When Worlds Collide
“Planets destroy earth!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
When Worlds Collide ≣ 1951 ≣ Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2023-09-22
Top Cast
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Richard Derr
David Randall
Barbara Rush
Joyce Hendron
Peter Hansen
Dr. Tony Drake
John Hoyt
Sydney Stanton
Larry Keating
Dr. Cole Hendron
Rachel Ames
Julie Cummings
Stephen Chase
Dr. George Frye
Frank Cady
Harold Ferris
Hayden Rorke
Dr. Emery Bronson
Sandro Giglio
Dr. Ottinger
Kirk Alyn
Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
James Congdon
Eddie Garson (uncredited)
Gertrude Astor
Traveler (uncredited)
Robert Chapman
Student (uncredited)
Gene Collins
Newsdealer (uncredited)
Marcel De La Brosse
Headwaiter (uncredited)
Estelle Etterre
Traveler (uncredited)
Paul Frees
Narrator/U.S. President (voice)
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 5, 1951
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$936K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.71x
+$664K net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Rudolph Maté
- Screenplay & Story
- Sydney Boehm
- Original Score
- Leith Stevens
- Original Title
- When Worlds Collide
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish
- Runtime
- 1h 23m
- Production Budget
- $936K
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.6M
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Rudolph Maté
Sydney Boehm, Edwin Balmer, Philip Wylie
Leith Stevens
W. Howard Greene, John F. Seitz
Arthur P. Schmidt
George Pal
Department Leadership Roster
W. Howard Greene
Director of Photography
Sydney Boehm
Screenplay
George Pal
Producer
John F. Seitz
Director of Photography
Leith Stevens
Original Music Composer
Rudolph Maté
Director
Arthur P. Schmidt
Editor
Edith Head
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for When Worlds Collide.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring When Worlds Collide.
My Movies
Master List In Progress
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Apocalypse
The end of the world as we know it, and what comes after. Civilisation-wide collapse, mass extinction, the imminent end, and survival or rebuilding after catastrophe. Comedy, romance, horror, animation, action and disaster all welcome. A local disaster, ordinary dystopia, or incidental world-ending stakes alone is insufficient. Mainly English-language, with selected international exceptions. Individually selected films, not automatic franchise imports. Independently curated using BFI end-of-world and post-apocalyptic selections, with film-by-film editorial additions. Not an official BFI list.
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Frequently Asked Questions About When Worlds Collide
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is When Worlds Collide about?
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.
Who directed When Worlds Collide?
When Worlds Collide was directed by Rudolph Maté.
Who stars in When Worlds Collide?
The principal cast of When Worlds Collide includes Richard Derr, Barbara Rush, Peter Hansen, John Hoyt, Larry Keating.
When was When Worlds Collide released and how long is it?
When Worlds Collide was released in 1951 with a total runtime of 1h 23m.
What was the box office and production budget of When Worlds Collide?
When Worlds Collide had a reported production budget of $936K and grossed $1.6M at the worldwide box office (1.71 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for When Worlds Collide?
The original motion picture soundtrack for When Worlds Collide was composed by Leith Stevens.
Is When Worlds Collide based on a book or true story?
When Worlds Collide is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Edwin Balmer", Novel: "Philip Wylie".
What is the age rating and content advisory for When Worlds Collide?
When Worlds Collide holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).