RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / When Worlds Collide
When Worlds Collide

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

When Worlds Collide (1951)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
79 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:19

Fresh:15

Rotten:4

Average Rating:5.9/10

Runtime: 82 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: In this beloved George Pal (WAR OF THE WORLDS)-produced sci-fi classic. A dying star hurls through space on a collision course with Earth, with no way to stop it. The hope of the planet's citizens... In this beloved George Pal (WAR OF THE WORLDS)-produced sci-fi classic. A dying star hurls through space on a collision course with Earth, with no way to stop it. The hope of the planet's citizens lies in the hands of pilot Dave Randall (Richard Derr) and astronomer Doc Hendron (Larry Keating), who will supervise the construction and flight of an interplanetary craft that will carry a handfull of humans to start the race anew on another planet. Academy Award nominations: 2, including Best (Color) Cinematography. Academy Awards: Best Special Effects. [More]

Starring: Richard Derr, Barbara Rush, Larry Keating, Peter Hanson

Starring: Richard Derr, Barbara Rush, Larry Keating, Peter Hanson, John Hoyt, Judith Ames, Stephen Chase, Frank Cady

Director: Rudolph Maté

Director: Rudolph Maté
Producer: George Pal
Composer: Leith Stevens

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Sep 25, 2001

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for When Worlds Collide

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 19 (sorted by critic A-Z)
Text View
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Never mind plot logic, don't think too hard about the 'sci' component of the sci-fi, and certainly keep the unsubtle sociology and Pal's typical Bible-based gloss in perspective. When Worlds Collide remains entertaining and satisfying....

Full Review Source: DVDJournal.com | comment Comment
04/05/06
Mark Bourne
Mark Bourne
DVDJournal.com

Mr. Pal barely gets us out there, but this time he doesn't bring us back.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
03/25/06
Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

When Worlds Collide is sincere, but doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
12/12/01
Kurt Dahlke
Kurt Dahlke
Apollo Guide

A fun, sometimes cheesy descent into apocalyptic nonsense.

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
10/23/01
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

The bottom of the barrel of disaster movies

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
09/21/01
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

Totally outdated by now . . .

Full Review Source: Sci-Fi Movie Page | comment Comment
05/17/04
James O'Ehley
James O'Ehley
Sci-Fi Movie Page

This probably looks about as stodgy now as it did back then.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
06/07/07
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Top honors for this inter-planetary fantasy rest with the cameramen and special effects technicians rather than with performances of the non-name cast.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
06/07/07
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If the naive dramatic situations and trite idealism can be ignored, the viewer is in for an amazing spectacle of special effects.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
06/07/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide

George Pal's production is better remembered for its apocalyptic special effects than for the perfunctory dialogue, but the gripping story keeps you watching.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out

Dated but enjoyable end of the world flick

comment Comment
08/21/02
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

comment Comment
01/19/05
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
07/04/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
09/08/05
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com

No review available.

comment Comment
08/01/03
Tony Toscano
Tony Toscano
Talking Pictures (U.S.)

No review available.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
01/09/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
 
 
1 - 19 (sorted by critic A-Z)
Text View
all

Latest News for When Worlds Collide

March 22, 2006: Classic Sci-Fi Story Goes Universal
Alfred Bester's classic sci-fi novel "The Stars My Destination" has been optioned for the movie treatment by Universal Pictures and producers Lorenzo Di Bonaventura... More...

December 06, 2005: Sommers Collides (again) with "Worlds"
He was on the job once before, left for a better gig, quit that one, and then returned. Filmmaker Stephen Sommers is back on the case to write and direct a remake of "When... More...

October 07, 2005: Sommers Out, Levy In on "Museum"
Since Stephen ("The Mummy") Sommers will be helming the "When Worlds Collide" remake for Paramount, Fox needed someone to step in on their... More...

August 29, 2005: Spielberg to Attack Another Sci-Fi Remake?
Variety reports that Universal's remake of "When Worlds Collide," which was previously penciled in as a Stephen Sommers gig, may actually be directed by Mr. Steven... More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
36% 36% Angels & Demons
95% 95% Star Trek
25% 25% Four Christmases

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
78% 78% The Hangover
49% 49% Taking Woodstock
26% 26% The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
47% 47% The Girl From Monaco

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Sam Worthington

Sam Worthington

A video interview with the Avatar star!

Sorcerer's Apprentice

Sorcerer's Apprentice

Throwing fireballs with Nicolas Cage!

Critics Choice

Critics Choice

Inglourious Basterds storm the awards noms!

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

Inglourious Basterds & The Hangover

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Mila Kunis Talks Aronofsky's Black Swan Source: Collider.com
11
  • Visiting the Set of The Sorcerer's Apprentice Source: ComingSoon.net
7
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
93
  • James Cameron Talks Avatar Sequels Source: Collider.com
8
  • Natalie Portman Will Battle Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Source: Variety
36
  • Marvel Begins Iron Man 2 Viral Campaign Source: Superhero Hype
12
  • Bryce Dallas Howard Talks Spider-Man 4, Terminator, and Twilight Source: ComingSoon.net
45
  • David Lynch Says He Turned Down Return of the Jedi Source: CinemaBlend.com
36
  • Thomas Dolby Starts a Star Wars Rumor Source: Ain't It Cool News
33
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
63
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
232
  • Total Recall: Keith David's Best Movies
81
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
68
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
36
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
31
  • Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms
30
  • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are
29
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Critics Consensus: Princess, Invictus Are Certified Fresh
21
  • Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO!
21
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • When Worlds Collide at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
Best Sci-Fi This Decade
Best Sci-Fi This Decade External Link

Techland lists the best Sci-Fi films of this decade.

40 Worst Films of the 2000s
40 Worst Films of the 2000s External Link

Moviefone takes a look back at the biggest stinkers of the past 10 years.

10 Questions For Zac Efron
10 Questions For Zac Efron External Link

The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.

Best Decade Ever!
Best Decade Ever! External Link

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill offers his thoughts on what the best decade for film was.

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure External Link

In the AV Club's "Scenic Routes," Mike D'Angelo reminisces about the Tim Burton film.

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.