<Li> Dick Rude and Chris Pedersen as Stockboys </Li> <Li> Marc Poppel as Danny Mason Keener / DMK </Li> <P> When writing the script, director Thom Eberhardt wanted to merge the idea of strong female protagonists with his love of post-apocalyptic films set in empty cities . For the women, he was inspired by Ginger Rogers . Further inspiration came from real - life teenage girls whom he met while filming PBS specials . Without telling the girls details about the script's premise, he asked them to describe how they would react to an apocalyptic event . The girls saw the scenario as an exciting adventure and only saw a downside to the experience when Eberhardt brought up the subject of dating . Using their answers, Eberhardt wrote the script to be lighthearted and adventuresome . Eberhardt initially had trouble convincing the studio to let him direct it, but they relented when he held out, as Atlantic Releasing Corporation was looking to immediately invest $700,000 . Atlantic also wanted to capitalize on the success of their 1983 hit Valley Girl and the popularity of quirky drive - in films like Repo Man . The producers, Andrew Lane and Wayne Crawford, clashed with Eberhardt during filming; Eberhardt would later say that they did not understand the film and resented being assigned to such a low - budget B movie . Early in the production, they attempted to have him replaced . Regardless, Eberhardt praised their producing skill and said the film could not have been made without their help . Heather Langenkamp auditioned for the role of Samantha "Sam" Belmont and was the number one choice on the casting list but the part ultimately went to Kelli Maroney . </P> <P> Atlantic released Night of the Comet in the US on November 16, 1984, earning $3,580,578 in its opening weekend, coming in at third place . It stayed in theaters for six weeks and grossed $14,418,922 total in the US . The film is also noted as one of the first mainstream films to carry the MPAA PG - 13 rating . </P>

Night of the comet widescreen full movie 1984