Edward D. Wood’s micro-budget gem Plan 9 From Outer Space on BFI Blu-ray and Digital in October
Controversially voted ‘the worst film ever made’ (it so is not), Edward D. Wood Jr’s micro-budget 1950s sci-fi epic Plan 9 From Outer Space continues to delight fans and confound critics. On 19 October the BFI brings it to Blu-ray, newly remastered using 4K scans. Stacked extras include both a new and an archival audio commentary and much more.
For this strange story of alien invaders in flimsy flying saucers on a muddled-up mission to resurrect earth’s dead, Wood juxtaposed pre-existing footage of his idol, the recently deceased Bela Lugosi, with new scenes featuring business associates, Hollywood has-beens and hangers-on. Amidst a claustrophobic cemetery set, crammed with cardboard tombstones, Plan 9 occupies a unique cinematic dream-realm where ineptitude and inspiration collide; where conventional criticism, time, space and logic no longer rule supreme. Can you prove it didn’t happen?
Also included is Bride of the Monster, making its worldwide Blu-ray debut. Lovingly written by Wood for Lugosi, it immortalises the screen’s master of menace – who usefully remained alive throughout production – in his last great performance as haunted, homeless genius Dr Eric Vornoff. Adrift and forsaken in a jungle hell, he’s on an ungodly mission to create atomic superbeings – throwing anybody who gets in the way to his awful octopus.
Plan 9 From Outer Space will be released on Blu-ray by the BFI on 19 October 2026 at the RRP of £24.99, and will arrive on Amazon Prime and Apple TV on 26 October 2026.
BFI BLU-RAY FEATURES:
- Features remastered by the BFI using 4K scans from 35mm Fine Grain Duplicating Positives
- Plan 9 From Outer Space presented in 1.85:1 and 1.37:1 ratios
- New audio commentary on Plan 9 From Outer Space by writer Ken Hollings and the BFI’s Vic Pratt
- Archive audio commentary on Plan 9 From Outer Space by filmmakers David DeCoteau and Ted Newsom
- Criswell Predicts 2026 (2026, 11 mins): Ken Hollings celebrates Wood’s masterwork in this video essay
- Mark Kermode on Plan 9 (2026, 4 mins): the critic introduces the film
- Out of Step: Other Worlds Are Watching Us (1957, 13 mins): journalist Daniel Farson investigates the British saucer flap in this groundbreaking Rediffusion television show
- Kadoyng (Ian Shand, 1972, 60 mins): another space visitor plans to sort out stupid humans in 1970s England, in this fab Children’s Film Foundation feature
- All About Ed: Archive interviews with family and friends (2011, 96 mins total): interviews with Wood’s entourage
- Bela Lugosi leaves the sanitarium (1955, 5 mins): the master of horror chats to reporters following his rehabilitation
- New audio commentary on Bride of the Monster by the BFI’s William Fowler and Vic Pratt
- Archive audio commentary on Bride of the Monster by filmmakers David DeCoteau and Ted Newsom
- White Lite (1968, 3 mins): far-out film homage to Bride of the Monster by artist Jeff Keen
- Theatrical trailers
- Image galleries
- FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring new writing by Will Sloan, Jaye Hudson, Mark Pilkington, Vic Pratt, William Fowler, Jane Giles and Jan Manthey