Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Play trailer Poster for The Day the Earth Stood Still G 1951 1h 32m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 59 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
When a UFO lands in Washington, D.C., bearing a message for Earth's leaders, all of humanity stands still. Klaatu (Michael Rennie) has come on behalf of alien life who have been watching Cold War-era nuclear proliferation on Earth. But it is Klaatu's soft-spoken robot Gort that presents a more immediate threat to onlookers. A single mother (Patricia Neal) and her son teach the world about peace and tolerance in this moral fable, ousting the tanks and soldiers that greet the alien's arrival.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Socially minded yet entertaining, The Day the Earth Stood Still imparts its moral of peace and understanding without didacticism.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films 12/12/2008
A-
More thoughtful and restrained than most sci-fi of the period, The Day the Earth Stood Still has aged better than almost all of its peers. Go to Full Review Bill Weber Slant Magazine 12/02/2008
3.5/4
Iconic from the get-go. Go to Full Review Michael Booth Denver Post 10/05/2007
The Day the Earth Stood Still may at first look like goofy, outdated science fiction, but its timeless warnings about violence, nuclear confrontation and the difficulties of policing the planet have made it an enduring cultural classic. Go to Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times 09/13/2024
5/5
Wise slickly blends the docudramatic and the melodramatic without ever lapsing into pomposity or hysteria. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 09/08/2023
It's as much Christ parable as science fiction film... yet its message is delivered less like a sermon than a threat. Go to Full Review Mark R. Leeper Mark Leeper's Reviews 02/14/2021
6/10
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL is a sentimental favorite among Fifties science fiction films. It is certainly good but not nearly as good as its reputation would make it. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
B B 5d My all time favorite movie. That sums it up... See more john b Sep 12 One of my favorites. It's message of world peace still applies. Even though the giant robot never speaks, he is terrifying. See more Eye C Aug 19 A sci-fi classic from the 50s, I really enjoy this movie, and having the opportunity to watch it in the big screen is great. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 7 Success in 1 hour and 32 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Nancy L Apr 25 Wonderful movie, and my all time favorite. Watched it when I was 12 or 13, and memorized the message from Klaatu, as I could possibly help save earth from destruction. Klaatu barada nikto. Absolutely recommend this movie, skip the remake. Pop some popcorn and enjoy. See more Alejandro E @Alex970 Mar 23 The film that became the cornerstone of the science fiction genre. Despite being nearly 80 years old, the story of a pacifist alien, as well as the special effects, both still look fresh and current. See more Read all reviews
The Day the Earth Stood Still

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Robert Wise

Director

Michael Rennie

Klaatu

Patricia Neal

Helen Benson

Hugh Marlowe

Tom Stevens

Sam Jaffe

Prof. Jacob Barnhardt

Billy Gray

Bobby Benson

More Like This

View All
When Worlds Collide 81% 64% When Worlds Collide Watchlist It Came From Outer Space 81% 56% It Came From Outer Space Watchlist The War of the Worlds 89% 71% The War of the Worlds Watchlist TRAILER for The War of the Worlds Forbidden Planet 92% 85% Forbidden Planet Watchlist The Time Machine 76% 80% The Time Machine Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Top 5 Freshest Giant Movie Robots Top 5 Freshest Giant Movie Robots 2:07 View more videos
View All

The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When a UFO lands in Washington, D.C., bearing a message for Earth's leaders, all of humanity stands still. Klaatu (Michael Rennie) has come on behalf of alien life who have been watching Cold War-era nuclear proliferation on Earth. But it is Klaatu's soft-spoken robot Gort that presents a more immediate threat to onlookers. A single mother (Patricia Neal) and her son teach the world about peace and tolerance in this moral fable, ousting the tanks and soldiers that greet the alien's arrival.
Director
Robert Wise
Producer
Julian Blaustein
Screenwriter
Harry Bates, Edmund H. North
Distributor
CBS/Fox, 20th Century Fox, Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
G
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 18, 1951, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 18, 2012
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.37:1)
Most Popular at Home Now