The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961): cast, story & where to watch
1961 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 1961, The Day the Earth Caught Fire is a drama, romance and science fiction film directed by Val Guest, running about 98 minutes. “The INCREDIBLE becomes Real! The IMPOSSIBLE becomes Fact! The UNBELIEVABLE becomes True!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. British reporters suspect an international cover-up of a global disaster in progress... and they're right. Hysterical panic has engulfed the world after the United States and the Soviet Union simultaneously detonate nuclear devices and have caused the orbit of the Earth to alter, sending it hurtling towards the sun.
Who’s in it. The Day the Earth Caught Fire stars Janet Munro as Jeannie Craig, Leo McKern as Bill Maguire, Edward Judd as Peter Stenning and Michael Goodliffe as Jacko Jackson the Night Editor, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, The Day the Earth Caught Fire has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Philo, YouTube TV, Fandor Amazon Channel and BFI Player Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Day the Earth Caught Fire page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Day the Earth Caught Fire tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961)?
- In US, The Day the Earth Caught Fire is available to stream on Philo, YouTube TV and Fandor Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Day the Earth Caught Fire worth watching?
- The Day the Earth Caught Fire holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, romance and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Day the Earth Caught Fire?
- The Day the Earth Caught Fire stars Janet Munro, Leo McKern, Edward Judd, Michael Goodliffe and Bernard Braden.
- When was The Day the Earth Caught Fire released?
- The Day the Earth Caught Fire was released in 1961, with a runtime of about 98 minutes.