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The NeverEnding Story
Die unendliche Geschichte
1984 101 min Germany PG 0+
★7.4
Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
🎭 Based on
«The Neverending Story»
byMichael Ende
Trailers
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Teaser
Teaser
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Description
While hiding from bullies in his school's attic, a young boy discovers the extraordinary land of Fantasia, through a magical book called The Neverending Story. The book tells the tale of Atreyu, a young warrior who, with the help of a luck dragon named Falkor, must save Fantasia from the destruction of The Nothing.
Budget:
$27M
US Gross:
$20.19M
Worldwide:
$20.16M
Starring
Noah Hathaway
Actor
Barret Oliver
Actor
Tami Stronach
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1985
— Best Young Performer
Saturn Awards 1985
— Best Original Score
Saturn Awards 1985
— Best Fantasy Film
Key opinion
Wolfgang Petersen's adaptation of Michael Ende’s novel is widely regarded as a timeless, emotionally resonant fantasy that serves as an enduring symbol of childhood imagination. While some critics note inconsistencies in the plot and deviations from the source material, audiences largely embrace the film for its pioneering practical effects, vivid world-building, and profound themes.
| Production | The film’s practical effects and animatronics, such as the luck dragon and stone-biter, create a tangible, immersive sense of wonder that retains its charm despite technical aging. | |
| Acting | Barret Oliver and Noah Hathaway deliver compelling, believable performances that anchor the film's emotional stakes for a younger audience. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative succeeds as a morally clear, enchanting fairy tale for children, though adult viewers sometimes find the plot logic and world-building underdeveloped or simplistic. | |
| Adaptation | Fans of the original novel express disappointment over the film's adaptation choices, specifically its exclusion of the book's second half and tonal departures that frustrated the author. |