Plan 9 From Outer Space

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Plan 9 From Outer Space

1957

1h 19m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

38 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Residents of California's San Fernando Valley are under attack by flying saucers from outer space. The aliens, led by Eros (Dudley Manlove) and his assistant, Tanna (Joanna Lee), intend to conquer the planet by resurrecting corpses in a Hollywood cemetery. The living dead -- a cape-wearing ghoul (Bela Lugosi), a vampire (Vampira) and a slow-footed cop (Tor Johnson) who was killed for his nosiness -- stalk curious humans who wander into the cemetery looking for evidence of the UFOs.

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Critics Consensus

The epitome of so-bad-it's-good cinema, Plan 9 From Outer Space is an unintentionally hilarious sci-fi "thriller" from anti-genius Ed Wood that is justly celebrated for its staggering ineptitude.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Aug 29, 2016

Wood lacked both the dramatic sense to unfold his speculations in action and the technique (as well as the money) to embody, in any plausible way, his spectacular fancies, but their crude approximations vibrate with his stifled exaltation.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Mar 28, 2007

J. Hoberman of the Village Voice has made a case for Wood as an unconscious avant-gardist; there's no denying that his blunders are unusually creative and oddly expressive.

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Derek Adams

Time Out

Feb 9, 2006

It all ends with famous psychic Criswell asking the audience, 'Can you prove it didn't happen? God help us in the future'. Prophetic.

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James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Nov 1, 2021

1/4

I have seen high school productions with better (and more professional) acting.

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Josiah Teal

Film Threat

May 11, 2021

10/10

I genuinely love this film and, with complete conviction, believe everyone should see this. It is so bad that it's flawless.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Apr 23, 2014

3/4

What distinguishes Plan 9 from the other contenders for worst film of all time is the movie's brazen sense of confidence.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 11, 2026

A Movie that's so bad its good.

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Harrison C

@QwopEX Aug 10, 2026

a movie so bad that it’s actually extremely funny.

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Joel H

@786Joel Jun 16, 2026

My friends, Plan 9 from Outer Space is a bad movie. But, my friends, there’s also an odd charm to this bizarre experiment in filmmaking. Despite the cheap sets, poor lighting, sloppy editing, confusing storyline, and bad acting, there’s an earnestness that is poured into this film. And you almost want to applaud Ed Wood for his effort. Almost. But it’s still a lousy movie, and it feels much longer than it is. And so, my friends, if you do choose to watch Plan 9 from Outer Space, I implore you to watch it with some humorous companions or with Rifftrax to make the experience altogether more enjoyable.

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Rio P

@Ericraymond111 Jun 7, 2026

So bad its good movie

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MovieGuy 2

@PorkChopExpressProductions Apr 15, 2026

Quite possibly the ultimate so bad it’s good movie, Plan 9 from Outer Space is the type of movie that is so inept and incompetent on every level to the point it’s also immensely entertaining to watch. A Bela Lugosi stand in for the Dracula character covering his face with the cape? Check. UFOs held by noticeable strings? Check. Tor Johnson as an inspector who becomes a lumbering undead zombie? Check. Flimsy cardboard sets, visible boom mics, an actor clearly reading from the script in the cockpit scene, an incoherent plot, awkward dialogue, bad acting, and unintentionally hilarious moments? Oh yeah. Definite check. But one thing’s sure. Inspector Clay is dead. Murdered. And somebody’s responsible!

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Guillermo A

@Guillermo.Almeida Jan 19, 2026

Perfect in its own way.

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Edward D. Wood Jr.

Director

Bela Lugosi

Ghoul Man

Vampira

Vampire Girl

Tor Johnson

Insp. Dan Clay

Gregory Walcott

Jeff Trent

Mona McKinnon

Paula Trent

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Synopsis

Residents of California's San Fernando Valley are under attack by flying saucers from outer space. The aliens, led by Eros (Dudley Manlove) and his assistant, Tanna (Joanna Lee), intend to conquer the planet by resurrecting corpses in a Hollywood cemetery. The living dead -- a cape-wearing ghoul (Bela Lugosi), a vampire (Vampira) and a slow-footed cop (Tor Johnson) who was killed for his nosiness -- stalk curious humans who wander into the cemetery looking for evidence of the UFOs.

Director: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Producer: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Screenwriter: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Distributor: Distributors Corporation of America Inc.
Production Co: Reynolds Pictures Inc.
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 1957, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 26, 2011
Runtime: 1h 19m
Sound Mix: Mono

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