EDITOR’S NOTE: It Came from Outer Space was on Chiller Theater on Saturday, November 10, 1973 at 1:00 a.m.; Saturday December 14, 1974 at 11:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 3, 1976 at 11:30 p.m.; Saturday, August 20, 1977 at 11:30 p.m. and was the last movie ever shown on Chiller Theater on December 31, 1983.

Based on Ray Bradbury’s original film treatment “The Meteor,” this was directed by science fiction expert Jack Arnold and written by Harry Essex. The two also worked together on The Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Astronomer John Putnam (Richard Carlson, who directed Riders to the Stars) and schoolteacher Ellen Fields (Barbara Rush) watch a meteorite crash land in Sand Rock, Arizona. No one believes John when he claims that a UFO was in the crater. Even Ellen isn’t sure, but when locals start to disappear, Sheriff Warren (Charles Drake) wants action. John wants a peaceful solution.

The aliens appear to John, who demands to see their proper form, like a doubting Thomas wanting to put his finger in the nail marks on Jesus’ hands. The aliens decide that they will destroy themselves instead of dealing with humans — I get it, my dudes — but Putnam gets them back home safely. 

I love this speech from the sheriff: “Did you know, Putnam, more murders are committed at ninety-two degrees Fahrenheit than any other temperature? I read an article once. At lower temperatures, people are more easygoing. Over ninety-two, it’s too hot to move. But just ninety-two, people get irritable.” 

The sheriff’s office is near Courthouse Square from Back to the Future, and the alley where they chase the reborn people is where Atticus faced off with the lynch mob in To Kill a Mockingbird. This film is all about recycling, as the meteorite footage is also in Cat-Women of the Moon and The Astounding She-Monster. 

Of all the 3D films, this is probably the classiest.

You can watch this on Tubi.