War Of The Worlds (1953)

Producer George Pal and director Byron Haskins' landmark adaptation of the H. G. Wells classic novel that focuses on the invasion of the earth by Martian war machines.

It's a work of frightening imagination, with its manta-ray spaceships armed with cobra-like probes that shoot a white-hot disintegration ray. As formations of alien ships continue to wreak destruction around the globe, the military is helpless to stop this enemy while scientists race to find an effective weapon.

It finally takes an unseen threat - simple Earth bacteria - to conquer the alien invaders, but not before War of the Worlds has provided a dazzling display of impressive special effects.

This is the kind of spectacular that inspired kids such as Steven Spielberg and still packs a punch - delivering eye-popping thrills and unrelenting, edge-of-your-seat suspense.

Winner of the 1953 Academy Award for Best Special Effects.