The Phantom Empire (1935): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1935, The Phantom Empire is an action, science fiction, music and western film directed by B. Reeves Eason, running about 245 minutes. “A Nation 20,000 Feet Underground” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. When the ancient continent of Mu sank beneath the ocean, some of its inhabitant survived in caverns beneath the sea. Cowboy singer Gene Autry stumbles upon the civilization, now buried beneath his own Radio Ranch. The Muranians have developed technology and weaponry such as television and ray guns. Their rich supply of radium draws unscrupulous speculators from the surface. The peaceful civilization of the Muranians is corrupted by the greed from above, and it becomes Autry's task to prevent all-out war, ideally without disrupting his regular radio show.

Who’s in it. The Phantom Empire stars Gene Autry as Gene Autry, Frankie Darro as Frankie Baxter, Betsy King Ross as Betsy Baxter and Dorothy Christy as Queen Tika, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.4/10, The Phantom Empire has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Phantom Empire page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Phantom Empire tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.