Battle in Outer Space

A Great Movie

Battle in Outer Space holds a special place in my heart. Originally debuting in Japan on Christmas 1959, it didn’t reach the U.S. until early 1960. I can’t recall the exact date I saw it, but I was about 9 years old at the time. What I do remember vividly is paying my 20 cents to watch it multiple times at the "Princess" theater in my small town.

Though it’s now considered one of those "cheesy sci-fi movies," it was so much more than just another 1950s 'B' movie. While not quite on the level of Forbidden Planet—which I saw at a drive-in with my parents a few years earlier—it captivated my young imagination in ways few films ever have. The opening scene, featuring the destruction of a Von Braun-inspired space station set in the "far future" of 1965, truly resonated with me.

The movie’s thrilling story of Earth banding together to fight off relentless alien invaders felt like a departure from the Cold War paranoia of the era’s typical sci-fi fare. And for its time, the production was impressive: color, wide-screen, and special effects that—while dated by today’s standards—were groundbreaking to a 9-year-old dreaming of outer space.

The marketing was also memorable. I vividly recall owning a target-shooting toy set with a "floating flying saucer" to shoot down using a dart gun. No ray guns for kids back then, but it was pure magic to me!

After years of searching, I finally found a complete, high-definition, 90-minute widescreen print of this classic. Watching it again feels like reconnecting with a piece of my childhood that helped spark my lifelong love of science fiction. I can’t wait to enjoy it many more times.

I recommend it most highly!