10 Sci-Fi Movies Where Nobody Dies

While the 2008, Keanu Reeves starring remake features a rather large body count, the original (and far superior) The Day The Earth Stood Still trades action and violence for a wider discussion about humanity’s future.

Released in 1951, during the early stages of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race, the film follows the journey of an alien named Klaatu, who visits Earth to warn mankind to change their harmful ways or face destruction.

While its premise may sound ominous, the film preaches peace throughout and even goes out of its way to make the point that conflict has no place in the universe. Even the sinister robot Gort never kills anyone in the film, instead choosing to disintegrate the army’s weapons when Klaatu is shot. And while the alien does admit his revival at the end of the film is only temporary, he is still alive when the credits roll.

Beautifully shot, with then-mind-blowing special effects and accompanied by a haunting musical score, the film deeply affected audiences at the time of its release, with the fear of nuclear war now firmly installed in the minds of people everywhere.

On a slightly less bleak note, the film’s characters, imagery and story have heavily influenced pop culture and sci-fi movies that followed. Even those who haven’t seen either version of this film knows of Gort and the phrase: “Klaatu barada nikto.”

70 years on, The Day The Earth Stood Still is still talked about as one of the very best films of the science-fiction genre.