It Came From Outer Space

Play trailer

It Came From Outer Space

G

Released May 25, 1953

1h 21m

Sci-Fi

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

While looking through his telescope one night, John Putnam (Richard Carlson) sees what at first appears to be a meteor shower -- but it is actually a crash-landing alien spaceship! After investigating the crater from the impact, John informs the town sheriff (Charles Drake), and receives nothing but ridicule. Even his fiancée, Ellen (Barbara Rush), is skeptical. All that changes when the townsfolk start disappearing, and are replaced by eerie alien duplicates.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

It Came From Outer Space is a pulpy-but-effective psychological sci-fi picture, with a provocative message about xenophobia.

Read Critics Reviews

Variety

Picture has been smartly fashioned to take advantage of all the tricks of science-fiction and 3-D.

May 29, 2007

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

[A] scary black-and-white SF effort from 1953.

May 29, 2007

Full Review

A.H. Weiler

New York Times

Merely mildly diverting, not stupendous.

Rated: 2.5/5

Oct 31, 2006

Full Review

Alan Jones

Radio Times

The result is an entertaining B-movie that's as good as 1950s science fiction gets.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 13, 2024

Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

A rather simplified Cold War cautionary tale about xenophobia that doesn’t handle itself nearly as well as other classics of its time.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 6, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... one of the more optimistic movies about visitors from the stars, and in its way was an inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s 'E.T.'

Nov 6, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Not awful by 1950's sci-fi standards. The story's by Ray Bradbury and it had to be a sort of influence on "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." There are two "standout" features of this movie: the Gilligan's Island "Professor" Russell Johnson, and Barbara Rush in a push-up bra. Well, make that THREE things!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/17/24

Full Review

Mark L

I was brought up in the era of Star wars, back to the future etc, and i always wanted to see where the directors/writers of said films got their inspiration from. I loved the day the earth stood still, and the day the earth caught fire, but this is great....just a good story. And that is it, if you can tell a good story, that's half the battle. And this one does. Kept me gripped, from start to finish

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/05/24

Full Review

Johnathon W

Classic golden age science fiction story thanks to a solid cast and intelligent story telling. The actors are solid, with Richard Carlson nicely playing the lead John Putnam, a believer in the alien invasion who understands why others don't. He gets nice support from the rest of the cast, especially a luminous Barbara Rush as his girlfriend. Behind the camera, director Jack Arnold crafts the story by Ray Bradbury to perfection, showing both the aliens and humans as neither good or bad, with both making mistakes in their attempts to understand each other. Plus, it's nice to see an alien that truly looks alien. Overall, a classic science fiction movie from the Golden Age.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/24

Full Review

Steve D

OK but it hasn't aged as well as some.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

Full Review

Brian R

Unfortunately this was the colorized mess … absolutely horrible color job … why why why - idiotic waste

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/24

Full Review

Sean D

Trying to solve the mystery with the main character was fun throughout the movie. Great music to the movie. However, the Third act drug out a bit. Good watch!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jack Arnold

Director

Richard Carlson

John Putnam

Barbara Rush

Ellen Fields

Charles Drake

Sheriff Matt Warren

Russell Johnson

George

Kathleen Hughes

Jane

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

It Came From Outer Space: Official Clip - All We Needed Was Time

3:50

It Came From Outer Space: Official Clip - Crash Landing

2:47

It Came From Outer Space: Official Clip - First Contact

2:30

It Came From Outer Space: Official Clip - They'll Be Back

1:06

It Came From Outer Space: Official Clip - Don't Be Afraid

3:09

It Came From Outer Space: Official Clip - Anti-Alien Posse

1:31

It Came From Outer Space: Official Clip - Stalked by Cosmic Evil

2:08

It Came From Outer Space: Official Clip - Alien Avalanche

2:06

It Came From Outer Space: Official Clip - Incognito Abduction

1:13

It Came From Outer Space: Official Clip - Resorting to Violence

1:53

View more videos

The War of the Worlds

89%

71%

The War of the Worlds

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The War of the Worlds

When Worlds Collide

81%

64%

When Worlds Collide

Watchlist

The Day the Earth Stood Still

95%

87%

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Watchlist

Forbidden Planet

94%

85%

Forbidden Planet

Watchlist

Journey to the Center of the Earth

84%

69%

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Razzie Awards 2016 “Winners” Announced

Razzie Awards Nominations 2016

Critics Consensus: Strange Magic is Less Than Enchanting

View more photos

Synopsis

While looking through his telescope one night, John Putnam (Richard Carlson) sees what at first appears to be a meteor shower -- but it is actually a crash-landing alien spaceship! After investigating the crater from the impact, John informs the town sheriff (Charles Drake), and receives nothing but ridicule. Even his fiancée, Ellen (Barbara Rush), is skeptical. All that changes when the townsfolk start disappearing, and are replaced by eerie alien duplicates.

Director: Jack Arnold
Producer: William Alland
Screenwriter: Ray Bradbury, Harry Essex
Distributor: Universal Pictures, GoodTimes Home Video [us], Universal International Pictures
Production Co: Universal International Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 25, 1953, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Runtime: 1h 21m

Most Popular at Home Now