The Last Starfighter

The Last Starfighter is a 1984 space-themed movie.

It is notable as the last film in which Robert Preston (notable for his appearance in the 1957 musical The Music Man and its 1962 film adaptation) appeared. Wil Wheaton, better known as Wesley Crusher in the Star Trek franchise, has a credited role.

In the movie, Alex Rogan lives in a trailer park with his mother and younger brother. Having been rejected for a college scholarship, he is unhappy with his going nowhere existence. His entire life consists of his relationship with Maggie Gordon and playing the trailer park's sole video arcade game "Starfighter", in which the player defends "The Frontier" against the enemies Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada.

After finally achieving the high score on Starfighter, Alex is approached by "Centauri" who offers him a ride for his achievement. Alex learns that the arcade game is actually an elaborate recruiting tool by the Rylan Star League (of which Rylos is the main planet) to find and develop actual Starfighters (Centauri is actually criticized for placing a game on Earth, as humans were not considered to have "the gift" of becoming Starfighters) to defend it against the Ko-Dan Empire, led by Xur (a Rylan who has turned traitor against his people); the Frontier is an elaborate force field which Xur has given the Ko-Dan the ability to breach. During their discussion, Beta (an android) assumes the role of Alex on Earth.

Alex wants nothing to do with the conflict (after seeing a Rylan spy publicly executed by Xur) and demands to be returned home; Centauri complies but gives him contact info if he decides to change his mind. Upon return Alex discovers Beta and demands Centauri retrieve him, which he does at the same time Alex and Beta are attacked by a member of the Zando-Zan (an ally of the Ko-Dan). Centauri informs Alex that the Zando-Zans have plans to attack Earth and the only way to save his planet is to embrace his role as a Starfighter, which Alex agrees.

Meanwhile, Beta has trouble keeping up his impersonation of Alex, especially around Maggie. Ultimately he reveals the truth when he discovers the Zando-Zan have set up a communication center on Earth near the trailer park, the two are able to destroy it though at the cost of Beta's life.

Alex is able to destroy the mother ship of the Ko-Dan, earning the title of savior of Rylos, and is invited to rebuild the Star League, which he agrees. Maggie joins him, while his younger brother is inspired to play Starfighter and become one himself.