'War of the Worlds' Screen Adaptations, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes

The episode offers a critical review and overview of seven distinct screen adaptations based on H.G. Wells' classic 1898 science fiction novel, The War of the Worlds. It highlights how the legendary source material evolved from a famous 1938 radio broadcast into various films and television series with drastically different levels of critical success. Each featured project is evaluated through its Rotten Tomatoes score, ranging from poorly received modern entries like the 2025 screenlife movie down to the bottom of the list, all the way up to critically acclaimed classics. Notable highlights include Steven Spielberg's 2005 blockbuster version starring Tom Cruise as well as Paramount's 1953 cinematic adaptation, which stands out as the most widely celebrated version among both audiences and critics. Ultimately, the episode provides a comprehensive retrospective look at how filmmakers over the decades have reinterpreted the iconic alien invasion narrative for screens of all sizes."Open a book. Discover a world."This episode includes AI-generated content.