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When Worlds Collide

When Worlds Collide

Science Fiction · Drama · 1951

When a group of astronomers calculate a star is on a course to slam into Earth, a few days before, it's accompanying planet will first pass close enough to the Earth to cause havoc on land and sea. They set about building a rocket so a few selected individuals can escape to the planet.

Movie details

When Worlds Collide

“Planets destroy earth!”

1951 Science Fiction · Drama 1h 23m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

When a group of astronomers calculate a star is on a course to slam into Earth, a few days before, it's accompanying planet will first pass close enough to the Earth to cause havoc on land and sea. They set about building a rocket so a few selected individuals can escape to the planet.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over When Worlds Collide?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Rudolph Maté

Written by

Sydney Boehm

Richard Derr

Richard Derr

David Randall

Barbara Rush

Barbara Rush

Joyce Hendron

Peter Hansen

Peter Hansen

Dr. Tony Drake

John Hoyt

John Hoyt

Sydney Stanton

Larry Keating

Larry Keating

Dr. Cole Hendron

Rachel Ames

Rachel Ames

Julie Cummings

Stephen Chase

Stephen Chase

Dr. George Frye

Court is in session

Put When Worlds Collide on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.