A list of science fiction films released in the 1940s. These 45 films include core elements of science fiction and are widely distributed with reviews by reputable critics.
List
Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesThe ApeWilliam NighBoris Karloff, Maris Wrixon, Gene O'DonnellUnited States horrorBefore I HangNick GrindeBoris Karloff, Evelyn Keyes, Bruce BennettUnited States horrorBlack FridayArthur LubinBoris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Stanley Ridges,United StateshorrorThe Devil BatJean YarboroughBela LugosiUnited StatesDr. CyclopsErnest B. SchoedsackAlbert Dekker, Janice Logan, Thomas ColeyUnited StatesFlash Gordon Conquers the UniverseFord I. Beebe, Ray TaylorHarry C. Bradley, Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Shirley DeaneUnited StatesSerial filmThe Invisible Man ReturnsJoe MayCedric Hardwicke, Vincent Price, Nan Grey, John SuttonUnited StatesThe Invisible WomanEdward SutherlandVirginia Bruce, John Barrymore, John Howard, Charlie RugglesUnited StatesMysterious Doctor SatanJon English, William WitneyEdwin Stanley, C. Montague ShawUnited StatesSerial filmSon of IngagiRichard KahnZack Williams, Laura Bowman, Spencer WilliamsUnited StatesWeltraumschiff 1 startet ... (i.e. Spaceship I takes off)Anton KutterCarl Wery, Fritz Reiff, Rolf WernickeNazi Germany Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesThe Devil CommandsEdward DmytrykBoris Karloff, Richard Fiske, Amanda Duff, Anne RevereUnited StatesDr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeVictor FlemingSpencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner, Donald CrispUnited StatesTainstvennyy ostrov (Mysterious Island)Eduard PenclinAlexej Krasnopolsky, Pavel Kiyansky, Nikolai Komissarov, Yuri Grammatikati, Andrey Andriyenko-ZemskovSoviet Unionadaptation of the 1874 novel by Jules VerneMan Made MonsterGeorge WaggnerLionel Atwill, Lon Chaney Jr., Anne Nagel, Frank AlbertsonUnited StatesThe Monster and the GirlStuart HeislerEllen Drew, Robert Paige, Paul LukasUnited States Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesBowery at MidnightWallace W. FoxBela Lugosi, John ArcherUnited StatesThe Corpse VanishesWallace W. FoxBela Lugosi, Luana Walters, Tristram Coffin, Elizabeth RussellUnited StatesDr. Renault's SecretHarry LachmanJ. Carrol Naish, John Shepperd, Lynne RobertsUnited StatesInvisible AgentEdwin L. MarinIlona Massey, Jon Hall, Peter Lorre, Cedric HardwickeUnited StatesThe Mad MonsterSam NewfieldJohnny Downs, George Zucco, Anne Nagel, Reginald BarlowUnited States Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesThe Ape ManWilliam BeaudineBela Lugosi, Wallace Ford, Louise CurrieUnited States The Mad GhoulJames HoganDavid Bruce, Evelyn Ankers, George ZuccoUnited States Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesThe Invisible Man's RevengeFord BeebeJon Hall, John Carradine, Evelyn Ankers United StatesThe Lady and the MonsterGeorge ShermanVera Ralston, Richard Arlen, Mary Nash, Sidney Blackmer United StatesThe Monster MakerSam NewfieldJ. Carrol Naish, Ralph Morgan, Tala BirellUnited States Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesManhunt of Mystery IslandSpencer Gordon Bennet, Yakima Canutt, Wallace A. GrissellLinda Stirling, Harry Strang, Tom SteeleUnited StatesSerial filmThe Man in Half Moon StreetRalph MurphyNils Asther, Helen WalkerUnited StatesThe Monster and the ApeHoward BrethertonRobert Lowery, Ralph Morgan, George MacreadyUnited StatesSerial filmThe Purple Monster StrikesSpencer Gordon Bennet, Fred C. BrannonLinda Stirling, Ken Terrell, Mary MooreUnited StatesSerial filmStrange HolidayArch ObolerGriff Barnett, Claude Rains, Barbara Bates, Tommy Cook, Paul HiltonUnited States This film saw a limited release in 1945 then a general release 1946. Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesThe Crimson GhostFred C. Brannon, William Witney Forrest Taylor, Dale Van Sickel, Linda Stirling, Charles QuigleyUnited StatesSerial filmThe Flying SerpentSam NewfieldGeorge Zucco, Ralph Lewis, Hope KramerUnited StatesMad scientistThe Mysterious Mr. MLewis D. Collins, Vernon KeaysRichard Martin, Pamela Blake, Dennis MooreUnited StatesSerial film Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesThe Black WidowSpencer Gordon Bennet, Fred C. BrannonBruce Edwards, Virginia Lee, Carol Forman, Anthony WardeUnited StatesSerial filmBrick BradfordSpencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas CarrKane Richmond, Rick VallinUnited StatesSerial filmJack ArmstrongWallace FoxJohn Hart, Pierre WatkinUnited StatesSerial film Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesChemistry and LoveArthur Maria RabenaltHans Nielsen, Tilly Lauenstein, Ralph LotharEast GermanyComedyCounterblastPaul L. SteinMervyn Johns, Robert Beatty, Nova PilbeamKrakatitOtakar VávraKarel HögerCzechoslovakiaUnknown IslandJack BernhardVirginia Grey, Richard Denning, Barton MacLaneUnited States Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesBruce GentrySpencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas CarrTom NealUnited StatesSerial filmKing of the Rocket MenFred C. BrannonTristram Coffin, Mae ClarkeUnited StatesSerial filmMighty Joe YoungErnest B. SchoedsackTerry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert ArmstrongUnited StatesThe Perfect WomanBernard KnowlesPatricia Roc, Stanley Holloway, Nigel PatrickUnited Kingdom
See also History of science fiction films List of film serials
References
External links Science fiction films of the 1940s on Internet Movie Database