The War of the Worlds (Dramatized) cover art

The War of the Worlds (Dramatized)

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

The War of the Worlds (Dramatized)

By: Mercury Theatre on the Air
Narrated by: Orson Welles
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £4.02

Buy Now for £4.02

One of the most memorable programs in broadcast history, the Halloween Eve 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds set off a nationwide panic that's almost unimaginable today. Presented by the Mercury Theatre on the Air and its creative genius, Orson Welles, the drama based on H.G. Wells' classic novel tells the story of a Martian invasion of Earth. As written by Howard Koch, the play unfolds in a realistic documentary style, complete with simulated news broadcasts of aliens landing in Grover's Mill, New Jersey.

Whether they weren't quite paying attention, tuned in late, or simply misunderstood what they heard, legions of listeners thought an actual invasion was underway. The front-page headline in the October 31, 1938, New York Times told the whole story: "Radio Listeners in Panic, Taking War Drama as Fact/Many Flee Homes to Escape 'Gas Raid From Mars'/Phone Calls Swamp Police at Broadcast of Wells Fantasy".

Hear more collections of radio movie dramatizations, or listen to all of the individual programs by themselves!©2006 Radio Spirits, Inc. (P)2006 Radio Spirits, Inc. Genre Fiction Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
This is an excellent Adaptation of the HG wells story, bringing it into what would was then a modern setting. The sound is a bit crackly at the stray but it gets better as it goes on.

An all time classic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.