Buzz
Sci-fi in the 1950s is often remembered for its lack of refinement. Many of these films were dismissed as low-budget filler. However, amidst the flood of absurdity, some filmmakers made genuine attempts to produce thoughtful and dramatic works. Though the science presented in these films is mostly outdated or implausible today, their effort to present serious stories or explore deep themes set them apart. The alien invasion films listed here are considered some of the best ever, as they approached their subject matter with intelligence instead of relying on sensationalism. (And no, *The Time Machine* didn’t make the cut because it was released in 1960.)
10. Riders to the Stars (1954)
Distinguished from the typical alien or monster invasion stories, this obscure film focuses on the challenges of humanity’s first manned space missions. The plot revolves around three daring attempts to capture meteorites for research purposes, with tragic outcomes. This was made before Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet Union's first astronaut, made his historic journey into space.
Purchase the DVD on Amazon
9. Spaceways 1953
This British film, which deals with the concept of the first manned spaceships, takes spaceflight as a given and centers more on character development than on the technical aspects of space travel.
Order the DVD on Amazon
8. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea 1954
Walt Disney’s take on the classic Jules Verne novel remains unmatched in terms of its film adaptation. It’s not solely due to the epic battle with the giant squid, but rather because of Disney’s portrayal of Captain Nemo and the iconic submarine, the Nautilus.
Purchase the DVD on Amazon
7. Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1955
The original version of this alien-invasion story, where extraterrestrials replace humans, is regarded as one of the top 10 greatest sci-fi films of all time by the American Film Institute. (Personally, I lean towards the later remake with Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, and Leonard Nimoy.)
Purchase the DVD on Amazon
6. Journey to the Center of the Earth 1959
Another adaptation of a Jules Verne novel, this whimsical James Mason film approached sci-fi as an awe-inspiring discovery, rather than something to fear, like extraterrestrials and monsters.
Purchase the DVD on Amazon
5. Destination Moon 1950
This George Pal-directed movie offers a realistic portrayal of space travel, highlighting the challenges like fuel consumption. (A similar take was offered by the 1950 film Rocketship X-M.)
Purchase the DVD on Amazon
4. The Day the Earth Stood Still 1951
Will Keanu’s CGI-driven environmentalist remake surpass the original? Time will tell, but the classic version presents a forceful alien demanding humanity end all war — or face dire consequences.
Buy the DVD at Amazon
3. Forbidden Planet 1956
A smart retelling of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” Forbidden Planet features Leslie Nielson — in a dramatic role — battling wits with a mentally unstable scientist. It’s arguably the best of all the serious sci-fi movies made between 1936’s Things to Come and 1977’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This movie assumes audience intelligence, and plays up the science. Also notable for predicting that greater computer power = bigger computers, which is quite the opposite of what actually happened, of course. Nevertheless, it’s quite thrilling to watch the scene where the commander and the scientist walk through the immense super-computer.
Buy the DVD at Amazon
2. The War of the Worlds 1953
This B-movie remains the definitive adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel, far outshining the chaotic and illogical Tom Cruise-Steven Spielberg film from a few years ago. The 1953 version stands as one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, without question.
Purchase the DVD on Amazon
1. When Worlds Collide 1951
Based on the captivating novel of the same name, George Pal’s *When Worlds Collide* has always been one of my personal favorites. Forget about the inconsistent science; it’s the storyline that truly makes this movie shine. While it differs slightly from the book (with the addition of a wealthy tycoon trying to buy his way onto the only rocket leaving Earth), *When Worlds Collide* is a fantastic and (he says with a wink) emotionally charged thrill ride.
Purchase the DVD on Amazon
+ The Blob 1958
*The Blob* is a 1958 American independently made horror/science-fiction film about a giant amoeba-like alien that terrorizes the small town of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. It wasn’t until Steve McQueen rose to fame with the TV series *Wanted: Dead or Alive* that the film gained popularity at drive-in theaters. Today, it’s recognized as a quintessential 1950s American sci-fi/horror film. This film makes the list as a bonus because I adored it as a kid in the ’80s, and I had to include it, even though it’s more satire than a ‘serious’ film.
Purchase the DVD on Amazon. This article is licensed under the GFDL, as it includes quotations from Wikipedia.
