List of science fiction films of the 1950s

Science fiction films
By decade
Pre 1920 1920s 1930s 1940s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s TV

A list of science fiction films released in the 1950s. These films include core elements of science fiction, but can cross into other genres. They have been released to a cinema audience by the commercial film industry and are widely distributed with reviews by reputable critics.

This period is sometimes described as the 'classic' or 'golden' era of science fiction theater. With at least 204 sci-fi films produced, it holds the record for the largest number of science fiction produced per decade. Much of the production was in a low-budget form, targeted at a teenage audience. Many were formulaic, gimmicky, comic-book-style films. They drew upon political themes or public concerns of the day, including depersonalization, infiltration, or fear of nuclear weapons. Invasion was a common theme, as were various threats to humanity.^[1]

Four films from this decade, Destination Moon (1950), When Worlds Collide (1951), The War of the Worlds (1953) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) won Academy Awards, while Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959), Forbidden Planet (1956), On the Beach (1959) and Them! (1954) received nominations. Destination Moon, The War of the Worlds and The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) won the Hugo Award.

• History of science fiction films

• Science fiction films of the 1950s on Internet Movie Database