Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- irreverent
- witty
- awkward
- lazy weekend
- teen comedy night
What critics said
Critics found Molly Shannon's energetic performance and occasional jokes appealing, but broadly regarded the feature as uneven, thinly scripted, and overly reliant on an abrasive central character.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mary Katherine Gallagher's grandiose self-belief, abrasive manner, and desire for popularity drive nearly every comic situation.
Mary Katherine treats the school talent contest as her major route to becoming a superstar and kissing Sky.
Mary Katherine's prayers and conversations with Jesus, played by Will Ferrell, make faith imagery part of the film's broad comic texture.
Mary Katherine's prayers, fantasies, and conversations focus on super-stardom as the solution to her isolation and romantic frustration.
Films like Superstar, and why
Never Been Kissed
school-set gross-out comedy centered on an eccentric outsider pursuing popularity and romance
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
high-energy teen comedy driven by social status, absurd humor, and an unlikely romantic goal
Wayne's World
Saturday Night Live adaptation with broad character comedy and an unconventional protagonist seeking acceptance
Napoleon Dynamite
oddball adolescent comedy balancing exaggerated performance, outsider identity, and sentimental ambition
Movie Details
- Director
- Bruce McCulloch
- Release Date
- 1999-10-08
- Runtime
- 82 min
- Rating
- 5.3 / 10 (330)
Cast
- Molly Shannon
- Will Ferrell
- Elaine Hendrix
- Harland Williams
- Mark McKinney
- Glynis Johns
- Jason Blicker
- Gerry Bamman
- Emmy Laybourne
- Jennifer Irwin
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Superstar about?
- An eccentric high-school outsider turns a talent contest into her wildly overconfident campaign for fame, acceptance, and a kiss from the school’s dream boy.
- What is Superstar like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Superstar as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Superstar violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Superstar.
- What did critics think of Superstar?
- Critics found Molly Shannon's energetic performance and occasional jokes appealing, but broadly regarded the feature as uneven, thinly scripted, and overly reliant on an abrasive central character.
- Which films are like Superstar?
- Films with a similar feel include Never Been Kissed, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, Wayne's World, and Napoleon Dynamite.
- How long is Superstar?
- Superstar runs 82 minutes.
- Where can I watch Superstar?
- In United States, Superstar is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
