Budd Wilkins Slant Magazine Oct 2, 2026

Forbidden Planet is one of the most intellectually ambitious examples of 1950s-era science fiction, and one that pushes against some of the dominant tropes of the genre.

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Jeff Beck The Blu Spot Sep 28, 2026 3.5/5

Forbidden Planet remains an all-time classic of the sci-fi genre thanks to its Oscar-nominated special effects, a fantastic cast, and an intelligent screenplay by Cyril Hume that deals with deeper themes than other films of its type did at the time.

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Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness Sep 25, 2026

... not likely to transform any well-established minds, it’s certainly a film that can be used to show younger, less-experienced, budding cinephiles what storytelling can be and how the use of the imagination can be as powerful ...

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Mar 12, 2026 3.5/4

One of the undisputed classics of sci-fi cinema, Forbidden Planet is a far-flung adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, with a smattering of Freud tossed in for good measure.

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Yasser Medina Cinefilia May 7, 2025 5/10

A dull science-fiction film that, despite the special effects, mostly remains in a safe zone of predictable clichés and one-dimensional characters that never add value to its planetary adventure in CinemaScope. [Full review in Spanish]

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Alan Jones Radio Times Sep 13, 2024 5/5

An enthralling eye-popper.

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Pat Padua Washington City Paper Apr 17, 2024

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.

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Bob Freund Miami Herald Mar 21, 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.

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Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Mar 10, 2023 4.5/5

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.

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Mark R. Leeper Mark Leeper's Reviews Sep 11, 2022 10/10

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

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Taylor Baker Drink in the Movies Oct 4, 2021 96/100

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

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Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Aug 18, 2020 5/10

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

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Alberto Abuín Espinof Apr 15, 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]

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Tim Dirks Filmsite Sep 29, 2019 A+

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

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David Hogan hoganreviews.co.uk Feb 7, 2019 4/5

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.

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Kevin Carr 7M Pictures Jan 19, 2014 5/5

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

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Rob Humanick Suite101.com Oct 12, 2011 5/5

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

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Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Jul 26, 2011

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

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