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The Day the Earth Caught Fire

Play trailer Poster for The Day the Earth Caught Fire 1961 1h 39m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Peter Stenning (Edward Judd) is a depressed British reporter who gets by with the help of his friend, veteran journalist Bill Maguire (Leo McKern). Along with weather forecaster Jeannie Craig (Janet Munro), Peter and Bill discover that simultaneous U.S. and Russian nuclear explosions have drastically altered the earth's rotation. Fires and earthquakes ravage cities all over the world, and chaos and sickness descend upon the frightened survivors as they try to put the planet back on its axis.
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The Day the Earth Caught Fire

Critics Reviews

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Joe Clay The Times (UK) Jan 29, 2024
Told through two reporters, played by Edward Judd and Leo McKern, it’s a gripping mix of thriller and science fiction. Go to Full Review Times (UK) Staff The Times (UK) Jul 14, 2020
Script and direction combine to make the film a good example of its kind. Go to Full Review James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk Jul 28, 2020
3.5/4
uncommonly intelligent in its treatment of a truly horrific doomsday scenario Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jul 11, 2020
3.5/4
End-of-the-world sagas are a dime-a-dozen, but here's one that's worth at least a few bills. Go to Full Review Jennie Kermode Eye for Film Feb 24, 2020
4.5/5
It may be fantastic in theme but it's journalistic in form and this makes it easy to accept. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Oct 11, 2019
A compelling science-fiction opus from Britain - less hypnotic, perhaps, than last year's Village of the Damned but superior to most of its competitors. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sherri G. @SherriLG Jun 6, 2026 Almost prophetic. Rapid fire dialog keeps the the tension high. Timeline gets lost in the middle, but not tragically. Really liked it. See more Robert K. @robertkino Jan 13, 2026 Loved it. Has a documentary feeling in parts because of 50s style newspaper headline exposition See more Shaun B @RT38229136 Jul 3, 2024 Top notch B/W British sci-fi.Engrossing and pretty scary. See more Aug 26, 2021 They should have shown this film as part of my journalism degree. See more Bradley H @Bradleyh Dec 12, 2020 Exceptionally well written and fast paced drama that's especially prescient after covid19 and our approaching climate meltdown. Great acting from the likes of Leo McKean best known from Rumpole of the Bailey and others, you feel, having great fun with the smart dialogue. One interesting note is the disproportionate number of rather stunning and well endowed actresses for the era. A possible predilection of the director? See more delysid d @RT67044741 Mar 14, 2019 Oh No! It's the End of the World! See more Read all reviews
The Day the Earth Caught Fire

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Cast & Crew

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Val Guest

Director

Janet Munro

Jeannie Craig

Leo McKern

Bill Maguire

Edward Judd

Peter Stenning

Michael Goodliffe

Jacko Jackson the Night Editor

Bernard Braden

Davis the News Editor

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The Day the Earth Caught Fire

The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Peter Stenning (Edward Judd) is a depressed British reporter who gets by with the help of his friend, veteran journalist Bill Maguire (Leo McKern). Along with weather forecaster Jeannie Craig (Janet Munro), Peter and Bill discover that simultaneous U.S. and Russian nuclear explosions have drastically altered the earth's rotation. Fires and earthquakes ravage cities all over the world, and chaos and sickness descend upon the frightened survivors as they try to put the planet back on its axis.
Director
Val Guest
Producer
Val Guest
Screenwriter
Wolf Mankowitz, Val Guest
Production Co
Pax Films
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 6, 2016
Runtime
1h 39m
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