The Day the Earth Stood Still

Play trailer

The Day the Earth Stood Still

G

1951

1h 32m

Sci-Fi

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

111 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When a UFO lands in Washington, D.C., bearing a message for Earth's leaders, all of humanity stands still. Klaatu has come on behalf of alien life who have been watching Cold War-era nuclear proliferation on Earth. But it is Klaatu's soft-spoken robot Gort that presents a more immediate threat to onlookers. A single mother and her son teach the world about peace and tolerance in this moral fable, ousting the tanks and soldiers that greet the alien's arrival.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Socially minded yet entertaining, The Day the Earth Stood Still imparts its moral of peace and understanding without didacticism.

Read Critics Reviews

Jack Karr

Toronto Star

Jan 16

Like other pictures of its type, The Day the Earth Stood Still puts quite a strain on credulity... but it has its fascination nonetheless.

Go to Full Review

William Hogan

San Francisco Chronicle

Jan 16

Rennie, who portrays a missing superhuman, actually is a well-balanced human type with powers far superior to any possessed by earth men.

Go to Full Review

Mildred Martin

Philadelphia Inquirer

Jan 16

Well directed by Robert Wise, sensibly played by Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Billy Gray, Sam Jaffe and Hugh Marlow, The Day the Earth Stood Still is more believable than most of these shiver science shockers.

Go to Full Review

Joshua Tyler

Giant Freakin Robot

Jun 23

The movie’s only reason for existing is to convince Americans to give up their autonomy to a higher, collectivist power.

Go to Full Review

Province Staff

The Province (Vancouver)

Apr 14

Weirdness and excitement are employed by director Robert Wise to make his audience feel as well as see the frightening pandemonium that grips the world.

Go to Full Review

Mel Hayes

Toledo Blade

Jan 16

Although some persons, no doubt, will feel the fantasy is a bit too fantastic for their tastes, many will find it gives their blood pressure just the proper pick-up.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Dane B

@Bobsyouruncle145 Jul 21

A great, thought provoking movie.

See more

Ivan W

@Washpangold Mar 1

My favorite science fiction film. Great story and acting. The special effects are dated, but the film has great integrity. The message is put across well. The later remake has much better effects but has not got the character of this original. Plenty of suspense and action that moves along and shows up mankind's arrogance towards other life!

See more

B B

@RT12001991 Dec 1

My all time favorite movie. That sums it up...

See more

john b

@RT57721896 Sep 12

One of my favorites. It's message of world peace still applies. Even though the giant robot never speaks, he is terrifying.

See more

Eye C

@ECinc Aug 19

A sci-fi classic from the 50s, I really enjoy this movie, and having the opportunity to watch it in the big screen is great.

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 07/07/2025

Success in 1 hour and 32 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Robert Wise

Director

Michael Rennie

Klaatu

Patricia Neal

Helen Benson

Hugh Marlowe

Tom Stevens

Sam Jaffe

Prof. Jacob Barnhardt

Billy Gray

Bobby Benson

When Worlds Collide

81%

64%

When Worlds Collide

Watchlist

It Came From Outer Space

81%

56%

It Came From Outer Space

Watchlist

The War of the Worlds

89%

71%

The War of the Worlds

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The War of the Worlds

Forbidden Planet

92%

85%

Forbidden Planet

Watchlist

The Time Machine

77%

80%

The Time Machine

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The 20 Most Groundbreaking Sci-Fi Movies From 20th Century Fox

Pacific Rim: Uprising Might Be Too Intense for Kids, so Here Are Three Robot-Themed Alternatives

New Certified Fresh Movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime: E.T., Indiana Jones, Superman, and More

Top 5 Freshest Giant Movie Robots

2:07

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

When a UFO lands in Washington, D.C., bearing a message for Earth's leaders, all of humanity stands still. Klaatu has come on behalf of alien life who have been watching Cold War-era nuclear proliferation on Earth. But it is Klaatu's soft-spoken robot Gort that presents a more immediate threat to onlookers. A single mother and her son teach the world about peace and tolerance in this moral fable, ousting the tanks and soldiers that greet the alien's arrival.

Director: Robert Wise
Producer: Julian Blaustein
Screenwriter: Harry Bates, Edmund H. North
Distributor: CBS/Fox, 20th Century Fox, Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox
Rating: G
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 1951, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 18, 2012
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.37:1)