Science fiction films
By decade
Pre 1920 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s TV
v t e

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 theate. 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]

Three of the films from this decade, Destination Moon (1950), The War of the Worlds (1953) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) won Academy Awards, while The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) won a Hugo Award.

List