The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

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An alien lands and tells the people of Earth that we must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets. (imdb)

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Directed By: Robert Wise

Written By: Edmund H. North, Harry Bates

Starring: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe, Billy Gray, Frances Bavier, Lock Martin

Genres: Drama, Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller

Country: USA

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The Day the Earth Stood Still belongs to 69 collections

1. 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (collaborative: moderated by kozan26 - 234 stars)

2. IMDB Top 250 (collaborative: moderated by ppinocchio - 123 stars)

3. Psychotronic Film and Video Guides (collaborative: moderated by Gregzilla - 40 stars)

4. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2008 revision) (collaborative: moderated by Scottathon - 39 stars)

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6. New York Times' The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made (collaborative: moderated by theficionado - 32 stars)

7. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2010 revision) (collaborative: moderated by MMAlpha - 32 stars)

8. National Film Registry (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 30 stars)

9. The Guardian's 1000 films to see before you die (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 30 stars)

10. Passed the Bechdel Test (collaborative: moderated by geohawk - 29 stars)

11. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2014 revision) (collaborative: moderated by Jehan - 27 stars)

12. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2012 revision) (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 25 stars)

13. AAA: Empire's five star movies (collaborative: moderated by KasperL - 24 stars)

14. IMDb Top 250 Complete (collaborative: moderated by Jorg - 23 stars)

15. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2017 revision) (collaborative: moderated by iconogassed - 22 stars)

16. The 100 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 19 stars)

17. They Shoot Pictures' Recommended Viewing (collaborative: moderated by Cinephile - 19 stars)

18. Intellectual Sci-Fi (collaborative: moderated by BeeDub - 17 stars)

19. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2013 revision) (collaborative: moderated by rant1229 - 16 stars)

20. 101 Sci-Fi Movies You Must See Before You Die (collaborative: moderated by von krogh - 15 stars)

21. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2011 revision) (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 14 stars)

22. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2020 revision) (public: djross - 14 stars)

23. Films available in HD (collaborative: moderated by kubricksucks - 13 stars)

24. Aliens (collaborative: moderated by td888 - 12 stars)

25. Cinema Discusso Yearly Consensus (2008) (public: PeaceAnarchy - 10 stars)

26. AFI 100 Most Inspiring Films (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 8 stars)

27. Synth soundtrack or score (collaborative: moderated by Ag0stoMesmer - 8 stars)

28. Netflix USA (public: mpowell - 8 stars)

29. Alien visitation (collaborative: moderated by djross - 7 stars)

30. Big-time Hollywood science fiction (public: djross - 7 stars)

31. Best of Classic Old Hollywood (pre-70s) (collaborative: moderated by 90sCoffee - 6 stars)

32. Top 3000 movies with the most votes on IMDb (public: fanfic - 5 stars)

33. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2007 revision) (collaborative: moderated by Scottathon - 4 stars)

34. Remade (collaborative: moderated by Ag0stoMesmer - 4 stars)

35. Roger Ebert's 102 Films You Must See (public: kevinjoseph - 4 stars)

36. AFI 100 Years... 100 Thrills (collaborative: moderated by iceblox - 3 stars)

37. robots and A.I. (collaborative: moderated by livelove - 3 stars)

38. 100 Recommended Children's Movies (The New York Times Essential Library) (collaborative: moderated by BeeDub - 3 stars)

39. AFI - 10 Top 10 Science Fiction (collaborative: moderated by CCLZA - 2 stars)

40. Robots (collaborative: moderated by mpowell - 1 star)

41. Bernard Herrmann (composer) (collaborative: moderated by djross - 1 star)

42. Cinemag's Best Sci-fi Films (collaborative: moderated by hristos - 1 star)

43. Great Science Fiction Films (collaborative: moderated by PerryStroika - 1 star)

44. AFI - 10 Top 10 (All) (collaborative: moderated by Phantom Nook - 1 star)

45. Golden Age of Sci-Fi and Horror from the 50s and 60s (collaborative: moderated by Dunstan-xxx - 1 star)

46. Moribunny finds this highly overrated (public: Moribunny - 1 star)

47. Filmspotting Ratings Project: Week 10 (public: PeaceAnarchy - 1 star)

48. Movies that are not the only film adaptation of a book/play (public: EbelC - 1 star)

49. IMDb Top 250 (2 years) (public: sianaa - 1 star)

50. Timeout 100 Best Sci-Fi Movies (public: Ozancan - 1 star)

51. Post-Apocalypse (public: normalman - 1 star)

52. Available on Starz (public: Jason212 - 1 star)

53. Top 10 sci-fi films by Guardian (collaborative: moderated by ozleem)

54. Referenced in Archer (2009) (collaborative: moderated by babaracus)

55. TSPDT 2017 new additions (collaborative: moderated by avgcrtckr)

56. Cinemateca - Grandes Géneros: Ficção Científica (collaborative: moderated by pmpfe)

57. Pendientes (public: juglar103)

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59. Owned (DVD) (public: bizarre_eye)

60. 1951: Year in Review (public: polanski28)

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62. Owned Films (public: TheSaberfool)

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64. flogged's 1001 (public: smuhu)

65. Netflix List (public: Walser14)

66. Science Fiction and Fantasy Society (public: BurakOzturk)

67. Kennys Recommendations (public: stalebread)

68. Top 100 (public: juntakinte99)

69. Adaptations (public: Unsaintly)

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All Ratings | With Reviews

Order by:

TCI | Percentile | Date Rated | # Stars (Reviews)

Stars	User	Rating
6	Stain	90 _86th
Classic sf film about how people suck
5	edkrak	30 _13th
"Welcome Earthlings. I come in peace and I demand you to change your whole planet into a repressive police state or you'll be destroyed."
4	Bitch Alert	100 _97th
An exciting look at the UFO and communist paranoia of the 50's from a deliciously ironic perspective - or at least it's possible to interpret as such. Rennie of course makes an iconic performance as Klaatu, and Herrmann's score is absolute perfection. And the BluRay lifts this to all new hights. The movie is still as relevant as ever, and so I have no desire to see the remake. They should've cast Keanu as Gort instead of Klaatu.
3	Hawkins	86 _82nd
I knew this would have classic sound design but I wasn't expecting it to have such a sharp and funny script, real palpable tension, a slew of colorful characters and solid acting to match. Even the kid was believable. The overall message can get irritatingly didactic and patronizing, especially when Klaatu's stance turns to "be peaceful or we will obliterate you", but it really doesn't bother me enough to lose my appreciation.
2	MartinTeller	66 _28th
Don't believe the hype. At the time, I'm sure this was groundbreaking, both in terms of effects and its message. Today it's old hat, in both respects.
2	DavidKahane	87 _79th
Acknowledging that you need to be prepared to roll with fifties sci-fi flicks, accepting the cheesy with the insightful, the original film version is terrifically entertaining. The film proceeds with its topical immersion in the subtext of cold war suspicion and duplicity. Wise builds the film expertly, and Michael Rennie's performance as Klaatu, the interstellar traveler dispatching a stern, benevolent warning, is a tiny marvel of charming oddity.
2	Shmendrek	5 _96th
Remember when science fiction dealt with social themes, and not just contrived battles between apolitical fictional rebels and empires? Although this isn't entirely fair, I can't help but feel this way when I see one of these old sci-fi flicks.
2	recklessmess	84 _83rd
Maybe one day the United States and the Soviet Union will learn to live together. Until that day, we shall all fear Gort.
2	chinster	89 _75th
Good old fashioned Sci-Fi. Its gripping, its tense, and it pulls on my pissed off nerves that successfully makes me lose faith in humanity. The only fault was the one-dimensional portrayal of the people of earth. The solders seem to lack any common sense. Everyone so paranoid. come to think of it, nothing has changed 50 years on.
2	Mechatigger	86 _74th
A surprisingly intense science fiction drama, with excellent production values and just about perfect casting. Thoughtful rather than horrifying, with subtle antifascist hints scattered throughout.
2	overrated	45 _39th
At its heart, it's a competently made, much less entertaining predecessor to Plan 9. The main draw is the iconic UFO landing in front of the White House (and the great Bernard Hermann score), the rest is a bunch of hammy acting and moralizing. Like others have said, I'm sure this was impressive at the height of the Cold War but The Day The Earth Stood Still isn't the sci-fi classic it's cracked up to be.
2	glumpy_99	94 _88th
If ultimately (inevitably?) a little dated, seen in the context of the forefront of 50s sci-fi, this is quite a remarkable achievement, with Wise's command of epic scope film-making evident even confined to Academy ratio! Low-key and believable performances from a fine cast put this yards ahead of more hysterical 50s entries with Rennie's square blockishness a perfect fit for Klaatu; wonderful, iconically creepy score from Herrmann is icing on the cake.
2	TrixRabbi	80 _69th
Even if God himself came down from Heaven and tried to tell us how to live our lives, we still wouldn't listen.
2	Paxton	70 _63rd
Robert Wise. Some of my favorite horror movies. Some of my favorite sci-fi movies. Some of my favorite musicals. What a douchebag.
2	Dullshimmer	95 _82nd
It's interesting to look back on sci-fi movies from years ago. This is a good movie with a message that still resonates today. In fact, the sad truth of the matter is that it may be even more relevant today then when it was first made. Most of the effects even hold up although Gort is probably the weakest link looking a bit like a big plastic/rubber suit. Watching this kind of makes you wish that more movies went for a timeless message, even if heavy handed, than spectacle.
1	whomperize	78 _76th
Way, way ahead of its time. One of the classic sci-fi flicks.
1	irvinejump	80 _84th
A bit dated, but the soundtrack's to die for (oh and the robot's neat as well)
1	TheDiceman	65 _73rd
Science fiction classic.
1	tinythedogg	90 _94th
You know that right from the opening scene, that this was a grand scale movie back in the day, like Indepenedence Day or War of the Worlds, from our time. This is not a cheesy sci fi movie that would expect from that time. Excellent acting and well told story even though the moral is hammered over our heads enough times.
1	Derekstar	90 _85th
A movie about alien first contact, sub-textually about the cold war, sub-sub-textually about pedophilia.
1	angrypierre	83 _81st
Even though the production design and effects are obviously quite dated, it's still a wonderful film. Michael Rennie pulls off a really great performance combining childlike fascination with the Earth and its people with an other-worldly wisdom. The message of the film still rings true, perhaps more than ever. Excellent.
1	Nathan S	4 _74th
The most relevant and well-written of all the cheesy old sci-fi flicks. Yeah there's an annoying child actor, but Michael Rennie more than makes up for it.
1	jeg2	65 _70th
good early Sci-Fi that keeps focused on one message
1	Suture Self	6 _54th
Great sci-fi, although the ending was somewhat disappointing.
1	Tripwyre	75 _68th
I respect the film a lot -- Wise makes strong use of light and shadow, and of course Rennie is excellent as Klaatu -- but it's just so campy and unintentionally hilarious. That might be a reflection of its time (doctors smoking cigarettes), but it's still funny. I saw it in the theatre with friends and we couldn't help but riff on it where appropriate (Klaatu: "One day Bobby I'll tell you about a train that doesn't need tracks." [whistle BTTF theme]). The kid playing Bobby is an absolute riot.
1	Anomaly	77 _66th
Easy to dismiss as hokey and dated, but there's still some real power in the story and its execution. The Bernard Hermann score certainly helps.
1	saucyjack	93 _96th
Absolutely brilliant sci-fi that melds questions about life on other planets and human nature itself. Highly influential and seems to get better with age.
1	jacobkosh	90 _86th
One of the few great genuine science fiction movies.
1	tonydal	100 _99th
"I like you, Mr. Carpenter--you're a real screwball." "I'd never call you a liar."
1	gurpsgm	95 _90th
Michael Rennie provides a dead-on performance as Klaatu, an alien from outer space that visits Earth to deliver a message. Based on the little known story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates, this wonderful period piece still shines today.
1	nandorizzi	85 _88th
This can be considered one of the most important science fictions ever of the cinema. A film that mixes fun with content and owns a timeless message.
1	ktappe	85 _62nd
Great sci-fi that was well ahead of its time, inspired by cold-war fears of the era and wishes that everyone could just get along. Unfortunately it does devolve into chase scenes instead of staying on topic, but it's still worth seeing especially for buffs of the genre.
1	mohan	97 _83rd
A classic - in acting, direction and even in the high quality effects that dont fall off even when u watch it today. Highly recommended.
1	sophie	85 _90th
Definitely did not need a remake. It's a good old classic science fiction piece with a message.
1	Luna6ix	83 _83rd
A classic sci-fi movie, in fact one of the first of it's kind, and still ranks up there with the best.
1	Obdurate	80 _66th
Sure, nowadays the special effects are a little corny, but at the same time, I think they hold up pretty well, all things considered. But that's just a matter of intrigue more than anything, the real meat here is the script, which happens to be quite tense. There's a part early on that was stupid but after that, it became an enthralling tale. Klaatu was perfect.
1	Castroph	8 _85th
The idea that an alien threat would either unite us or destroy us is very compelling and this film shows a questionable representation of that idea. Klaatu barada nikto.
1	Seryxa	50 _67th
Cold-war wish-fulfillment fantasy, impressive rather than exciting but very capably put over with the minimum of trick work and the maximum of sober conviction.
1	fenixdown	63 _22nd
A nerdy anti-war film. Reagan definitely never saw this one.
1	Okkervil	85 _90th
Just great. So much style with a great score and interesting concepts. Superb.
1	mwgerb	63 _73rd
Of the same (moralizing) flavor of other old B-movie sci-fis, but with a step in the right direction. Klaatu's speeches were excellent, and so were the concepts.
1	billkerwin	87 _75th
The first good alien movie--years before E.T. Michael Rennie shines with nobility, and is hands down by favorite visitor from outer space.
1	hellboy76	73 _89th
A very different 50's sci fi film and for that it gets its props. It has a message beyond first contact and invasion that makes it more watchable than almost anything else from the era in this genre.
1	snallygaster	45 _41st
Klaatu's revelation that the Earth has been living under the protection of, and at the mercy of, an all-powerful robotic police force, is actually quite interesting & complex, although the film seems to present it as something whose meaning should be transparently understood.
1	afx237vi	45 _29th
Just too silly. An alien lands on Earth and you stick him in a regular hospital room with no-one guarding the door? And there are a grand total of two people guarding the flying saucer parked in the middle of Washington DC? Hmm. Aside from believability issues, it's also a little sluggish and extremely preachy.
1	damil	75 _81st
To watch and enjoy this one, you've got to be willing to look past its silliness. And it really is quite silly sometimes. Some of the effects are fantastic, some are less so. A lot of the characters are a little unbelievable too. It makes up for its flaws though with the messages it conveys about Earth and the dark and aggressive side of humanity. The fantastic score is also worth mentioning.
1	ribcage	87 _88th
great special effects that have aged decently. classic captivating scifi story.
1	obtiosov	94 _95th
Probably the best SF classic. You can see that this film has created most of the standards that now we take for granted in "threat-coming-from-space" movies: eerie score, ignorant earthlings etc. Also, a bold anti-war narrative for a Holywood film in McCarthy era. Loved it.
1	WulfstanLee	90 _83rd
An enjoyable, well-constructed film. I was amazed by how well the special effects held up today and in HD no less. It's clear the filmmakers didn't try to exceed their technical limitations, which avoided me being taken out of the film like I could be in so many older sci-fi movies. The subtelty of the Christological material was also appreciated, though it might have been even TOO subtle, and Rennie's understated (but fine) acting contributes to that.
1	Trooth	78 _77th
This was really a lot smarter and more tasteful than its poster implies. It's not the most high-concept kind of sci-fi writing, even for its time, but it's the great kind of story that probably influenced other greats, like the original Twilight Zone series.
1	DougieD	80 _54th
Influential 50's Sci-Fi that kept me intrigued up until an unsurprising final act. It is extremely well made for a 50's genre film and has aged better than most films of its time. I enjoyed the performances by Patricia Neal and Michael Rennie.
1	DesertPunk	84 _84th
Astoundingly modern, but is still undeniably laced with atomic paranoia and Cold War fear. If you're looking for 50's sci-fi, you start here.
1	sammington	92 _74th
Though it may be a little out of date message and language wise, this is still one of the best films I've seen. The casting and acting is fantastic, and it is very well written. I'd probably be put off by the religious themes though, if everything else wasn't so great and that Wise said he was originally unaware of the parallels.
1	VengefulKBM	80 _75th
This is a very interesting, entertaining, and still-relevant sci-fi parable about the inherently violent nature of humanity, and the dangers of xenophobia. Some of the acting is a bit hokey, and at times the script becomes a bit too preachy and the allegory laid on too thick. But by and large, The Day the Earth Stood Still deserves its enduring reputation thanks to its self-awareness (especially compared to most of its contemporaries) and its obvious heart.
1	juntakinte99	100 _97th
It does what sci-fi does best: take anxieties of the time by speculating on future uncertainty. The story works well globally--as it wonders how post WW2 issues may erupt into worldwide calamity. But it somewhat misses the mark with the characters as they lack a compelling personal narrative. Still, Wise's direction--especially via production design, acting, montages, and music--is top notch. It makes this film (along with Invasion of the Body Snatchers) perhaps the Citizen Kane of 50's sci-fi.
1	Ceekay19	60 _28th
Reporter: "I suppose you are just as scared as the rest of us." Klaatu: "In a different way, perhaps. I am fearful when I see people substituting fear for reason."

Average Percentile 64% from 2364 Ratings