Common Sense Media Review
Sci-fi comedy has violence, language, sexual references.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Galaxy Quest
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Based on 15 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a hilarious parody that mixes comedy and sci-fi elements, making it enjoyable for older children and tweens despite containing some inappropriate moments. While the humor and adventure are praised, some reviews note concerns about mild language, scary content, and brief exposure to revealing outfits that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
- funny parody
- family fun
- mild language
- some scary moments
- suitable for tweens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In sci-fi spoof GALAXY QUEST, Tim Allen, Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Daryl Mitchell, and Tony Shalhoub play washed-up stars of a cheesy Star Trek-like show that ended nearly 20 years ago. When a group of aliens asks for their help, believing the reruns they've seen are real, the TV stars find themselves on a real-life replica of their TV spaceship in a real-life confrontation with a lizard-looking tyrant. But can they use their knowledge of past episodes to help defeat him?
Is It Any Good?
Sharply written and performed, this hilarious romp affectionately skewers TV sci-fi, its stars, and its fans. Galaxy Quest's creative premise leads to hilarious lines and situations that play on both Star Trek and the actors' hang-ups. For example, Rickman's Spock/McCoy-hybrid character stares glumly at his alien gill make-up in the mirror and murmurs about the time he got five curtain calls as Richard III. Weaver, who plays a counterpart of Lt. Uhura, repeats everything the computer says. And Shalhoub, as the spaceship's Scotty-like mechanic; Mitchell, as the smart child star reliving the glory of his youth; and Sam Rockwell, as the imperiled expendable officer, also deliver hilarious lines.
The fast, fresh script is full of humor, but its attempts to poke fun at stereotypes never really land. It is, however, a terrific premise that unreels in a tightly constructed farce that's filled with surprises. Perhaps the biggest one is that we really come to care about the characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about which TV shows and movies Galaxy Quest is spoofing. Is it funny even if you haven't seen the original titles it's based on?
What are some of the movie's messages? What do you think the characters learn along the way?
Did you notice any stereotypes in the film? Do you think the film challenges them, or plays into them?
How is teamwork valued in the film? How does Tim Allen's character, in particular, change to discover this?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 21, 1999
- On DVD or streaming : May 2, 2000
- Cast : Alan Rickman , Sigourney Weaver , Tim Allen , Tony Shalhoub
- Director : Dean Parisot
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Adventures
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some action violence, mild language and sensuality
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate