Forbidden Planet (1956)

Find Movie Theaters & Showtimes

for
near
in

We didn't find this title in your area

Browse Local Theaters

Videos & Photos

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Fred M. Wilcox

Producer:

Nicholas Nayfack

Writer:

Cyril Hume, Irving Block, Allen Adler

Release Date:

Mar 15, 1956

Runtime:

1hr 38m

Synopsis

A starship crew in the 23rd century goes to investigate the silence of a distant planet's colony, only to find just two survivors, a powerful robot, and the deadly secret of a lost civilization.

Cast

  • Walter Pidgeon
  • Anne Francis
  • Leslie Nielsen
  • Warren Stevens
  • Jack Kelly
  • Richard Anderson
  • Earl Holliman
  • George D. Wallace
  • Robert Dix
  • Jimmy Thompson

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.6
77.4K
38.1K
18.7K
RATINGS 268 FANS
3.6
  • Nov 17, 2014

    While a contemporary audience might dismiss the now hokey-appearing charms of Fred M. Wilcox's "Forbidden Planet," that audience would be overlooking a science fiction classic that is a true document of its time. With its zithering, atonal music score; colorful,…

    498 Likes
    Travis Lytle
    Travis Lytle
    Jun 19, 2015

    Every damn time. Every damn time I re-watch Forbidden planet, and the first act unfolds, I question how I consistently give this sci-fi classic four stars. I appreciate it’s complete cheesiness, how the Electronic Tonalities set the stage for aural sci-fi cues for the…

    426 Likes
    Jonathan White
    Jonathan White

    not enough robby

    417 Likes
    megan
    megan
  •
    Apr 21, 2016

    Space Pilot: "Hey pops, something came on our ship last night and killed one of our dudes!" Space Scientist: "Let me explain." *serious voice* "Please examine all these sweet alien gadgets we found on this planet." Space Pilot: "Dang, this is some dank extraterrestrial…

    262 Likes
    ScreeningNotes
    ScreeningNotes
    Mar 23, 2013

    Can you imagine how insanely awesome it would be if someone today were to take the most futuristic, avant garde music they could find and apply it to highly stylized images and effects in service of a story that leans heavily on contemporary psychology to express concern…

    262 Likes
    laird
    laird
    May 12, 2026

    A colony has gone silent on the distant planet Altair IV. A starship crew, led by Commander Adams (Leslie Nielsen), is sent out find out why. They arrive to find only two survivors and a highly advanced Robot named Robby. Soon, Adams and his crew find themselves being…

    227 Likes
    David Whitman
    David Whitman
  •
    Sep 26, 2026

    It’s all in here.

    213 Likes
    Sean Fennessey
    Sean Fennessey
    Jan 11, 2023

    very comfy movie. i like when leslie nielsen vaporizes a tiger

    173 Likes
    cameron fetter
    cameron fetter

    I just love the film actually credited the robot as a cast member... not the voice actor, but the robot itself... ----------------------------------- Perhaps one of the greatest landmarks in sci-fi cinema history, almost right of the get-go you could see the footprint…

    148 Likes
    Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine
    Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine

Queue Community Reviews

89%
Community 433
❤️ LOVE
35%
👍 LIKE
54%
😐 MEH
10%
👎 DISLIKE
1%
Top Reviews
  • Iso
    Iso loved
    Forbidden Planet

    9/10 I saw this in the cinema tonight and it was spectacular!! The special effects, the humor, and the plot all hold up fairly well to this day. I thoroughly enjoyed this, though the audio was a bit heavy handed with the “sci-fi” noises that hurt my eardrums (autism).

    3Y
    James New
    James New liked
    Forbidden Planet

    Pastel and retro sci-fi film with immense historical importance and influence. I love the design of everything, particularly the planet and the robot. The final battle is entertaining as hell and the goofy blasters are great. Sound design and score are fantastic too

    2Y
    Scott Damuth
    Scott Damuth loved
    Forbidden Planet

    If you love sci fi, this one is the gold standard. Historically one of the best space sci fis ever made. All the elements of a great movie are there. Wish I could see it again for the first time. Probably watched it a dozen times with different people.

    1Y
  • Platypus Lord
    Platypus Lord liked
    Forbidden Planet

    Enjoyable classic sci-fi movie with great production design and interesting adaptation of The Tempest. Good theme and moral of self-control and the possible evils lurking in the human heart.

    3Y
    kenzie a
    kenzie a is "meh" on
    Forbidden Planet

    i only remembered this existed to logged i watched it because it was mentioned LOL all i remember is the Tiger and that silly robot guy - watch date approx

    9M
    Jennifer Facenda
    Jennifer Facenda liked
    Forbidden Planet

    A lot like Star Trek, old cheesy sci-fi goodness. Though it could’ve done without the misogyny. Enjoyed the soundtrack by Bebe and Louis Barron.

    4Y
  • Moviegoer
    Moviegoer loved
    Forbidden Planet

    Should be shown in every film study/history class. A staple of the sci-fi B movie era. Leslie Nielsen and Walter Pidgeon are fantastic.

    1Y
    hanne
    hanne is "meh" on
    Forbidden Planet

    rating: 🛸🛸 men will terrorize the planet with their Id monster instead of let people in

    2Y
    CvptvinHowdy
    CvptvinHowdy is "meh" on
    Forbidden Planet

    These old '50s sci-fi movies are usually in my ballpark, but this didn't pull me in much

    2Y

Atom Users Reviews

5.0
1
0
0
0
0

Reviews

  • RR
    Robert Robert

Metacritic

80
metacritic
Based on 15 Critics
7.7

USER SCORE (6)

Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Reviews
91

Here was outer space as only the lavish production values of MGM could imagine it, a journey to an alien landscape painted in bold Eastmancolor and stretched across a CinemaScope frame.

Metacritic review by Keith Phipps
Keith Phipps
The A.V. Club
70

Even as the SF cliches fall fast and heavy, this is great to look at, thanks to the sumptuous MGM sets and the fine animation and matte work by Walt Disney Studios.

Metacritic review by Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
80

The film's amazing strengths easily outweigh the odd outbreak of hammery.

Metacritic review by Adam Smith
Adam Smith
Empire

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Forbidden Planet (1956) (1956) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as G (General Audiences), so all ages are admitted.
How long is Forbidden Planet (1956) (1956)?
The movie is 1hr 38min long.
What's Forbidden Planet (1956) (1956) about?
A starship crew in the 23rd century goes to investigate the silence of a distant planet's colony, only to find just two survivors, a powerful robot, and the deadly secret of a lost civilization.
Who's the cast of Forbidden Planet (1956) (1956)?
  • Walter Pidgeon as Dr. Morbius
  • Anne Francis as Altaira Morbius
  • Leslie Nielsen as Commander Adams
  • Warren Stevens as Lt. 'Doc' Ostrow
  • Jack Kelly as Lt. Farman
  • Richard Anderson as Chief Quinn
  • Earl Holliman as Cook
  • George D. Wallace as Bosun
  • Robert Dix as Crewman Grey
  • Jimmy Thompson as Crewman Youngerford
Who's the director behind Forbidden Planet (1956) (1956)?
Fred M. Wilcox directed Forbidden Planet (1956) (1956).
Who produced Forbidden Planet (1956) (1956)?
Nicholas Nayfack produced Forbidden Planet (1956) (1956).