20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)

78% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(2,710 ratings)

One of special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen's pre-Seventh Voyage of Sinbad efforts, 20 Million Miles to Earth borrows a few pages from King Kong. An American spaceship crashlands off the coast of Sicily. The rescue party discovers that the astronauts have inadvertently brought back a curious… More One of special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen's pre-Seventh Voyage of Sinbad efforts, 20 Million Miles to Earth borrows a few pages from King Kong. An American spaceship crashlands off the coast of Sicily. The rescue party discovers that the astronauts have inadvertently brought back a curious gelatinous mass from the planet Venus. This lump of goo rapidly evolves into be a living reptilian creature, which scientists label an "Ymir". While being subjected to laboratory experimentation, the Ymir begins growing by leaps and bounds, and before long the gigantic monstrosity has escaped and is wreaking havoc in Rome. After battling a zoo elephant and taking a swim in the Tiber, the gargantuan creature holes up in the Colosseum, where the film's pyrotechnic finale occurs. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 22 min.
Directed By: Nathan Juran
Written By: Robert Creighton Williams, Christopher Knopf
Genres: Horror, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Sep 6, 1957 Wide
On DVD: Jul 31, 2007
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Rob Humanick, Suite101.com
The lead actor looks a little like Steve Martin, which got me to thinking that digitally inserting that comedian could make something out of this imploded building of a movie.
Jason Morgan, Filmcritic.com
Aside from over-interpreting the monster movie's politics, there's no denying that the true star of 20 Million Miles to Earth is clearly animator Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion monster.
James O'Ehley, Sci-Fi Movie Page
Ah, the 'Fifties - even its movie monsters were indeed kindler and gentler than our own era's . . .
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
As in the best of Harryhausen's creations, the creature from outer space has an endearing personality that comes through its skittish movements and uncomprehending face.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Nathan Juran's film differs from most sci-fi monster movies of the period in that the monster shows up early and often.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Ymir vs. the Elephant? Ya gotta love it!
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Sony Pictures has released an extremely well endowed two-disc DVD set to mark the 50th anniversary of 20 Million Miles to Earth.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
A King King knock off, and one that's highlighted by some awesome creature special effects.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
20 Million Miles to Earth gave no boost to the development of genre movies. It did, though, further the evolution of Harryhausen's skill and artistry, not to mention his presently exalted position as his films' auteur.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
This 2007 two-disc DVD edition's ... restored and enhanced original version makes a worthwhile upgrade if you already own the flat-screen 'Ray Harryhausen Signature Collection' DVD that's still in print from 2002.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Nifty effects and the usual 1950s sci-fi acting
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This is special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen's baby.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

The biggest misconception about "Ray Harryhausen movies" is that people are under the impression that he was the sole creative driving force behind them when all he did was the special and mechanical effects. There are very few times when a film he works on turns out to be… More
The biggest misconception about "Ray Harryhausen movies" is that people are under the impression that he was the sole creative driving force behind them when all he did was the special and mechanical effects. There are very few times when a film he works on turns out to be good. 20 Million Miles to Earth falls somewhere in between and winds up just being mediocre. The story itself is pretty silly and boring for the most part, mainly because there isn't any real tension for the characters other than the fact that there is a monster on a rampage. In other words, a lack of drama. Actually this movie reeks of King Kong, without being quite as good. There's some excellent camera work and some very good stop motion (as per usual), but the boring story doesn't save it. See it to see Harryhausen's work on display, which goes back to my original point about why people remember these films. His work is the most impressive thing about them.
AJ V

A strange creature comes 20 million miles to Earth, obviously. This movie was okay, it has some great clay animation, but the story is kind of silly.
Randy T

A great watch, not so much for the story as for the fantastic animation compliments of legendary Ray Harryhausen.
Cindy I

One of the better giant monster movies to come out of the 1950's, with truly excellent work by Ray Harryhausen. An egg is brought back from a space mission to Venus. It hatches out a creature that's part man, part lizard and growing at an alarming rate, from the size of a… More
One of the better giant monster movies to come out of the 1950's, with truly excellent work by Ray Harryhausen. An egg is brought back from a space mission to Venus. It hatches out a creature that's part man, part lizard and growing at an alarming rate, from the size of a house cat to the size of a full-grown gorilla overnight. It eventually becomes Godzilla-sized, and begins terrorizing Rome, and the military is forced to take action. Performances by the cast are just standard, but some good action sequences.
Eduardo T

A wise man once told me that you should rate classic films as if it was back then. Well, back then this still was horrible. Even thought it's no longer intense and thrilling that doesn't mean It was good back then just because of intensity and thrills. What about the other… More
A wise man once told me that you should rate classic films as if it was back then. Well, back then this still was horrible. Even thought it's no longer intense and thrilling that doesn't mean It was good back then just because of intensity and thrills. What about the other techs like acting and writing. This film had a weak script. There was no character development or dept. It started off to fast. I felt nothing for the characters and they where put in the film just to have an excused to have a monster terrorize the town. The plot was also really weak. They added a romance but did absolutely nothing with it. Why not just take the romance part out. The action scenes where really boring and unrealistic. I know this was made in the late fifties but that's no excused. I did like the stop motion especially between the monster and the elephant. But the extra thrills just where missing. If you like these types of films then just watch the classic King Kong, after all this was inspired by it.
Jojo S

Five words: Venusian having a post-menstrual syndrome.