David Bowie Movies

David Bowie's first foray onto the world of film was Nicholas Roeg's The Man Who Fell To Earth in 1976...while he was still committed to Rock music.

Then, in 1980, he signalled that the was taking a far more theatrical approach to his music (see the SNL video on the Scary Monsters review)...in particular, films. Between 1980-1986 Bowie starred in several films and released a number of theme songs to movies and when major recognition as an actor eluded him, he went into hibernation, eventually returning to music.

The films below are those that he starred in...although there were a number of cameos and small roles, as well.

The Man Who Fell To Earth

A bizarre science fiction movie with Bowie as a doomed "starman", who comes to Earth to save his planet but becomes perverted by our sick morality.

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Bowie plays Jack Celliers, a prisoner of war during World war 2, who the Japanese (no pun intended) camp commander becomes infatuated with.

The Hunger

Catherine Deneuve as a vampire and Bowie as her main squeeze. When he starts to age suddenly, she has to find some new blood.

Labyrinth

A fantasy movie for girls and women.

Combine George Lucas, the late Jim Henson Monty Python's Terry Jones and David Bowie...and you have a very interesting mix. Bowie plays the Goblin King and Jennifer Connelly is the young girl who shouldn't have entered his kingdom.

Bowie also played a small role in Absolute Beginners, directed by Julian Temple, a musical that flopped badly even with Bowie providing the same-named theme song...

...and in 1990 he popped up in Mr. Rice's Secret, which seems to have been somewhat controversial...