What <em>Forbidden Planet</em> lacks in iambic pentameter, it makes up for in highly saturated mid-century colors and special effects that may seem primitive but give a painterly elegance to the space-age journey.

Full Review | Apr 17, 2024

The film abounds in sound and color. Electronic tonalities and odd spectrum graduations make it a treat for eye and ear. The actors come off better than you'd think, too.

Full Review | Mar 21, 2024

Elevating this as a “landmark film” when Robert Wise’s “The Day the Earth Stood Still” was smarter, more suspenseful, better-acted and more in tune with its times seems laughable.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Mar 8, 2024

Forbidden Planet is the greatest sci-fi film of its time and would pave the way for bigger and better sci-fi blockbusters to come.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Mar 10, 2023

One of the great and iconic science fiction films of all time.

Full Review | Original Score: 10/10 | Sep 11, 2022

"Aladdin's lamp in a physics laboratory!"

Full Review | Oct 16, 2021

Episode 37: Edge of Tomorrow / Forbidden Planet / High Life

Full Review | Original Score: 96/100 | Oct 4, 2021

The final revelations are grand, yet they take far too long to arrive.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Aug 18, 2020

The film takes its time to expose, or discover, the real heart of the matter, to fully present its cards, something that would become a role model in future films of the genre. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Apr 15, 2020

Forbidden Planet (1956) is one of the more influential, classic and ground-breaking science-fiction space-opera adventures ever made - it was the first science-fiction film in color and CinemaScope. The film, directed by Fred McLeod Wilcox

Full Review | Original Score: A+ | Sep 29, 2019

No wonder so many sci-fi writers have cited it as an inspiration, I can see how this film would spark a lot of imagination back then, or even now. Great stuff.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 7, 2019

There's a reason this film is called the granddaddy of all science fiction.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Jan 19, 2014

The tragicomic tone would have done the Bard proud, and at even only 98 minutes, Forbidden Planet is positively epic.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Oct 12, 2011

[A] nifty interstellar meller.

Full Review | Jul 26, 2011

A smart script and-ahead-of their-time effects elevate this one from a cult classic to a landmark of the genre.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 26, 2011

An engaging 1956 science fiction gloss of Shakespeare's Tempest.

Full Review | Jul 26, 2011

A superb sci-fi flick, Forbidden Planet offers an unusually intelligent script, exciting direction by Wilcox and generally good acting from a decent if rather dull cast.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Jul 26, 2011

Classic '50s sci-fi flick is campy fun.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 24, 2010

Its most interesting moments are mired in human frailty--in sex, death, betrayal, jealousy, and intoxication.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 20, 2007

A cinematic marvel for the ages, Forbidden Planet possesses a look and feel that was far ahead of its time.

Full Review | Jul 10, 2007