In 1994, one of the highest-grossing directors in Hollywood, well-known for his notable contributions to the sci-fi universe, created an unforgettable epic. Roland Emmerich is that icon, widely described as a “master of disaster,” with some of his popular sci-fi movies including 1992’s Universal Soldier, the first Stargate entry, Independence Day and its 2016 sequel, the first Godzilla film to be completely produced by an American studio, and The Day After Tomorrow.
Among these aforementioned is a masterpiece that Emmerich co-wrote with producer Dean Devlin, which was initially underrated by critics but eventually altered the trajectory of sci-fi storytelling. Titled Stargate, the adventure film has since spawned a sprawling franchise and introduced generations of fans to a world of intergalactic travel, alien civilizations, and ancient mysteries. It was released on October 28, 1994, to mixed reviews and has gathered its own cult following over the years, soon expanding with the film’s gripping follow-ups.
Decades later, Stargate’s popularity has extended to streaming, as this week has seen it silently surge on global charts. The sci-fi classic is among the most-watched movies on the popular platform, Chilli, most especially in European territories. Earlier this week, it entered the charts as the fifth most popular title in Austria and Germany — a ranking it has held for more than three days and is likely to retain (if not surpass) in the coming days.
This Sci-Fi Classic Launched a Decade-Spanning Franchise
Stargate is based on the idea of an alien wormhole device that enables nearly instantaneous travel across the cosmos. The original Stargate movie stars Kurt Russell, James Spader, Jaye Davidson, Alexis Cruz, Mili Avital, and Viveca Lindfors. It holds an average critics’ rating of 53% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $196.6 million worldwide against a production budget of $55 million.
Following the 1994 release, the franchise expanded in 1997 when Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner created the iconic 10-season Stargate SG-1 as a sequel series to the film. Stargate Atlantis followed in 2004 and Stargate Universe in 2009, as well as the prequel web series, Stargate Origins, in 2018. Other entries in the highly regarded franchise include the direct-to-DVD movies Stargate: Children of the Gods, Stargate: The Ark of Truth, and Stargate: Continuum.
The first Stargate entry streams on Chili globally. Stay tuned to Collider for more information.
