The Cat from Outer Space
A stranded extraterrestrial cat recruits a human ally to recover its impounded spacecraft in a playful Disney science-fiction caper.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- gentle
- breezy
- family movie night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics found it harmless and ingeniously staged as G-rated family entertainment, while viewing its extended complications as predictable and overlong.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The alien cat Jake communicates with humans through a powered collar, making an animal the central agent of the adventure.
The cat’s collar enables communication and extraordinary powers, while the stranded UFO and repair mission turn science fiction into light entertainment.
The stranded UFO is impounded by the government, and Jake must evade authorities while Frank helps recover and repair the ship.
Aggregate criticism specifically highlights believable sight gags, visual trickery, veteran performers, and an aerial climax within a caper-comedy structure.
Films like The Cat from Outer Space, and why
Escape to Witch Mountain
family-friendly science fiction comedy centered on an unusual extraterrestrial visitor and broad physical humor
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
whimsical disney family adventure combining fantastical technology, government pursuit, and comic peril
The Absent-Minded Professor
lighthearted alien-arrival premise with children’s entertainment, comic misunderstandings, and harmless adventure
Movie Details
- Director
- Norman Tokar
- Release Date
- 1978-06-09
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (156)
Cast
- Ken Berry
- Sandy Duncan
- Harry Morgan
- Roddy McDowall
- McLean Stevenson
- Jesse White
- Alan Young
- Hans Conried
- Ronnie Schell
- James Hampton
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Cat from Outer Space about?
- A stranded extraterrestrial cat recruits a human ally to recover its impounded spacecraft in a playful Disney science-fiction caper.
- What is The Cat from Outer Space like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Cat from Outer Space as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Cat from Outer Space violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Cat from Outer Space.
- What did critics think of The Cat from Outer Space?
- Critics found it harmless and ingeniously staged as G-rated family entertainment, while viewing its extended complications as predictable and overlong.
- Which films are like The Cat from Outer Space?
- Films with a similar feel include Escape to Witch Mountain, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, and The Absent-Minded Professor.
- How long is The Cat from Outer Space?
- The Cat from Outer Space runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Cat from Outer Space?
- In United States, The Cat from Outer Space streams on Disney Plus.
