This iconic Steven Spielberg alien movie is finally streaming for free ‣ Diverse Daily

Steven Spielberg has delivered some of the most iconic sci-fi movies in cinema history. Some of the director’s most beloved films have explored humans encountering aliens, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. More recently, he returned to the alien genre with his original blockbuster Disclosure Day. While none of these films are free to stream, one of Spielberg’s most notable sci-fi films, War of the Worlds, is now streaming for free on Pluto TV.

Based on H.G. Wells’ classic novel, War of the Worlds stars Tom Cruise as a divorced father who tries to protect his two estranged children when aliens invade the Earth. The War of the Worlds has had multiple film and TV adaptations over the years, with the first film being a groundbreaking movie for alien sci-fi back in 1953. However, Spielberg’s modern adaptation of Wells’ story remains one of the best big-screen versions more than 20 years after its theatrical release.

While it is divisive among general audiences, War of the Worlds currently holds a 76% “Certified Fresh” rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie made over $600 million at the box office and earned Oscar nominations for its visual effects, sound mixing, and sound editing. Blending sci-fi, action, and terror, War of the Worlds delivers one of the most thrilling Steven Spielberg movies ever.

War of the Worlds brings Wells’ story to the 21st century

Steven Spielberg breathes new life into a sci-fi classic

Though the original War of the Worlds movie features effects that were impressive for their time, Spielberg’s modern adaptation surpasses them with even more realistic and frightening visuals. The alien tripods from Wells’ story have never looked more terrifying than they have in this movie.

Because the aliens in this film are far from friendly, War of the Worlds is also a much darker sci-fi story than Close Encounters and E.T. At times, the movie ventures into horror territory as the aliens terraform the planet and leave countless people dead. This makes it seem like the main characters could get killed off at any moment, heightening the terror and suspense.

Rather than follow world leaders and science experts trying to stop the aliens invading Earth, Spielberg’s film follows an ordinary family trying to survive the chaos on the ground. Though this narrows the story’s scale, it creates a more relatable, intense, engaging narrative that taps into the audience’s anxieties after 9/11. It also lets Spielberg deliver another thrilling, heartfelt story about family and parenthood amid extraordinary circumstances.

Nevertheless, War of the Worlds stays true to the source material with its abrupt ending. This has long rubbed some audiences the wrong way, and Spielberg’s forced happy ending isn’t for everybody. Overall, War of the Worlds delivers a thrilling, terrifying, and heartfelt blockbuster that demands to be seen.

Stream War of the Worlds for free on Pluto TV

Experience one of the most iconic alien invasion stories ever

In September, Pluto TV added Spielberg’s War of the Worlds to its digital library, along with several other movies. Though the film is free to stream, Pluto TV requires users to watch it with occasional ad breaks. You also can’t upgrade to an ad-free subscription.

If you’re not a fan of Pluto TV, War of the Worlds is also available on Apple TV, HBO Max, and Paramount+. However, since Pluto TV doesn’t charge viewers to stream films, watching it there seems like the best deal for those who want to enjoy Spielberg’s epic blockbuster.

You can access Pluto TV from your web browser or through the official app, which you can download to your smartphone or tablet from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Pluto TV is also available on smart TVs or streaming devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Android TV.

What else is on Pluto TV?

Stream more sci-fi and Spielberg classics for free

If you enjoy War of the Worlds or want other sci-fi films to stream, Pluto TV has plenty of other must-see titles available for free. Such iconic films include Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the Star Trek movies, Total Recall, Arrival, and Super 8. Fans can also stream the 1953 adaptation of The War of the Worlds, offering another distinctive version of Wells’ classic story.

Spielberg fans can even stream some of the director’s other films on Pluto TV. Available titles currently include The Adventures of Tintin, The Terminal, Catch Me If You Can, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and Saving Private Ryan.

Pluto TV offers more than enough titles for fans of both sci-fi and Steven Spielberg. However, War of the Worlds should be put high on viewers’ watchlists. While it may not be the director’s best work, War of the Worlds is still an exhilarating, emotional, and captivating interpretation of a sci-fi classic.