It Came From Outer Space

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Videos & Photos

  • Trailer 1
  • Trailer for MCA/Universal's Sci-Fi Collection

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Jack Arnold

Producer:

William Alland

Release Date:

May 25, 1953

Runtime:

1hr 21m

Synopsis

A spaceship from another world crashes in the Arizona desert and only an amateur stargazer and a schoolteacher suspect alien influence when the local townsfolk begin to act strangely.

Cast

  • Richard Carlson
  • Barbara Rush
  • Charles Drake
  • Russell Johnson
  • Kathleen Hughes
  • Joe Sawyer
  • Dave Willock
  • Alan Dexter
  • George Eldredge
  • Brad Jackson

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.3
22.9K
14.0K
5.2K
RATINGS 17 FANS
3.3
  • Oct 24, 2025

    Rotten Tomatoes: 81% IMDB: 6.5 77/100 Spooktober 2025 John Putnam: "It wasn't the right time for us to meet. But there'll be other nights, other stars for us to watch. They'll be back." Jack Arnold's It Came from Outer Space is a fascinating relic from the golden age of…

    296 Likes
    NavyVet07🔥🔥🔥
    NavyVet07🔥🔥🔥
    Aug 2, 2020

    You’re a wet blanket if you didn’t enjoy this

    246 Likes
    Wade
    Wade
    Mar 8, 2026

    This precedes Invasion of the Body Snatchers by three years and Jack Finney's novel by more than a year. Ray Bradbury got there first, of course. Feels like an overlooked sci-fi keystone. The Universal Essentials 4K looks terrific.

    209 Likes
    Sean Fennessey
    Sean Fennessey
  •
    Oct 9, 2013

    I love me some 50s Sci-Fi. It came from Outer Space is a classic science fiction film, sporting all the well-known characteristics of a film from this era. The weird music, the clunky line delivery and the overly dramatic acting are all there to enjoy, containing enough to…

    172 Likes
    DirkH
    DirkH
    Feb 3, 2026

    Watched in 3D at the Vogue Theater, San Francisco. The rock slide was my favorite 3D effect, it really seemed like I was gonna get hit! Loved the desert location settings; the 50s cars, trucks, & the open cockpit helicopter (!); the character John’s mid century home; &,…

    149 Likes
    Penny_S
    Penny_S
    Feb 22, 2024

    This whole thing could've been avoided if the aliens had just called their version of Tripple A.. ⚠️🛸⚠️🌎👽☎️🪐 Relevant meme

    123 Likes
    Lou (doesn't rhyme with booh! 👻)
    Lou (doesn't rhyme with booh! 👻)
  •
    Jan 21, 2026

    Has the theremin ever had a prouder moment? It Came From Outer Space features a number of techniques and story elements that defy 1950s sci-fi tropes. For one, it is rare to see a monster or alien in the early stages of these films, but you get a decent look at this alien…

    115 Likes
    Digital Press
    Digital Press
    Aug 9, 2026

    when are you going to stop being a badge and become a human? These 50s B-sci-fi horrors have been hitting a little too differently as of late. I remember it being an aliens-invade-earth story when I watched nearly a decade back... which it is NOT (did i watched a whole…

    88 Likes
    Rocky🕵️🎞️
    Rocky🕵️🎞️
    Aug 29, 2015

    Archetypal 50s scifi like this feels more like a warm blanket to me than any other kind of movie, but even by that cushy standard there's some interesting stuff here. Ray Bradbury's story presents a genuine ethical dilemma based around two imperfect parties: Us, and Them.…

    90 Likes
    Joe
    Joe

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Top Reviews
  • MovieDaddy
    MovieDaddy liked
    It Came from Outer Space

    The FX (albeit in their infancy) aren’t great, but the story and character work is solid. From a sociological standpoint, this is a great story of how mass hysteria can doom us all, despite a voice of reason being ever present.

    2Y
    JDelp87
    JDelp87 liked
    It Came from Outer Space

    Good sci-fi flick for its time. A little campy, plays up on the UFO craze of the 50s. Quick and effective alien invasion romp.

    8M
    CvptvinHowdy
    CvptvinHowdy liked
    It Came from Outer Space

    Awwww man, you know it's gonna be good just by the title, and then the music kicks in!

    1Y
  • Jen
    Jen liked
    It Came from Outer Space

    So that’s where the classic alien theme song came from

    1Y

Atom Users Reviews

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Metacritic

68
metacritic
Based on 10 Critics
tbd

USER SCORE (0)

There are no user reviews yet
88

Inspired by an outline by Ray Bradbury and modified for the screen by Harry Essex, It Came From Outer Space remains the granddaddy of the ’50s atomic-scare pictures.

Metacritic review by Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Came From Outer Space (1953) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as G (General Audiences), so all ages are admitted.
How long is It Came From Outer Space (1953)?
The movie is 1hr 21min long.
What's It Came From Outer Space (1953) about?
A spaceship from another world crashes in the Arizona desert and only an amateur stargazer and a schoolteacher suspect alien influence when the local townsfolk begin to act strangely.
Who's the cast of It Came From Outer Space (1953)?
  • Richard Carlson as John Putnam
  • Barbara Rush as Ellen Fields
  • Charles Drake as Sheriff Matt Warren
  • Russell Johnson as George
  • Kathleen Hughes as Jane
  • Joe Sawyer as Frank Daylon
  • Dave Willock as Pete Davis (uncredited)
  • Alan Dexter as Dave Loring (uncredited)
  • George Eldredge as Dr. Snell (uncredited)
  • Brad Jackson as Bob, Dr. Snell's assistant (uncredited)
Who's the director behind It Came From Outer Space (1953)?
Jack Arnold directed It Came From Outer Space (1953).
Who produced It Came From Outer Space (1953)?
William Alland produced It Came From Outer Space (1953).