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William Cameron Menzies’ 50s sf classic Invaders from Mars on UHD, Blu-ray & Digital in May

The BFI is to release the body snatching science fiction classic Invaders from Mars on UHD, Blu-ray, Apple TV and Amazon Prime in May.

Things to Come director and Thief of Bagdad and Gone with the Wind production designer William Cameron Menzies’ 1953 film terrified Cold War-era audiences upon release with its chilling vision of an insidious alien attack on small-town America. A sci-fi cinema landmark, Invaders From Mars has inspired filmmakers as varied as Don Coscarelli (Phantasm), Brad Bird (The Iron Giant) and John Carpenter (The Thing). Now fully restored in 4K, this Atomic Age classic is ready to unleash its spine-tingling terror upon a new generation of film fans. On 11 May it comes to both UHD and Blu-ray formats, released by the BFI with numerous special features including a newly recorded audio commentary by Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw and a new video essay.

After young David McLean (Jimmy Hunt, Pitfall) witnesses a flying saucer crash near his home, the local townsfolk, including his parents, start acting strangely. David convinces government official Dr Blake (Helena Carter, Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye) and astronomer Dr Kelston (Arthur Franz, The Caine Mutiny) that something is awry – but can these unlikely heroes thwart a full-blown invasion from space? 

Invaders From Mars UHD cover

Indaders from Mars will be released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, Apple TV and Amazon Prime on 11 May 2026 by the BFI at the RRP of £27.99 for the UHD and £22.99 for the Blu-ray.

UHD AND BLU-RAY CONTENTS:

  • UHD: Restored 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation (HDR10 compatible), from the original camera negative and master positives
  • Blu-ray: Restored in 4K and presented in High Definition
  • Newly recorded audio commentary by Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw
  • Not Just a Dream: Designing Hope in Invaders From Mars (2026, 16 mins): filmmaker Nic Wassell explores how legendary production designer and director William Cameron Menzies infuses the paranoia of atomic age science fiction with hope for the future
  • William Cameron Menzies: Architect of Dreams (2022, 16 mins): Menzies’ biographer James Curtis interviews the director’s granddaughter Pamela Lauesen
  • Jimmy Hunt Saves the Planet (2022, 11 mins): interview with the actor
  • Terror From Above (2022, 22 mins): filmmakers John Landis and Joe Dante, editor Mark Goldblatt, visual effects artist Robert Skotak and preservationist Scott MacQueen discuss the film
  • Restoring the Invasion (2022, 7 mins): before and after clips of the restoration
  • TCM Festival Introduction (2022, 7 mins): by John Sayles
  • Ernest Dickerson on Invaders From Mars (2022, 5 mins): the award-winning cinematographer introduces a new trailer
  • European observatory sequence (1953, 9 mins) 
  • European ending (1953, 3 mins) 
  • Original 1953 trailer
  • 2022 trailer
  • Extensive image gallery including posters, press book pages and publicity materials, plus previously unseen images from the BFI National Archive
  • FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring new writing on the film by Dr Deborah Allison and Barry Forshaw, a short piece from Monthly Film Bulletin, November 1954, notes on the special features and film credits