Editing Stargate (film) (section)

===Critical response===
{{Main|Stargate fandom}}
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 53% based on 51 reviews, and an average rating of 5.4/10. The site's critics consensus states: "''Stargate'' has splashy visuals and James Spader to recommend it, but corny characterization and a clunky script makes this a portal to ho-hum."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stargate/ |title=''Stargate'' (1994) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=July 26, 2024}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 42 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/stargate |title=''Stargate'' Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Paramount Streaming|CBS Interactive]] |access-date=March 22, 2018}}</ref> At [[Movie Review Query Engine]] (MRQE), which assigns a [[Standard score|normalized rating]] to mainstream critics, the film holds a score of 64 out of 100 based on 95 reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrqe.com/movies/m100046681 |title=Stargate |website=MRQE |access-date=January 15, 2011}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Stargate" in the search box|website=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref>

Most of the negativity focused on what was criticized as overuse of special effects, thinness of plot, and excessive use of [[cliché]]s. [[Roger Ebert]] went so far as to say, "The movie ''[[Ed Wood (film)|Ed Wood]]'', about the worst director of all time, was made to prepare us for ''Stargate''". Ebert awarded the film one out of four stars and, even over 10 years later, ''Stargate'' remained on his list of most-hated films.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 28, 1994 |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=Stargate |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/stargate-1994 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |access-date=April 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=August 11, 2005 |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=Ebert's Most Hated |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/eberts-most-hated |website=RogerEbert.com}}</ref> Mike DiBella from ''Allmovie'' said, "There simply isn't enough spectacle in ''Stargate'' to make up for its many flaws."<ref>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=DiBella |url=https://www.allmovie.com/work/stargate-132284/review |title=Stargate |website=Allmovie |access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref> The film peaked at number one on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' chart ''Top Video Rentals'' on April 29, 1995.<ref>{{cite book |title=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5AsEAAAAMBAJ |date=April 29, 1995 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media}}</ref>

The positive reviews stated that it was an "instant camp classic" and praised the film for its special effects and entertainment value,<ref>{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Farber |url=http://www.movieline.com/reviews/stargate_rvw.shtml |title=StarGate |website=MovieLine |access-date=August 22, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040221035710/http://www.movieline.com/reviews/stargate_rvw.shtml |archive-date=February 21, 2004}}</ref> with Chris Hicks of the ''[[Deseret News]]'' calling it "''[[Star Wars]]'' meets ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben Hur]]''".<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Hicks |url=http://deseretnews.com/movies/view/1,1257,1736,00.html |title=Movie review: Stargate |work=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City |date=October 28, 1994 |access-date=August 22, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105014132/http://deseretnews.com/movies/view/1,1257,1736,00.html |archive-date=November 5, 2006 }}</ref> Scott McKenzie from DVDactive said, "It's a shame because the world created around the ''Stargate'' is compelling and detailed. It's almost enough to make me want to watch the [[Stargate SG-1|TV series]], but not quite."<ref name="reviewone">{{cite web |first=Scott |last=McKenzie |url=http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/stargate-special-edition.html |title=Stargate: Special Edition (UK - BD RB) |website=DVDactive.com |access-date=April 3, 2009 }}</ref>