlash GordonLike this

Films like Flash Gordon.

Flash Gordon (1980) reads as Warm, breathless, measured action / sci-fi, inventive in texture. Redemptive, epic, measured. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Superman (1978) poster
1. Superman1978

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a grounded, familiar shape.

The Gendarme and the Creatures from Outer Space (1979) poster
2. The Gendarme and the Creatures from Outer Space1979

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Fifth Element (1997) poster
3. The Fifth Element1997

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Star Wars (1977) poster
4. Star Wars1977

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a grounded, familiar shape.

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) poster
5. Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey1991

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Return of the Jedi (1983) poster
6. Return of the Jedi1983

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a bone-dry seriousness.

Willow (1988) poster
7. Willow1988

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the stubborn streak of hope — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Superman II (1980) poster
8. Superman II1980

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a grounded, familiar shape.

Street Fighter (1994) poster
9. Street Fighter1994

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

The Visitors (1993) poster
10. The Visitors1993

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the stubborn streak of hope — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Last Starfighter (1984) poster
11. The Last Starfighter1984

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the stubborn streak of hope; trades toward a grounded, familiar shape.

Cocoon: The Return (1988) poster
12. Cocoon: The Return1988

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are Flash Gordon’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →