10 Fascinating and Unbelievable Facts About Plan 9 From Outer Space

Regardless of its reputation, Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) has been both ridiculed and revered as “the ultimate so-bad-it’s-good film.” Detractors often highlight its laughable script and low-budget effects, yet these very elements have earned it a dedicated fanbase. Ed Wood, the writer-director, poured his heart into the project, once declaring, “Plan 9 is my greatest achievement.” After Wood’s death in 1978, the film gained unexpected fame—though not in the way he might have imagined. 

1. IT MARKED BELA LUGOSI’S FINAL FILM ROLE.

Ed Wood, a devoted admirer of Bela Lugosi, cast the legendary actor in 1953’s Glen or Glenda and later in 1955’s Bride of the Monster. For his next project, Wood envisioned Lugosi as the star once more. At the residence of Tor Johnson, a Swedish wrestler and Bride of the Monster alum, Wood filmed a series of short scenes featuring Lugosi. Some claim these were meant for Plan 9, while others argue they were for an abandoned project titled The Vampire’s Tomb. Tragically, Lugosi passed away from a heart attack on August 16, 1956, before the footage could be used. Determined to honor his idol, Wood incorporated all existing Lugosi clips into Plan 9 from Outer Space.

2. A CHIROPRACTOR STEPPED IN AS LUGOSI’S STAND-IN.

After Lugosi’s passing, production on Plan 9 from Outer Space resumed in full swing. To fill the void left by Lugosi, Wood enlisted chiropractor Tom Mason as his replacement. While Mason was taller than Lugosi, Wood attempted to conceal this by having him slouch. Mason kept his face hidden under a cape throughout his scenes, ensuring continuity.

3. THE MOVIE’S INITIAL TITLE WAS CONSIDERED OFFENSIVE.

Originally titled Grave Robbers from Outer Space, the film’s premise involved aliens resurrecting the dead to attack humanity. However, J. Edward Reynolds, the primary financier and a devout Southern Baptist, found the title blasphemous. Wood renamed it Plan 9 from Outer Space to appease him. To further strengthen ties with Reynolds, Wood underwent a full-body baptism at his church. Several cast members followed suit, including Tor Johnson, who playfully feigned drowning during the ceremony.

4. SOME EDITIONS OF THE FILM REVEAL A BOOM MIKE’S SHADOW IN THE BACKGROUND.

By Edward D. Wood, Jr. (Restored DVD.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

As expected, Plan 9 is riddled with mistakes. For instance, the cemetery scenes feature unstable plywood tombstones that shake visibly. However, not all errors can be blamed on Wood’s crew. In one early scene, protagonist Jeff Trent, a pilot, is nearly blinded by a sudden flash of light while flying. Observant viewers might spot the shadow of a boom microphone on the cockpit wall and Trent’s co-pilot holding a script. These issues emerged during the film’s conversion to TV and video formats, as neither the script nor the microphone shadow were visible in the original theatrical release. The aspect ratio adjustments inadvertently exposed these flaws.

5. THE FLYING SAUCERS WERE ACTUALLY MODEL KITS.

Contrary to rumors that Wood crafted his budget-friendly UFOs from hubcaps or pie tins, the spaceships were simply UFO model kits purchased from a hobby store. These DIY saucers were part of a 1956 product line by toy maker Paul Lindberg. 

6. MAILA NURMI (AKA VAMPIRA) INSISTED ON HAVING NO LINES.

Plan 9 boasts unforgettable lines such as “Future events like these will impact you later” and “All you Earthlings are fools!” (Take that, Shakespeare!) However, the film’s most iconic figure remains completely silent. Maila Nurmi, TV’s original horror host, rose to fame as “Vampira” on Los Angeles’ KABC. Her eerie yet captivating persona drew massive audiences in the 1950s. In Plan 9, Nurmi portrays a reanimated corpse, but unlike her talkative Vampira, this character never speaks. Nurmi later revealed that Wood initially provided her with dialogue, but she found it unsatisfactory and chose to remain silent instead. 

7. TOR JOHNSON’S FAKE SCARS KEPT SHIFTING POSITIONS.

After Inspector Clay (Johnson) meets his demise, his reanimated, disfigured body terrorizes unsuspecting police officers. Makeup artist Harry Thomas applied gruesome fake bruises for these scenes. “We used cotton, spirit gum, and collodion to create the scars on Tor’s face,” Thomas explained in the 1992 documentary Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The ‘Plan 9’ Companion. “You have to be cautious because collodion can cause burns, especially if applied repeatedly to the same spot.” Throughout filming, Thomas adjusted the scars’ placement to avoid injuring Johnson’s skin.   

8. FANS TOOK NEARLY 40 YEARS TO IDENTIFY THE SCORE’S COMPOSERS.

Like many low-budget films of the 1950s, Plan 9 from Outer Space lacks an original score. Instead, it features a patchwork of stock music. Music supervisor Gordon Zahler compiled the soundtrack on a tight budget but neglected to credit the composers. For years, their identities remained unknown. In the early 1990s, historian Paul Mandell delved into archives and uncovered the origins of most tracks used in the film. Among them was Trevor Duncan’s “Grip of the Law,” which serves as the energetic theme for the opening credits.

9. GREGORY WALCOTT’S SCRIPT NOW ADORNS A RESTROOM.

Initially, Gregory Walcott, who portrayed Jeff Trent, had no interest in Plan 9. “The script was nonsensical and incoherent,” the actor recalled. Despite his reservations, Walcott eventually joined the project. He never anticipated that Plan 9 would define his career. “I’ll be remembered not for my substantial roles in films by John Ford or Steven Spielberg, but as the star of what many consider the worst movie ever made,” Walcott expressed in 1998. However, he grew to embrace the film. He even made a cameo in Tim Burton’s Ed Wood (1994). Later, in 2013, he contributed pages from his original Plan 9 script to decorate the men’s restroom at the Plan 9 Alehouse, a brewery in Escondido, California.

10. A MAIL-IN CONTEST SAVED THE MOVIE FROM OBLIVION.

In 1978, critics Harry and Michael Medved co-authored The Fifty Worst Films Of All Time. While the book was successful, many readers disagreed with their list. A staggering 393 fans wrote to the Medveds, questioning why Plan 9 from Outer Space was excluded. “We were overwhelmed by the backlash,” Harry said. “People were furious, asking, ‘How could you leave out Plan 9? What were you thinking?!’”

The Medveds made amends in their follow-up book, The Golden Turkey Awards (1980), which celebrated B-movies. They held a contest asking readers to vote for the worst film ever made. Over 3000 ballots were submitted, and Plan 9 won by a huge margin. The Medveds crowned it “the worst movie ever made,” a title that ironically propelled the film to cult fame.

Before The Golden Turkey Awards brought it into the spotlight, Plan 9 from Outer Space had largely flown under the radar. Suddenly, it gained a massive cult following. Even popular TV shows like Seinfeld referenced it, with a 1991 episode featuring Jerry’s excitement to attend a screening. “This isn’t ‘Plans One Through Eight from Outer Space,’” he quips to Elaine. “This is Plan 9—the one that succeeded. The worst movie ever made!”