Alien Attack (1980): cast, story & where to watch
1980 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 1980, Alien Attack is a drama and science fiction film directed by Lee H. Katzin, running about 104 minutes. “The ultimate space-age disaster ... and a desperate struggle for survival” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Earth's Moon is the site of Moonbase Alpha, a scientific research colony nestled in the crater Plato. Staffed by over 300 men and women from Earth, it is the operations center for several space expeditions. It is also a watchdog for vast amounts of atomic waste from Earth stored in silos on the Moon's far side. Magnetic radiation builds up and causes the wastes to explode with such force that the Earth's centripetal pull on the Moon is overcome, and the Moon is broken free of Earth's orbit to drift at incredible speed out of the Solar System off the plane of the ecliptic. The survivors on Moonbase Alpha are unable to return to Earth and must survive in unknown space on their wandering Moon. They encounter a planet whose advanced people project an illusion of a devastating attack on Moonbase. This TV movie was edited from scenes of two episodes ("Breakaway" and "War Games") of "Space: 1999" (1975).
Who’s in it. Alien Attack stars Martin Landau as Commander John Koenig, Barbara Bain as Doctor Helena Russell, Barry Morse as Professor Victor Bergman and Nick Tate as Captain Alan Carter, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, Alien Attack has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Alien Attack page.
If you liked it. Fans of Alien Attack tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Alien Attack (1980)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Alien Attack change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Alien Attack worth watching?
- Alien Attack holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Alien Attack?
- Alien Attack stars Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Barry Morse, Nick Tate and Roy Dotrice.
- When was Alien Attack released?
- Alien Attack was released in 1980, with a runtime of about 104 minutes.