Dorothy Stratten was murdered by her husband and manager Paul Snider on August 14, 1980, two months after the film's release.

She was twenty years old and had been named Playboy's Playmate of the Year shortly before filming began. Snider's near-constant presence on set caused visible tension that her co-workers noted and could do nothing about.

While the film was in post-production she left Paul Snider for director Peter Bogdanovich and began filming They All Laughed. Much of this is dramatized in Bob Fosse's excellent film Star 80.

GALAXINA (1980) is a low-budget science fiction comedy directed by William Sachs - the same William Sachs who directed The Incredible Melting Man - set in the year 3008, concerning the crew of an Intergalactic Police cruiser on a mission to retrieve a powerful blue crystal.

It parodies Star Trek, Star Wars, and Alien with the enthusiasm of someone who loves all three and the resources of someone who can barely afford a ticket and a bucket of popcorn. The alien planet resembles the American West because Paramount Ranch was available. The Batmobile from the 1966 Batman television series appears in one scene. The laser sound effects were taken from Battlestar Galactica.

Principal photography began January 14, 1980. Severe rainstorms during the shoot caused sets to collapse. Producers cut pages from the script rather than extend the schedule.

The cinematographer was Dean Cundey, who would go on to shoot The Thing, Back to the Future, and Jurassic Park. The special makeup effects were by Christopher Walas, who would later win the Academy Award for The Fly.

The film opened June 6, 1980. The advertising campaign retained the contractually obligated line "And introducing Dorothy Stratten." The Los Angeles Times called it one of the more tasteless ad campaigns in recent memory.