The War of the Worlds (1953): cast, story & where to watch
1953 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1953, The War of the Worlds is an action and science fiction film directed by Byron Haskin, running about 85 minutes. “Mighty panorama of Earth-shaking fury as an army from Mars invades!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The residents of a small town are excited when a flaming meteor lands in the hills, until they discover it is the first of many transport devices from Mars bringing an army of invaders invincible to any man-made weapon, even the atomic bomb.
Who’s in it. The War of the Worlds stars Gene Barry as Dr. Clayton Forrester, Ann Robinson as Sylvia Van Buren, Lewis Martin as Pastor Dr. Matthew Collins and Les Tremayne as Maj. Gen. Mann, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The War of the Worlds has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can 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 War of the Worlds page.
If you liked it. Fans of The War of the Worlds 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.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The War of the Worlds (1953)?
- In US, The War of the Worlds is available to 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 War of the Worlds worth watching?
- The War of the Worlds holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The War of the Worlds?
- The War of the Worlds stars Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Lewis Martin, Les Tremayne and Frank Kreig.
- When was The War of the Worlds released?
- The War of the Worlds was released in 1953, with a runtime of about 85 minutes.