Starcrash

Starcrash

Year: 1978

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Luigi Cozzi

Science FictionFantasyMonsters aliens sci-fi and the apocalypseAction-packed space and alien sagasImaginative space odysseys and alien encounters

A galactic adventure beyond your wildest dreams. Two smugglers on the run rescue a lone survivor of a covert mission to destroy a mysterious superweapon built by the evil Count Zartharn. The Emperor then recruits them to finish the weapon’s destruction and to locate his missing son.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Starcrash (1978)

Trace every key event in Starcrash (1978) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Starship attacked; crew driven insane; escape pods launch

A starship pursuing Count Zarth Arn is struck by a mysterious weapon, driving the crew to madness. In the resulting chaos, three escape pods launch and the ship crashes into the planet's atmosphere. The survivors scramble for safety as the vessel is destroyed.

Unknown Deep space near the target planet
2

Stella and Akton confront Imperial Space Police; hyperspace escape

Stella Star and Akton collide with the Imperial Space Police led by Elle and Thor. They spark a desperate escape by jumping into hyperspace. The trio finds an escape pod from the attacked starship, containing a disoriented survivor.

Unknown Space near the attacked ship
3

Arrest and piracy conviction

The Imperial authorities track their hyperspace trail and arrest the fugitives. Stella and Akton are tried and convicted of piracy, sentenced to life in prison on separate planets. The verdict sets the stage for their later escape.

After capture Prison planets
4

Stella escapes prison; recaptured; sentence canceled

Stella escapes her prison, but Elle and Thor recapture her. They inform her the authorities have canceled her sentence and relocate her to an orbiting ship. There, she is reunited with Akton, who remains in custody.

Following escape Orbiting prison ship
5

Emperor assigns mission; locate weapon and missing pods

The Emperor of the Galaxy contacts Stella and Akton, thanking them for recovering the starship survivor. He tasks them with finding Count Zarth Arn's secret weapon and locating two more missing escape pods and the mothership. Clemency is offered if they cooperate.

After capture Emperor's communications hub
6

First pod search begins; beach landing

Accompanied by Thor and Elle, Stella and Akton travel to the calculated location of the first escape pod. They land on a beach and begin the search, discovering no survivors among the wreckage.

After arrival Beach near first pod
7

Amazon fortress confrontation; Corelia's betrayal

Stella meets an Amazonian warrior tribe and is taken to their underground fortress. Elle is ambushed and left for dead, while Queen Corelia, secretly allied with Zarth Arn, confronts Stella. Corelia's treachery becomes clear.

Arrival at pod aftermath Amazon fortress
8

Hostage rescue and robot pursuit

Elle survives and makes her way to the throne room, taking Corelia hostage to force Stella's release. They escape, but Corelia activates a giant robot that pursues them until Akton and Thor arrive to rescue the group.

Escape sequence Amazon fortress throne room
9

Frozen planet betrayal; lockout and rescue

On an uninhabited, frozen planet, Stella and Elle investigate the mothership crash site and find no survivors. Returning to their ship, they discover Thor is a Zarth Arn agent and has locked Stella and Elle outside as the temperature plummets. Elle sustains Stella through the cold, and Akton revives to battle Thor and rescue them.

Night/low temperature Frozen planet surface
10

Third pod approach; cavemen abduct Stella; Simon intervenes

Approaching the planet of the third escape pod, their ship is attacked by the weapon that felled the starship. Stella and Elle are separated and abducted by cavemen. The Emperor's son, Simon, arrives and rescues Stella with lasers; Akton then defeats the cavemen and reveals they are standing on the Count's weaponized planet.

Approach to third pod Planet of weaponized planet
11

Underground lab; Count's trap

The trio is captured in an underground laboratory. Count Zarth Arn reveals his plan to use them as bait to lure the Emperor to the planet, then trigger the weapon's self-destruction to annihilate the Emperor and all three of them. Akton battles the robot golems but is mortally wounded and fades away.

Finale prep Underground laboratory
12

Emperor halts time; escape as planet explodes

The Emperor arrives and fires a green ray from his flagship to stop time for three minutes, allowing Stella, Elle, and Simon to escape as the planet explodes. The miraculous delay buys them a chance to survive the trap.

Three-minute window Underground lab / space vicinity
13

Final space battle and the Floating City attack

A grand battle erupts between the Emperor's armada and the Count's forces. The Emperor orders a daring ramming attack, using the Floating City to strike the Count's space station in a 4D starcrash. Stella and Elle flee aboard the City as it collides with the enemy station.

Climax Space between stations
14

Victory and reunion

Stella and Elle are rescued by Simon and share a moment of relief. The Emperor delivers a victory speech, signaling the galaxy-wide celebration of the triumph.

End Emperor's throne world

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:04

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Starcrash Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Starcrash

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