Plan 9 from Outer Space (1956)

66% of critics liked it
(32 reviews)
45% of users liked it
(23,208 ratings)

With its incoherent plot, jaw-droppingly odd dialogue, inept acting, threadbare production design, and special effects so shoddy that they border on the surreal, Plan 9 From Outer Space has often been called the worst movie ever made. But it's an oddly endearing disaster; boasting genuine enthusiasm… More With its incoherent plot, jaw-droppingly odd dialogue, inept acting, threadbare production design, and special effects so shoddy that they border on the surreal, Plan 9 From Outer Space has often been called the worst movie ever made. But it's an oddly endearing disaster; boasting genuine enthusiasm and undeniable charm, it is the work of people who loved movies and loved making them, even if they displayed little visible talent. In Plan 9, alien invaders attempt to conquer the world by raising the dead, starting with an old man dressed in a Dracula costume (Bela Lugosi, in a few minutes of left-over footage grafted into this film), his much-younger and well-proportioned wife (Maila "Vampira" Nurmi), and a remarkably overweight police officer (Tor Johnson). Often funny and consistently entertaining (if almost always for the wrong reasons), Plan 9 From Outer Space is an anti-masterpiece if there ever was one, and as Criswell so brilliantly puts it, "Can you PROVE it didn't happen?!?" Its legendary director Edward D. Wood Jr. was played by Johnny Depp in Tim Burton's 1994 biopic, Ed Wood. One of the DVD releases of Plan 9 From Outer Space includes the documentary Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The Plan 9 Companion, an exhaustive and entertaining look at the making of the film that runs a half-hour longer than the feature to which it pays tribute! ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 18 min.
Directed By: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Written By: Edward D. Wood Jr.
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Cult Movies

In Theaters: Jul 2, 1959 Wide
On DVD: May 18, 1999
Studio: Passport

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
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.
Rob Humanick, Suite101.com
"This isn't like plans one through eight. This is plan nine, the one that worked! The worst movie ever made!"
Ian Berriman, SFX Magazine
Some things are best watched at 3am, wrapped in the warm glow of drunkenness. Plan 9 From Outer Space is one of them.
Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter
It is an open question whether anyone really needs this title in their collection; however, if you feel compelled to have it on your shelf, this [DVD from Legend Films] is the version to get.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An unintentionally funny tale.
Phil Hall, Film Threat
Far too entertaining to be considered as the very worst film ever made.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Like the greatest cinema poets, [Wood] always managed to work in his own particular pet pleasures or concerns, and that odd, ear-bending dialogue is almost like a bizarre kind of open-verse poetry.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Hardly The Remains of the Day, but some would claim it's more fun.
Derek Adams, Time Out
It all ends with famous psychic Criswell asking the audience, 'Can you prove it didn't happen? God help us in the future'. Prophetic.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Yes, it's so awful it's almost good. Here is the birth of camp in cinema.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
staggeringly, unmissably bad
John Wirt, Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)
The ultimate cult flick.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
It's mind-numbingly brilliant in its overwhelming, soul-destroying badness.
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
Not nearly as awful as everyone seems to think it is.
Randy Shulman, Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)
Only because it's so awful, it's good.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bob S

"We are all interested in the future for that is where you and I will spend the rest of our lives and remember my friends future events such as these will affect you in the future!" That's just for openers.
Alexander D

Picture a man facing the camera as if ready to give a news report. He tells his audience: "Greetings, my friend. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will… More
Picture a man facing the camera as if ready to give a news report. He tells his audience: "Greetings, my friend. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future. You are interested in the unknown... the mysterious. The unexplainable. That is why you are here. And now, for the first time, we are bringing to you, the full story of what happened on that fateful day." These images you are picturing in your mind serve as the preluding sequence in PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, a "Z-Movie" (not a "B-Movie") from cult director Ed Wood. If that sounds like a terrible beginning to a film, you're absolutely right, but the rest of the film, I must honestly say, makes that one scene look like nada. To say PLAN 9 is corny will not suffice; and the phrase "it's so terrible, it's great" is agreeable, but has been put to an unbearable overuse. The only honorary (or dishonorary) title for such a film that seems to fit is "#1 Z-Movie". The film, produced shoddily on a budget of $60,000, suffers from a horribly-written script (nods to the poor narration from "The Amazing Criswell"), laughable visuals, ridiculous performances, and an aberrant plot. In addition to that, it somehow managed to kill horror thespian Bela Lugosi in mid-production.
Christopher H

One of the most entertaining inept films ever made. I wouldn't necessarily call this the worst movie ever made since the it still manages to be entertain. What contributes to this movie's charm is that it is obvious that Ed Wood wanted to make a good movie, and that is… More
One of the most entertaining inept films ever made. I wouldn't necessarily call this the worst movie ever made since the it still manages to be entertain. What contributes to this movie's charm is that it is obvious that Ed Wood wanted to make a good movie, and that is what makes this movie so-bad-it's-good. Ed Wood tries to make a good movie, and he fails in the most spectacular way possible.
Tim S

Absolutely terrible! :D
Keiko A

Director: Edward D. Wood Jr. and Starring Gregory Walcott, Mona McKinnon, Tom Keene,Tor Johnson and almost bela Lugosi. Project 2 (Films I liked but everyone hated) They dubbed it the worst movie ever made??? Personally this is one of the greatest sci-fi films from the 50s.… More
Director: Edward D. Wood Jr. and Starring Gregory Walcott, Mona McKinnon, Tom Keene,Tor Johnson and almost bela Lugosi. Project 2 (Films I liked but everyone hated) They dubbed it the worst movie ever made??? Personally this is one of the greatest sci-fi films from the 50s. It's in my top 5 next to Gojira! Of course it's Ed woods best movie never could get into his other films they just didn't appeal to me that well. BTW the only word for this movie is freaken EPIC. "Can your heart stand the shocking facts about Graverobbers from Outer Space?" That's the question on the lips of the narrator of this tale about flying saucers, zombies and cardboard tombstones. A pair of aliens, angered by the stupid minds of planet Earth, set up shop in a California cemetery. Their plan: to animate an army of the dead to march on the capitals of the world An intrepid airline pilot living near the cemetery must rescue his wife from this low-budget terror. "Can you prove it *didn't* happen?" I think this is truly my top 10 most underrated flicks. It truly is the best Sci-Fi horror movie of all time, you don't see these movies ever day. 90% for story: Indeed it has problem after Problem with not just story but visible errors but who CARES??? It has Vampires and Zombies as well as Aliens. 65% for acting: Look it's not bad or terrible just above average nothing specular though, that's truly all I can say. 100% for characters: I think that Vampire that tries to be the old man was the best one ever. As well As vampiria and the two annoying leads. TOP 3 VAMPIRES 3: Eli-Let the right one in 2: Princess Asa-Black Sunday 1: The old man (Who obviously isn't bela Lugosi)-Plan 9 from outer space. 90% for special effects: Simply they are terribly awesome but they truly made the movie. It packs easy to see strings and cut outs Oh as well as none convincing special effects. 85% for everything else, what's there to say that others haven't? Truly the greatest accevment in cinema history....or one of them. Keiko's score 90-100
Michael E

the film is great when you think of it as an unintentional comedy and it was great
Randy T

Unintentionally funny. So good because it's oh so bad. All hail Ed Wood!
AJ V

Wood's classic cult movie is so fun, cheesy, and bad how could you not love it? I've seen this many times and I still think it's funny. Plus, the story is really brilliant if you can look past the bad acting and special effects. I love this movie.
Alexis N

I don't get it. Using the dead to convince us that aliens are real, wait, what?!
Tsubaki S

I dare anyone to explain me the entire monologue on how a bomb will make the sun explode and destroy the universe. As for the rest of the movie, neither the biggest cinematic disaster you will ever see, and hardly the "avant garde" experimental flick some people claim this… More
I dare anyone to explain me the entire monologue on how a bomb will make the sun explode and destroy the universe. As for the rest of the movie, neither the biggest cinematic disaster you will ever see, and hardly the "avant garde" experimental flick some people claim this is. Just a goofy and poorly made 50's genre flick. Wood's ineptitude behind camera is charming, but at the end the stories behind the making of this fim are just far more interesting than the film itself.
Phil H

You gotta like this you really do :) well if your a sci-fi buff perhaps hehe This really is a case of being so bad its good, the plot is of course typical 50's and full of war properganda with very paranoid, shoot first ask questions later Americans haha To be honest its… More
You gotta like this you really do :) well if your a sci-fi buff perhaps hehe This really is a case of being so bad its good, the plot is of course typical 50's and full of war properganda with very paranoid, shoot first ask questions later Americans haha To be honest its actually not bad in places, some of the sequences are quite nice and iconic, Tor Johnson rising from the grave being the best by far with some lovely lighting and Tom Mason actually looking quite eerie with his face covered cape and just lurking but of course the bad outweighs the good by miles. Shockingly bad special effects on the sets, UFO's etc..archive footage crammed in and very obvious and no sense of night and day being the best and most obvious of the editing bloopers. To be fair you can see the effort and heart put into the film which does make a difference especially as Wood encountered much failure and mockery but his team of outcasts and hopefuls do what they can to make the production work and with all intense and purposes it does work and it is very enjoyable if not taken seriously of course. Watching Tim Burton's 'Ed Wood' is a great companion to this and any Wood film ;)
Anthony L

If it weren't for Tim Burton's beautiful biopic of Ed Wood I don't think I would have found this film half as entertaining as I did. 'So bad it's good'? Hmm, I?m not sure, I think it might just be bad I'm afraid! Good for Ed Wood for making it… More
If it weren't for Tim Burton's beautiful biopic of Ed Wood I don't think I would have found this film half as entertaining as I did. 'So bad it's good'? Hmm, I?m not sure, I think it might just be bad I'm afraid! Good for Ed Wood for making it though, he's a horrible filmmaker but you can't help but love him!
Thomas B

not plan 7, not plan 8, plan 9! this is a ridiculously bad movie. so bad that it's a legend.
Morgan S

I saw about 5 min of this and just about died! My grandma came in and was like "where did you find this!" lol it was on tv. SOO CHEESE-TASIC!
Kylie B

With Ed Wood's reputation I was expecting something hilariously shambolic. Instead I found it plain dull.
Stella D

My friend, can your heart stand the shocking facts of grave robbers from outer space? hilariously bad but i'm sure i've seen worse films than this...
Ken S

How do you REALLY rate this film. It's amazing and terrible all at the same time.
Robert C

The movie you always wanted to make with your firends, but were afraid it might look cheesy...Ed Wood didn't care. He made the films he wanted to make, with the money and materials that were available to him. You gotta love that.
Chris W

Ok, so this film really isn't quite "The Worst Film of All-Time", but it is quite horrible. Part of what gives it redeeming value, though is the fact that it IS a bad movie- mainly due to the ridiculous writing, cheesy dialogue, and the numerous way too had not to miss… More
Ok, so this film really isn't quite "The Worst Film of All-Time", but it is quite horrible. Part of what gives it redeeming value, though is the fact that it IS a bad movie- mainly due to the ridiculous writing, cheesy dialogue, and the numerous way too had not to miss errors and goofs. This is a good film to watch for educational purposes especially for up and coming film makers as a way to see what not to do when making a film.
Cindy I

The best of the worst! Ed Wood's crowning achievement, if there can be such a thing. Must be seen to be believed. But those Medved brothers who claim this is is the wost movie ever made have obviously never seen Orgy of the Dead or Curse of the Swamp Creature, or (from what I… More
The best of the worst! Ed Wood's crowning achievement, if there can be such a thing. Must be seen to be believed. But those Medved brothers who claim this is is the wost movie ever made have obviously never seen Orgy of the Dead or Curse of the Swamp Creature, or (from what I hear) Manos, the Hands of Fate. And for a real treat, be sure and see Tim Burton's (TRULY) wonderful film about this famed director, called appropriately enough "Ed Wood".