The NeverEnding Story
A boy who needs a friend finds a world that needs a hero in a land beyond imagination!
1984 • 101 min • Adventure · Fantasy · Family
Synopsis
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.
Our family guide
Best from age 7- 100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
- 72 Audience · 4444 · 49%
A lonely boy discovers a magical book about the land of Fantasia, which is slowly being consumed by a force called The Nothing. He finds himself drawn into the story as a young warrior embarks on a quest to save his world, encountering fantastical creatures and challenges along the way.
- Violence & peril
- 3/10
- Language
- 1/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 0/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 0/10
- Scary moments
- 4/10
Heads up
- Some peril and sad moments
- Fantastical creatures can be intense
What it models well
- Courage in the face of despair
- The power of imagination
- The importance of stories
Talk about it after
- How stories can change us
- Facing your fears
- Helping others who are different from you
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The NeverEnding Story. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Free with ads
- The Roku Channel
- YouTube Free
- Plex
- Tubi TV
The Roku Channel
YouTube Free
Plex
Tubi TVRent
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeBuy
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.
Top billed cast
Director: Wolfgang Petersen • Crew: Wolfgang Petersen, Herman Weigel
Noah Hathaway
Atreyu
Barret Oliver
Bastian
Tami Stronach
The Childlike Empress
Alan Oppenheimer
Rockbiter / Falkor / G'mork / Narrator (voice)
- S
Sydney Bromley
Engywook
Patricia Hayes
Urgl
Moses Gunn
Cairon - Empress' Servant
Frank Lenart
Teeny Weeny / Night Hob (voice)
- R
Robert Jadah
Morla the Ancient One (voice)
Gerald McRaney
Bastian's Father
Trailers & clips
NEVERENDING STORY miniature effects
Atreyu Kills Gmork
Artax Dies and Meeting Morla
40th Anniversary Limited Edition 4K Trailer
Full Movie Preview
40th Anniversary Spot
Ways The NeverEnding Story Is Different From The Book
Original Trailer
Reviewer notes
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersA fantasy flick of real quality! I got to watch this at the cinema thanks to its release as part of its 40th anniversary, the second movie I've seen re-released on the big screen after <em>'Trainspotting'</em> back in May. That Danny Boyle flick from 1996 is great, as is this Wolfgang Petersen feature from 1984. I wasn't sure what to expect, I only knew of its genre and that famous theme song. One of the fir...
RecommendedI remember seeing this film when I was young - spurred on by the Limahl theme song that was in the charts at the time, and rather enjoying it. Based on just the first half of Michael Ende's original novel, it's a gentle fantasy tale of a young boy - "Bastian" (Barret Oliver) - who is being bullied by three classmates. When one day he seeks refuge in a bookshop, the owner shows him a mysterious book that he "borrow...
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 7.2/10 (4,444)
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $27,000,000
- Box office
- $20,158,808
- Franchise
- The NeverEnding Story Collection
- IMDb
- tt0088323
