Once film, along with the new technology that came with it, was able to get past static cameras, one-location scenes, and no sound; directors and producers were able to fully explore what could be done and what stories could be told in the medium without certain limitations. They came up with some wacky and wild ideas: giant gorillas climbing skyscrapers, high stakes adventure films, monster movies, and much more.

One of the most popular genres to be explored with these innovations in film technology were outer space and alien films. Either original ideas or adapted from stories from well-known science fiction authors (like H.G. Wells, H.P. Lovecraft, etc.), alien movies became a new wave of excitement and horror for audiences to experience in theaters. Some of the best of those in the wave were alien invasion films. With some of the most iconic of these coming in the 1940s and ’50s, stories of evil creatures from other planets in unfamiliar spaceships taking over the world, people getting kidnapped, etc.; audiences ate all the spectacles up like popcorn. With that, here are the best alien invasion films of the 1940s and ’50s, ranked.

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6 Brick Bradford (1947)

     Columbia Pictures

Based off the comic strip of the same name, and mixing adventure with the excitement of outer space, Brick Bradford (directed by Spencer Bennet, starring Kane Richmond and Linda Leighton) was a 1947 serialized sci-fi film from Columbia Pictures. Following the aforementioned Brick Bradford, he must stop spy agent Laydron, who is after Dr. Gregor Tymak, who has invented an “Interceptor Ray”, that can be used to destroy Earth. Roughly half the movie takes place on the moon, as Tymak escapes through a dimension door to get air. With fighting the evil Queen Khana of the Moon, rescuing outer-space material known as Lunarium, and surprisingly, time travel, Brick Bradford was one of the more explorative films to come out of the ’40s.

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5 The Purple Monster Strikes (1945)

     Republic Pictures

Another serial film, and arguably the first alien invasion movie to come out, The Purple Monster Strikes (1945) follows a group of people who must free Dr. Layton, whose body has been taken over by a Martian invader; and is going to use Dr. Layton’s spaceship plans in order to help Mars invade Earth. With an evil lair and henchmen, along with a classic story of good vs evil, The Purple Monster was a generally well-received movie, and a solid first step in the direction of alien invasion genre of films.

4 Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940)

     Universal Pictures

After a mysterious, deadly disease known as the “Purple Death”, begins ravaging the Earth, hero Flash Gordon must go after the evil emperor Ming the Merciless, who is the one spreading this terrible plague upon the planet. Exploring alien planets in the cosmos in search of the cure, Flash Gordon and crew charmed and wowed the early audiences of the 1940 with a visual and storytelling spectacle. The film was even nominated for a Retro Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 2016.

3 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

     Allied Artist Pictures

One of the higher rated alien invasion films to be made, and a masterclass in suspenseful and scary storytelling; Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) used an alien invasion as a fantastic political allegory, playing right into the fears of the time during the Cold War, McCarthyism, and wondering what American citizen could potentially be a communist. Where people thought that their loved ones, neighbors, etc., could have possibly been replaced by an emotionless alien. Selected for preservation in 1994 by the United States Congress, Invasion of the Body Snatchers became a forefather in the alien invasion genre.

2 The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)

     20th Century Fox

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War and rising nuclear arms aggression, The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) tells the story of Klaatu, who comes to Earth to warn humanity that if they continue to go the direction they’re going (more advanced bombs, war machines, hostilities, etc.), then the other alien planets he is on behalf of will have no choice but to eliminate Earth. Of course, being a visitor from out of space, and dangerous, Klaatu barely gets the warning off, as by the end of the film, he is killed. But with such an iconic premise and allegory, The Day the Earth Stood Still has lasted decades as one of the best.

1 War of the Worlds (1953)

     Paramount Pictures

Based on the iconic science fiction novel of the same name by author H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds has become one of the most popular alien invasion stories ever, with five different adaptations since it was released. Arguably the most popular adaptation of the story is the 1953 edition. After Earth is invaded by Mars, scientist Clayton Forrester must find any way he can to stop the Martians from taking over Earth. Winning the Academy Award for Best Special Effects, and being selected to the National Film Registry by the U.S. Congress in 2011, The War of The Worlds continues to be as loved and revered today as when it was first released.