Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Sci-fi drama

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) movie poster

The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 1951 sci-fi drama directed by Robert Wise, starring Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe and Michael Rennie. It is partly based on Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $651 worldwide. It won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Promoting International Understanding at the Golden Globes 1952. Critics gave it 83 on Metacritic.

worldwide gross
$651
award won
1
Metascore
83
Loading streaming availability…
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 32m (92 min)
Director
Robert Wise
Genres
Sci-Fi , Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Day the Earth Stood Still About?

The premise of The Day the Earth Stood Still without spoilers, adapted from Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

An alien visitor named Klaatu arrives on Earth, sending the planet into a state of panic and confusion. Governments struggle to respond as scientists attempt to understand his purpose. Dr. Helen Benson and her stepson find themselves at the center of the unfolding events, trying to interpret Klaatu's ambiguous message of peace and the potential consequences for humanity. The arrival sparks global unrest and forces a reckoning with the future of humankind.

Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

The Day the Earth Stood Still Cast

Patricia Neal leads the cast, with Hugh Marlowe and Michael Rennie. Directed by Robert Wise; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Day the Earth Stood Still

· 6 more
From the director

More from Robert Wise

More films directed by Robert Wise, best-rated first: The Sound of Music, The Haunting, The Body Snatcher and Run Silent Run Deep.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Day the Earth Stood Still Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Day the Earth Stood Still 83 on Metacritic.

Plot

The Day the Earth Stood Still Plot Summary

What happens in The Day the Earth Stood Still from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1928, a lonely mountaineer, while adventuring through the majestic Karakoram mountains in India, comes across a mysterious glowing sphere. This fateful encounter leads to the man losing consciousness, and when he regains his senses, the sphere has vanished, leaving behind a peculiar scar on his hand that signifies an otherworldly experience.

Full summary

The whole story of The Day the Earth Stood Still, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Day the Earth Stood Still Box Office

The Day the Earth Stood Still grossed $651 worldwide.

1951 box office

Worldwide gross

$651

Awards

The Day the Earth Stood Still Awards & Nominations

The Day the Earth Stood Still won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Promoting International Understanding at the Golden Globes 1952.

1 win2 nominations1 ceremony

  • Golden Globe Awards logo
    Golden Globes 1952 1 win · 2 nominations
    • Won Promoting International Understanding – Robert Wise
    • Nominated Best Music, Original Score — Motion Picture
Videos

The Day the Earth Stood Still Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser and 1 featurette.

The Day The Earth Stood Still Trailer 1951
  • Trailer The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Trailer
  • Teaser The Day the Earth Stood Still ≣ 1951 ≣ Teaser
  • Featurette Mick Garris on THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Day the Earth Stood Still?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

In what year does the mountain climber's encounter with the glowing sphere take place?

Cars

Cars in The Day the Earth Stood Still

66 cars on screen, including the 1949 Dodge Meadowbrook and the 1951 Ford Custom.

All 66 cars
  • 1949 Dodge Meadowbrook in The Day the Earth Stood Still 1949 Dodge Meadowbrook Important role
  • 1951 Ford Custom in The Day the Earth Stood Still 1951 Ford Custom Important role
  • 1944 Cadillac M24 Chaffee in The Day the Earth Stood Still 1944 Cadillac M24 Chaffee Minor role
  • 1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster in The Day the Earth Stood Still 1947 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Minor role
Details

The Day the Earth Stood Still Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “Ultimátum a la Tierra” and “El día que paralizaron la Tierra”.

Also known as
  • Ultimátum a la Tierra
  • El día que paralizaron la Tierra
  • Der Tag, an dem die Erde stillstand
  • Ultimatum alla Terra
  • Dünyanın Durduğu Gün
  • Le Jour où la terre s'arrêta
  • O Dia em que a Terra Parou
  • День, когда Земля остановилась
  • Όταν Η Γη Σταματήσει...
  • A nap, mikor megállt a Föld
  • Mannen från Mars
  • Den dag jorden stod stille
+14 more
  • 地球の静止する日
  • Den, kdy se zastavila Země
  • היום בו עמדה האדמה
  • 지구 최후의 날
  • Ultimàtum a la terra
  • Dzień, w którym zatrzymała się Ziemia
  • Денят, в който Земята спря
  • День, коли Земля зупинилась
  • 地球停转之日
  • El día que la tierra se detuvo
  • Dan kad je Zemlja stala
  • Uhkavaatimus Maalle
  • Deň, keď sa zastavila Zem
  • Ngày Trái Đất Ngừng Quay

Seen The Day the Earth Stood Still?

From the blog

Articles About The Day the Earth Stood Still

Our article about The Day the Earth Stood Still: “How Sci-Fi Films Predict and Influence the Future”.

FAQ

The Day the Earth Stood Still FAQ: Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Day the Earth Stood Still, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Day the Earth Stood Still?

The Day the Earth Stood Still runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).

When was The Day the Earth Stood Still released?

The Day the Earth Stood Still was released on September 20, 1951.

Who directed The Day the Earth Stood Still?

The Day the Earth Stood Still was directed by Robert Wise.

More films by Robert Wise

Who is in the cast of The Day the Earth Stood Still?

The Day the Earth Stood Still stars Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe and Michael Rennie, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Day the Earth Stood Still make at the box office?

The Day the Earth Stood Still grossed $651 worldwide.

How is The Day the Earth Stood Still rated?

The Day the Earth Stood Still has 83 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.

Is The Day the Earth Stood Still based on a book?

Yes. The Day the Earth Stood Still is partly adapted from Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates.

What awards did The Day the Earth Stood Still win?

The Day the Earth Stood Still won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Promoting International Understanding at the Golden Globes 1952.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app