a visit to a small planet movie

Visit to a Small Planet

Streaming in:

We checked for updates on 247 streaming services on June 3, 2024 at 2:35:54 PM. Something wrong? Let us know!

Visit to a Small Planet streaming: where to watch online?

You can buy "Visit to a Small Planet" on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Vudu, Microsoft Store as download or rent it on Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Vudu online.

The weirdest alien of the galaxy pays a visit to Earth... Jerry Lewis is Kreton, a childish alien who, against his teacher's will leaves his planet to visit the Earth, and lands in the backyard of a famous television journalist who doesn't believe in UFOs and aliens. Wanting to study humans but not able to fully understand them, Kreton makes a mess out of it, generating a lot of comic situations.

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Production country

People who liked visit to a small planet also liked.

Popular movies coming soon

Upcoming Kids & Family movies

Similar Movies you can watch for free

Visit to a Small Planet

Film details, brief synopsis, cast & crew, norman taurog, jerry lewis, joan blackman, earl holliman, john williams, technical specs.

On the planet X47, student Kreton confounds his teacher, Delton, by cutting class to visit his favorite planet, Earth. Kreton, whose ineptitude has recently destroyed all life on Mars, ignores Delton's protestation that Earth is puny and pointless and programs his spaceship to visit Manassas, Virginia, during the Civil War. He has miscalculated by ninety-nine years, however, and lands in 1960 at the home of television personality Roger Putnam Spelding, who is at that moment polishing his broadcast on the impossibility of alien life. The family, consisting of Roger, wife Rheba and daughter Ellen, are preparing for a costume party at the home of neighbor Bob Mayberry, and when Kreton appears dressed as a Confederate cavalryman, Rheba assumes he is a party guest. She invites him to accompany them, and when Roger, costumed as Jefferson Davis, comes downstairs to watch his pre-taped broadcast, Kreton mistakes him for the real Jefferson Davis and calls the show "full of hooey." Upon realizing Roger is the man on the television, Kreton demonstrates his advanced abilities to prove to Roger that he is an alien. Just then, Delton arrives to inform Kreton that he will be allowed to stay on Earth as long as he does not interfere or reveal that he is an alien. The aliens notice that Roger is at that moment calling his boss, George Abercrombie, to inform him that he has a scoop on extraterrestrial life, and use mind control to restrain him from revealing their presence. Upon witnessing Kreton's ability to wither a plant by looking at it, Roger agrees to stay quiet, but soon after, Kreton blithely admits he is extraterrestrial to Rheba and Ellen, who are thrilled by his powers. When Bob, an amateur UFO fanatic, enters to inform them he has spotted a spacecraft, Kreton keeps him from snapping his photo by destroying his camera. Ellen's boyfriend Conrad then appears, costumed as a spaceman with antennae, and concerned for his family's safety, Roger orders them all to remain in the house. Bob flees, but as soon as he attempts to call the police, Kreton renders him incapable of speaking. After spending the evening with family dog Rags, to whom he can speak, Kreton informs Ellen that he can read minds. To prove it, he transmits Ellen's own thoughts about Conrad and the unchaperoned weekend they have planned. Kreton, whose people do not have sex and never die, horrifies Ellen by asking to watch the "courtship rituals" of mating earthlings. Kreton then allows Ellen to listen to Conrad's thoughts, which are mostly about Ellen in a bathing suit. Roger calls the alien in for a drink, and Delton, watching on his monitor, allows Kreton to experience alcohol. After the young alien climbs up the wall and onto the ceiling, however, Roger hides the bourbon. Ellen and Conrad take Kreton to town, and while his exploits in levitating policemen amuse Ellen, Conrad grows jealous. Back at home, after reuniting the sparring Rags with family cat Clementine, Kreton overhears Abercrombie inside firing Roger. By reading Abercrombie's mind and then mentioning his mistress and corrupt business deals, Kreton wins Roger his job back, prompting Roger to pray for Kreton to marry Ellen. Ellen, who has rejected Conrad's marriage proposals because she considers him too ineffectual, evokes the young man's wrath by announcing that she is taking Kreton to their hangout, a beatnik bar. There, the alien delights the crowd with his spacesuit and ability to play a set of bongos from across the room. After Delton levitates Kreton, however, the beatniks flee in terror. Ellen takes Kreton to Lover's Lane, but when he tries to kiss her, his force field, which protects him from other life forms, prevents them from touching. Delton, hoping to teach the delinquent a lesson, breaks the field, and with one kiss Kreton is in love. Ellen, however, has merely been experimenting, and when she returns home, she acquiesces to Conrad's jealous demand that they elope. Kreton hears their plan and plots to foil them, but is himself thwarted by Delton. The next morning, as Kreton asks Roger for Ellen's hand, she and Conrad announce that they are married. Kreton feigns indifference, but Delton then broadcasts his lascivious thoughts about Ellen, prompting Conrad to fight him. The alien assumes his force field will protect him, but Delton again allows it to fall, and for the first time, Kreton feels physical pain. Finally convinced that he wants nothing to do with humans, Kreton races into the barn, while Bob learns that Kreton is vulnerable and alerts the police. When they shoot tear gas into the barn, Kreton manages to blow the gas out and escape out the back. Kreton finds Delton waiting at his spaceship, ready to take him home. On Earth, the military arrive, but to Bob's dismay, the Speldings swear that there is no such thing as aliens.

Jerome Cowan

Gale gordon.

Lee Patrick

Milton frome.

Ellen Corby

Barbara lawson.

John A. Anderson

Ralph axness, edmund beloin, richard blaydon, frank bracht, david brownlow, malcolm bulloch, earl canter, frank dugas, farciot edouart, john p. fulton, henry garson, hubert graham, charles grenzbach, loyal griggs, leigh harline, grace harris, joseph h. hazen, arthur krams, nellie manley, robert mccrillis, don merritt, gene merritt, hedy mjorud, d. michael moore, paul nathan, miriam nelson, rocky nelson, hal pereira, glen porter, barney schoeffel, dominic seminerio, mort shuman, walter tyler, marvin weldon, frank westmore, wally westmore, award nominations, best art direction.

Gore Vidal based his play Visit to a Small Planet on his teleplay of the same name, which was broadcast on the Philco Television Playhouse on May 8, 1955. In February 1959, producer Hal Wallis bought the rights to the stage play, which had had its Broadway debut on February 7, 1957. At the time of the purchase, according to a Hollywood Reporter news item, Wallis was considering either Lewis, Alec Guinness or Danny Kaye for the lead role. Although Vidal's play included what the Variety reviewer called "thoughtful commentary on the stupidity of war," the film version contains no such theme.        Although Hollywood Reporter noted in April 1959 that Donna Douglas tested for a role, she was not in the film. June and July 1959 Hollywood Reporter news items add the following actors to the cast: Charles "Chuck" Ward, John Diggs, Anne Cornwall, Mike Ross, Carl Lucas, Hugh Langtry, John Drake, William Rands, James Knight, Jack Jones, Richard Johnson, Jose Dominguez, Paul Smith, Eddie Robinson, Jr., Max Power, John Eloff, Louise Glenn, Sondra Matesky, John Dennis, Dominic Fidelibus, Titus Moede, Beach Dickerson, Bob Harvey, David Lanfield, Joseph Turkel, Mark Russell, Gene Collins, Paul Wexler, and Frank Socolow. Their appearance in the final film has not been confirmed. Modern sources add Don Bagley, Jack Costanzo and Dany Saval to the cast.        Hal Pereira, Walter Tyler, Sam Comer and Arthur Krams received a 1961 Academy Award nomination for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White. Visit to a Small Planet marked the last film for Jerry Lewis under his long-term contract with producer Hal Wallis, who helped jumpstart Lewis' career. The two made one more film together, 1965's Boeing Boeing (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1961-70 ). For more information on their relationship, see the record for the film My Friend Irma ( AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1941-50 ).

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Spring April 1960

Sign Up now to stay up to date with all of the latest news from TCM.

Your Browser is Not Supported

To view this content, please use one of the following compatible browsers:

Safari v11+

Firefox Quantum

Microsoft Edge

Visit to a Small Planet (1960)

Directed by norman taurog.

• AllMovie Rating 4
• User Ratings ( 0 )
• Your Rating
• Overview ↓
• User Reviews ↓
• Cast & Crew ↓
• Awards ↓
• Streams ↓
• Related ↓

Description by Wikipedia

Visit to a Small Planet is a 1960 American black-and-white science fiction comedy film from Paramount Pictures, produced by Hal B. Wallis, directed by Norman Taurog, that stars Jerry Lewis and co-stars Joan Blackman, Earl Holliman, and Fred Clark.

Visit to a Small Planet first debuted as an original television production by Gore Vidal, then was reworked by Vidal as a Broadway play starring Cyril Ritchard and Eddie Mayehoff.

The film was released on February 4, 1960. It was re-released in 1966 on a double bill with another Jerry Lewis film, The Bellboy.

Alternate Titles

• Movies & TV
• Featured Categories

Image Unavailable

• Sorry, this item is not available in
• Image not available
• To view this video download Flash Player

Visit to a Small Planet

• Prime Video $3.79 — $9.99
• Blu-ray from $59.99

Customers who bought this item also bought

Product Description

The small planet is Earth, and the visitor is Kreton (Jerry Lewis), a bumbling young alien eager to study human behavior. Befriended by the suburban Spelding family, Kreton gets a crash course in such Earthly concepts as love and affection-neither of which exist on his planet-when he falls for the Speldings' daughter (Joan Blackman). Earl Holliman, Fred Clark, John Williams star in this wacky sci-fi comedy, written by Gore Vidal and previously staged as television and Broadway productions. 85 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; theatrical trailers.

Product details

• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 5.92 ounces
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 0738329217372
• Director ‏ : ‎ Norman Taurog
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Subtitled, Anamorphic, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ August 22, 2017
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Jerry Lewis, Joan Blackman, Earl Holliman, Fred Clark, John Williams
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Kl Studio Classics
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B073ZYRKK3
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• #5,201 in Comedy (Movies & TV)

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

Visit to a Small Planet

Cast & crew.

Jerry Lewis

Joan Blackman

Ellen Spelding

Earl Holliman

Roger Putnam Spelding

John Williams

Information

© 1959 Viacom International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Accessibility

Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Internet Service Terms Apple TV & Privacy Cookie Policy Support

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Link to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Young Woman and the Sea Link to Young Woman and the Sea
• Jim Henson Idea Man Link to Jim Henson Idea Man

New TV Tonight

• Ren Faire: Season 1
• Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• Clipped: Season 1
• Queenie: Season 1
• Sweet Tooth: Season 3
• Mayor of Kingstown: Season 3
• Criminal Minds: Season 17
• Becoming Karl Lagerfeld: Season 1
• Power Book II: Ghost: Season 4
• Erased: WW2's Heroes of Color: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• Eric: Season 1
• Evil: Season 4
• Dark Matter: Season 1
• Tires: Season 1
• Outer Range: Season 2
• Fallout: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Outer Range: Season 2 Link to Outer Range: Season 2
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All Harry Potter (and Fantastic Beasts ) Movies Ranked

All George Miller Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Pride Month Programming Calendar 2024: TV and Streaming Shows and Movies Celebrating LGBTQ+ Voices

Movie Re-Release Calendar 2024: Your Guide to Movies Back In Theaters

• Trending on RT
• Vote: 1999 Movie Showdown
• 100 Best Movies on Netflix
• Star Wars: The Acolyte
• Superman: Everything We Know

Visit to a Small Planet

Where to watch.

Rent Visit to a Small Planet on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Norman Taurog

Jerry Lewis

Joan Blackman

Ellen Spelding

Earl Holliman

Major Roger Putnam Spelding

John Williams

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Real-Life Heroes on YouTube for Tweens and Teens

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Visit to a small planet, common sense media reviewers.

Jerry Lewis alien comedy has lots of mild sexual innuendo.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

A visitor from outer space, eager for adventure an

The alien-hero is honest and sincere, but childlik

Cartoon-style action in a number of scenes: an exa

Lots of kissing and sexual innuendo -- off-handed

Some put-downs and name-calling: "stupid,&quo

Repeated funny cigarette commercials. People consu

Parents need to know that Visit to a Small Planet is a fish-out-of-water comedy form the 1960s that is often focused on teaching a spaceman/alien about sex and watching a young man's efforts to get his sweetheart into bed. Frequent kissing, sexual innuendo, and flimsy humorous seduction techniques are key…

Positive Messages

A visitor from outer space, eager for adventure and curious about the larger universe, learns that there's really "no place like home" and that he's better off keeping his "nose out of other people's planets." He must also comically confront the pain of love, the pain of jealousy, and "the pain of pain."

Positive Role Models

The alien-hero is honest and sincere, but childlike and trouble-prone. Male human adults are gullible, single-minded, and vain. A very ditzy mother flutters around, totally oblivious to unfolding events. Set in 1960 -- no people of color, no independent or working women.

Violence & Scariness

Cartoon-style action in a number of scenes: an exaggerated fist fight; someone is hit over the head with a vase; a gun goes off; a person is head-butted by a goat; tear gas is fired; a character lands upside down in a barrel of water.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Lots of kissing and sexual innuendo -- off-handed comments about chastity, overeager males ogling and trying to seduce innocent women. "Tangling" and "pitching woo" are used often as a pointed euphemisms for making love. The alien visitor asks questions like: "How do you multiply?" and "May I watch?" A scene takes place at Lover's Lane.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Some put-downs and name-calling: "stupid," "boob."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Repeated funny cigarette commercials. People consume alcohol in several scenes. Kreton drinks bourbon and has an immediate bizarre reaction (walking on the ceiling). A scene is set in a beatnik club: The Hungry Brain is filled with smoke and all the patrons seem to be very high on something -- glassy-eyed, trancelike, but no mind altering drugs are seen or mentioned.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Visit to a Small Planet is a fish-out-of-water comedy form the 1960s that is often focused on teaching a spaceman/alien about sex and watching a young man's efforts to get his sweetheart into bed. Frequent kissing, sexual innuendo, and flimsy humorous seduction techniques are key plot elements. There's some drinking and smoking; a lengthy scene takes place in a beatnik bar where glassy-eyed, tipsy, or high customers sit behind a veil of cigarette smoke. Farcical action includes a fist fight, tear gas, gun shot, and more. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (3)

Based on 3 parent reviews

Good adult film; not for kids

Silly comedy leads to sexual contents., what's the story.

Disobeying orders, the very immature Kreton ( Jerry Lewis at the height of his mugging and comic mayhem) ventures far from his own planet to study life on Earth. He lands in a world of business executives, TV personalities, and a naive young beauty whose innocence is sorely tested by an eager suitor. Kreton's presence impacts everyone and, in a series of improbable incidents, his curiousity is satisfied, he changes the lives of several characters, and, at least minimally, begins to grow up.

Is It Any Good?

Based on an acclaimed play -- Gore Vidal's parody of the Communist witch hunt in the 1950s -- this filmed version of VISIT TO A SMALL PLANET has been turned into standard Jerry Lewis silliness. The "special" effects are purposefully cheesy; the acting is broad; and what story there is simply showcases Jerry Lewis hi-jinks. Kids may appreciate the pratfall humor, but the "wink-wink" sexual repartee compromises the innocent fun.

One hilarious scene in a beatnik bar with Buddy Rich on drums, and an extraordinary dance number, may be enough to make the film worth a look if you don't mind the "opium den" atmosphere of the place.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the very simple, almost nostaglic, nature of the special effects in this film from 1960. Compare with the techniques of today. How did the old-fashioned effects enhance this particular movie?

Jerry Lewis has been described as a "clown." What are some of the traits that make a clown different from other comedic characters?

How do the women in this movie reflect the attitudes and perceptions of 1960? Talk about the changes for women since that time.

Movie Details

• On DVD or streaming : February 4, 1960
• Cast : Earl Holliman , Jerry Lewis , Joan Blackman
• Director : Norman Taurog
• Studio : Paramount Pictures
• Genre : Comedy
• Topics : Space and Aliens
• Run time : 85 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : March 3, 2022

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Blast from the Past

Best Classic Comedy Films

Romantic comedies, related topics.

• Space and Aliens

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

• Coming Soon Theaters • Online
• Advanced Search
• Collections Top 500
• Film Awards
• Recommendations Movies • TV Shows
• Search by Name
• Popular Top 500
• My TV Shows
• My Calendar
• Coming Soon Premieres

Movie's ratings

• IMDb 5.9 1455

Awards and Nominations

• Cast & Crew
• Screenshots
• Technical Data

Visit to a Small Planet

• Based on Book
• Black and White

Related Movies There are no related titles yet, but you can add them:

Norman taurog — top rated movies.

Add a short review

280 characters

Sign up and you will see here friends impressions of the movie.

Friends comments and ratings, movies by hal wallis productions.

Trending movies

The best website for movie search and thoughts sharing with friends

• Browser extension

Visit to a Small Planet (1960)

• User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

• Movies & TV Shows
• Most Popular
• Leaving Soon
• Descriptive Audio
• Documentary
• Browse Channels

Featured Channels

• Always Funny
• History & Science
• Sci-Fi & Action
• Chills & Thrills
• Nature & Travel
• Black Entertainment
• Kids & Family
• International
• Gaming & Anime

Visit to a Small Planet

• There are no locations currently available for this title

Take Plex everywhere

There’s Never Been a Better Time for a ‘Smallville’ Movie

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

The Big Picture

• A potential Smallville movie could explore Clark Kent's decision to give up his powers and live a normal life, as well as the dynamics between Clark, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor.
• Placing Smallville under the Elseworlds label of DC Films would diversify the franchise and add a science fiction element to the gritty crime epics of The Batman and Joker .
• Bringing back other heroes and familiar faces from Smallville could make a movie a generational event, capturing the nostalgia and impact the show had on fans and the comic book industry.

Superman's had many incarnations in film and television over the course of his 86-year history, and among the more popular of those incarnations is Smallville . Creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar revamped Clark Kent's origin story for the early 2000s , resulting in a series that has had lasting effects. Smallville served as the precursor to other superhero shows, most notably with Arrow and its various spin-offs — ironically, Arrow would begin a year after the Smallville series finale. Gough and Millar parlayed Smallville 's success into a wealth of other projects, most notably the screenplay for Spider-Man 2 and Wednesday , which takes a similar approach to The Addams Family that Smallville did for Superman.

Recently, Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum , who portrayed Clark and his best friend/future nemesis Lex Luthor respectively, expressed the desire to do a potential Smallville movie on Rosenbaum's Inside of You podcast . "I mean, I'd be, 'Yes, let's hear it.' I don't know how it would happen," Welling said, further discussing how he hadn't received any calls from anyone involved with the show. Even though James Gunn is slated to kick off a new cinematic vision of the DC Universe with Superman: Legacy , a Smallville film could honor the legacy the series has had on Superman and provide even more variety for DC's film projects.

A young Clark Kent struggles to find his place in the world as he learns to harness his alien powers for good and deals with the typical troubles of teenage life in Smallville, Kansas.

A ‘Smallville’ Movie Could Answer One of the Lingering Questions From ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’

Even if Welling hadn't been contacted to appear in a Smallville movie, he's still managed to reprise his role as Clark Kent — particularly in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover . True to the original comic book event, the television event saw various worlds within DC's multiverse being wiped out by the malevolent Anti-Monitor. In order to halt the Anti-Monitor's destructive wave, seven "Paragons" are needed from across the Multiverse. One of those Paragons is hinted to be a different version of Superman, which leads to an encounter with an older version of Welling. But when he's confronted by a different Lex Luthor ( Jon Cryer ), Clark reveals that he gave up his powers in order to live a normal life.

This was a shock when it first aired, as viewers had expected Welling to finally don the Superman costume after Smallville enforced a "no tights, no flights" rule throughout its run. Furthermore, there was an official Smallville: Season 11 comic that fully explored Clark's life post-Superman while also continuing to bring in Smallville versions of popular DC characters. A Smallville movie could build on the promise of Season 11 and the finale . What threat would cause Clark to hang up the cape and move back to Smallville with Lois Lane ( Erica Durance ) and his daughters? Better yet, how does this world survive without a Superman?

A Smallville movie could further explore the most important dynamics in Clark Kent's life, particularly with Lois and Lex Luthor . In the back half of Smallville , Clark meets Lois and the two slowly establish their relationship. In fact, Season 10 is dedicated to their marriage (which is put on hold thanks to the New God Darkseid invading Earth.) A movie could explore how their relationship has managed to survive. It was also hinted in Crisis that Lex Luthor is president. A Smallville movie could reunite Welling and Rosenbaum while also adding new layers to their rivalry, which was arguably one of the best parts of Smallville .

A Superman Project Would Diversify the DCU's Elseworlds Banner

If Smallville makes it to the big screen, it could also bolster the Elseworlds label of DC Films . Unlike the projects that Gunn and Peter Safran are developing under DC Studios, the Elseworlds labels are standalone titles that feature more grounded versions of DC characters. So far, Matt Reeves ' The Batman and Todd Phillips ' Joker films are the only projects under the Elseworlds label. Putting Smallville under the Elseworlds label would diversify these films, both in terms of content and genre . While Batman is a great character, there are plenty of other characters who could fit under the Elseworlds label — why not Superman? Smallville also leaned into science fiction elements due to its protagonist being the last survivor of an alien race, which is a great contrast to the gritty crime epics that The Batman and Joker presented.

Why Are There Two Drastically Different Cuts of ‘Superman II’?

"General, would you care to step outside?"

A ‘Smallville’ Movie Can Capitalize on the Nostalgia of Its Cast

The biggest advantage of getting Smallville on the big screen would be the fact that it would be a truly generational event . This is a series that has resonated with fans over the decades, to the point where they watched it with their families, significant others, and even made friends because of the show. ""One of the things that people will start with is, 'Hey, this is something me and my family did together," Durance said in a recent interview with Popverse . "It was something that brought us together. Family. Parents. Kids. Whatever. And it was something that they looked forward to." It wasn't just fans; comic book professionals even started to incorporate elements of Smallville into Superman lore — particularly Jeph Loeb and Geoff Johns , who had written for the show as well.

One way that a Smallville movie could become a generational event is to bring back other heroes who appeared on the series, so that Clark could be the face of a proper Justice League . Alan Ritchson may be champing at the bit to play Batman, but many people remember him as Aquaman . Justin Hartley was a fan favorite for his take on Green Arrow, and his dynamic with Welling was a large part of that. Beyond other superheroes, there are other Smallville alums that could bring the house down; particularly Annette O'Toole , who played Clark's mother Martha, and Kristin Kreuk , who was his first love Lana Lang.

Smallville arrived at a time before DC and Marvel dominated screens both large and small, and is one of the major catalysts in launching the superhero boom. With the genre's future up in the air, a Smallville film could lead the way to a resurgence. As Clark's father Jonathan ( John Schneider ) once told him, "Always hold onto Smallville."

Smallville is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.

Watch on Hulu

• TV Features

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Morning Edition

• Latest Show
• About The Program
• Contact The Program
• Corrections

Listen to the lead story from this episode.

Morning news brief

by  Steve Inskeep ,  Michel Martin

Bill classifying abortion pills as 'controlled dangerous substance' OK'd in Louisiana

by  Rosemary Westwood ,  Michel Martin

Campaigns are starting earlier than ever -- due, in part, to early voting

by  Domenico Montanaro ,  Steve Inskeep

A college baseball team vies for an NCAA title as the school prepares to close

by  Kelsey Shelton

Carol Leone , chair of piano studies at Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts, performs there in 2016 on a Steinway grand piano rebuilt with a smaller keyboard by DS Standard . Courtesy Hannah Reimann. hide caption

Pianist Hannah Reimann advocates for narrower pianos to help those with small hands

by  Olivia Hampton

Pianist seeks 'equity' with narrower instruments

As many as 25 hurricanes are expected to form between june 1 and nov. 30.

by  Rebecca Hersher ,  Michel Martin

It's been 2 years since a gunman killed 19 students and 2 teachers in Uvalde, Texas

by  Kayla Padilla

14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal goes into the tournament unseeded

Examining the legacy of iran’s late president ebrahim raisi, the bobbleheads to commemorate this summer’s political conventions are unveiled.

by  Hosts

NCAA and 5 conferences agree to settle antitrust suits brought by ex-college athletes

by  Steve Inskeep

Delegates race to complete a global treaty on how to prevent the next pandemic

by  Michel Martin

Can decorum and civility be restored on Capitol Hill?

Can decorum and civility be restored on capital hill, top u.n. court orders israel to halt rafah offensive.

by  Rob Schmitz ,  Steve Inskeep

Top United Nations court orders Israel to halt military assault on Rafah

Justice department sues concert ticket behemoth live nation-ticketmaster.

by  Alina Selyukh ,  Steve Inskeep

Life lessons from a father known as the cool dad

by  Jey Born

It's been nearly 4 years since protests began after the killing of George Floyd

People gather outside the Savage Sisters' community outreach storefront in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. The area is being hit hard by Medetomidine and Xylazine, powerful sedatives most often used by veterinarians that are moving through the illicit drug supply triggering "mass overdose" events and causing gruesome skin wounds. Matt Rourke/AP hide caption

Gangs mix another potent sedative into U.S. street drugs causing 'mass overdoses'

by  Brian Mann

A new wave of overdoses is triggered by a tranquilizer used on animals

Searching for a song you heard between stories? We've retired music buttons on these pages. Learn more here.