Galaxy Quest

1999

Directed By: Dean Parisot

Screenplay By: David Howard; Robert Gordon

Starring: Tim Allen; Sigourney Weaver; Alan Rickman; Tony Shalhoub; Sam Rockwell; Daryl Mitchell

Parodying television series such as Star Trek and its fandom, Galaxy Quest is about a defunct television series also called Galaxy Quest, in which the crew of a spaceship embarked on intergalactic adventures. A leader of an alien race asks the actors for help, believing the show’s adventures were real. The film’s supporting cast features Robin Sachs as the warlord Sarris and Patrick Breen as another alien; Justin Long makes his feature film debut as an obsessed fan of the television show.

The film received critical praise and reached cult status through the years, becoming popular with Star Trek fans, staff, and cast members for its affectionate parody. It won the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, the Nebula Award for Best Script, the 26th Hochi Film Award for Best International Picture, and was also nominated for ten Saturn Awards including Best Science Fiction Film, Best Director for Parisot, Best Actress for Weaver and Best Supporting Actor for Rickman, winning Best Actor for Allen. The film was included in Reader’s Digest’s list of The Top 100+ Funniest Movies of All Time.