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The War of the Worlds

Play trailer 2:27 Poster for The War of the Worlds G Released Aug 26, 1953 1h 25m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Scientist Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry) and Sylvia Van Buren (Ann Robinson) are the first to arrive at the site of a meteorite crash. Soon after, an alien war machine emerges and begins killing at random. The Marines are called in, but they're no match for the aliens' force field. Forrester and Van Buren, however, are able to wound one of the creatures and procure a sample of its blood. They take it to Los Angeles where they hope, through testing, to be able to discover the aliens' weakness.
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The War of the Worlds

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Critics Consensus

Though it's dated in spots, The War of the Worlds retains an unnerving power, updating H.G. Wells' classic sci-fi tale to the Cold War era and featuring some of the best special effects of any 1950s film.

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Critics Reviews

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Milton Shulman London Evening Standard The War of the Worlds is an impressive and spectacular example of science-fiction hokum with just enough moments of adult horror to merit its "X" certificate. But I shudder to think of what will happen to us should the Martians ever learn to gargle. Aug 6, 2025 Full Review Mildred Martin Philadelphia Inquirer Gaudily dressed in Technicolor, directed with all stops out by Byron Haskin, The War of the Worlds has been equipped by Barre Lyndon with a script Wells would probably be only too anxious to disown were he still around. Aug 6, 2025 Full Review Marjory Adams Boston Globe The War of the Worlds is designed for the credulous, the adolescent and the reader of make-believe "science" fiction. But it also has its moments for those who like to laugh at the strange and weird machinations of the Hollywood script writers. Aug 6, 2025 Full Review John Bustin Austin American-Statesman Though the terrifying effect of the movie version has been somewhat lessened by the frequency of similar interplanetary yarns, it's still a wildly imaginative thing that'll give the science-fiction fans a good workout. Aug 6, 2025 Full Review KC Star Staff Kansas City Star A spine-tingling motion picture with impact. Aug 6, 2025 Full Review Janet Graves Photoplay A chiller that will have movie-goers nervously scanning the sky for flying saucers as they leave the theatre. Aug 6, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

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Joe M Reviewing this in 2025 or it would have been higher, for it's time a classic sci-fi movie based on a radio show. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/11/25 Full Review Blu B A Golden Era Sci-Fi Classic. Best film version of the book by a mile. IT's solidly made all around. That being said it's still not perfect. This is a very plot driven movie 60-65% of the time. And when it sticks to that, it really excels and has a very modern pacing in the sense of nonstop action, tension, and really good special effects that while dated are very clean and fit well. The laser effects and the sounds are cool. It's suprising how much destruction there is in this 90 minute film. It does a great job building tension and feels like a popcorn movie at times. The problem is with the other third of this film when it focuses more on the couple and tries being more character driven. It's just not as strong and feels more like on the filler side. The ending has destruction and all but it becomes more about the couple again and reconiling for the end,, and it....works enough I guess. But I wish it would've led more to a showdown with the aliens like we were led to believe with all the studying and finding the eye and everything. It ends up feeling like it doesn't matter. The first half ends up being stronger because of that but the second is still good. It slows and drags a bit but it's only 90 minutes so it's limited. But it's executed well. I just wish they would've stayed with the plot driven tone the entire way. Anyone who is a fan of the source material, the director, Classic Sci-Fi, or any actors in this should check this out. Seeing this makes me understand the issues the other adaptations have. They try being more character drvien as a big chunk but this material excels way more as a plot driven story. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/08/25 Full Review Hughe J War of the Worlds (1953) is based on the classic novel of the same name by HG Wells. It stars Gene Barry and Ann Robinson and was produced by George Pal. The movie centers around a Martian Invasion of the Earth and how humanity fights back. This movie was a box office success and one of the best science fiction films released in the 50s. The special effects were quite good, the movie was shot incredibly well, and the acting was certainly acceptable. Obviously much of the movie looks dated today but that doesn't take away from the significance this movie had when released. It's a classic sci-fi movie that every fan of the genre should see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/15/25 Full Review thiago s Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas são mais ou menos, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é mais ou menos, os personagens sao fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/28/25 Full Review Mario V Better than Spielberg and Tom Cruise 2005 version! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/06/25 Full Review David S Classic...and the line there at the end having to do with we were all praying for a miracle....still impacts me today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Scientist Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry) and Sylvia Van Buren (Ann Robinson) are the first to arrive at the site of a meteorite crash. Soon after, an alien war machine emerges and begins killing at random. The Marines are called in, but they're no match for the aliens' force field. Forrester and Van Buren, however, are able to wound one of the creatures and procure a sample of its blood. They take it to Los Angeles where they hope, through testing, to be able to discover the aliens' weakness.
Director
Byron Haskin
Producer
George Pal
Screenwriter
Barré Lyndon, H.G. Wells
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
G
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 26, 1953, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 18, 2016
Runtime
1h 25m
Sound Mix
Mono, Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1), 35mm
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