The Day the Earth Stood Still

Play trailer

The Day the Earth Stood Still

G

Released Sep 18, 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

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

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.

Rated: A-

Dec 12, 2008

Full Review

Bill Weber

Slant Magazine

Iconic from the get-go.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 2, 2008

Full Review

Michael Booth

Denver Post

The Day the Earth Stood Still may at first look like goofy, outdated science fiction, but its timeless warnings about violence, nuclear confrontation and the difficulties of policing the planet have made it an enduring cultural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.

Oct 5, 2007

Full Review

David Parkinson

Radio Times

Wise slickly blends the docudramatic and the melodramatic without ever lapsing into pomposity or hysteria.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 13, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It's as much Christ parable as science fiction film... yet its message is delivered less like a sermon than a threat.

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Mark R. Leeper

Mark Leeper's Reviews

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.

Rated: 6/10

Feb 14, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Nancy L

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/25

Full Review

Alejandro E

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

Full Review

Jason W

Very good considering it's year of release. Great fx for its time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

Full Review

David S

Tremendous. A film I grew up with and people my father's age. Sam Jaffe scenes are awesome.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/01/25

Full Review

Teddy B

Disquieting and charming in equal measure, 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' stands still as an immortal classic in science-fiction.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/25

Full Review

Jim P

This is still a good movie, full of suspense. But it shows its age in many ways.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/24/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Robert Wise

Director

Michael Rennie

Klaatu

Patricia Neal

Helen Benson

Hugh Marlowe

Tom Stevens

Sam Jaffe

Prof. Jacob Barnhardt

Billy Gray

Bobby Benson

When Worlds Collide

81%

64%

When Worlds Collide

Watchlist

It Came From Outer Space

81%

55%

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

94%

85%

Forbidden Planet

Watchlist

The Time Machine

76%

80%

The Time Machine

Watchlist

Discover more movies and 온라인카지노추천 shows.

View More

Top 5 Freshest Giant Movie Robots

2:07

View more videos

View more photos

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