# The Space Children (1958)

The Space Children is a science-fiction film directed by Jack Arnold and features a cast that includes Michel Ray, Jackie Coogan, and Russell Johnson. The story revolves around a group of children living near a military base working on a rocket called "The Thunderer," designed to launch a nuclear device into orbit. The children encounter a small alien life form that communicates with them telepathically. Under its influence, they embark on a mission to sabotage the rocket launch, believing it poses a threat to humanity. The film addresses themes of nuclear fear and the innocence of childhood. It presents a pacifist message, suggesting that children can recognize the dangers of nuclear weapons better than adults. While it has been critiqued for its low budget and simplistic plot, it remains a notable example of 1950s sci-fi cinema.

- Kind: Feature
- Year: 1958
- By: Jack Arnold
- Genres: Drama, Science fiction, War, Science, Space, Children's, Adventure
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/the.-space.-children.-1958)
- Licence or status: [Public Domain Mark 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/) (as the archive states it)
- US copyright record: Its uploader marked it public domain; the US Copyright Office's records show its copyright renewed on 1 April 1986 by Paramount Pictures Corporation (PWH) ([U.S. Copyright Office, Copyright Public Records System, renewal registration RE0000292407, renewal RE0000292407](https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/voyager_7188857))
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/the.-space.-children.-1958?play=1)