Look up at the sky, or at least to your screens: July 2nd is World UFO Day, and libraries can help communities commemorate this other-worldly day through unique programming. (The day commemorates the legendary and supposed Roswell, New Mexico UFO incident of 1947).
Films, TV shows, and other types of multimedia (as well as books and other reading materials) have long offered coverage of UFOs and space aliens, extraterrestrial stories, and commentary on life Out There. Libraries can get into the spirit and connect with this eternal interest. Deck out the main reading rooms with UFO-themed decor and posters. Perhaps hold a contest for flying saucer crafts, alien costumes, and creative writing opportunities in your library programming.
In general, the media, especially movies, TV shows, and cartoons have taken a few major points of view about UFOs and space creatures: fascination and appreciation; fear and intimidation; humorous depictions. While many films and shows have an us versus them agenda, others play up the “commonalities” between aliens and humans. Libraries can touch upon all these themes, or hone in on one. Some movies and shows grapple with the deep subject matter, while others take a light-hearted approach.
Many of these TV shows and films were very popular and became notable in popular culture, while others are more obscure. Certainly, some are cult favorites and even prized as much for their camp quotient. Perhaps focus on a particular genre or theme. Do you want to screen familiar favorites? Obscure gems? Films from the first half of the 1900s? TV episodes from the 1950s and 1960s?
These shows and films often reflect other cultural and societal concerns such as the Arms Race, political insecurity, space travel (especially by the US and the USSR), discomfort with changes in technology, and psychological underpinnings such as insecurity and identity. They are also built around suspense and curiosity. Others are parodies or even slapstick renderings of space creatures. They run the gamut from brooding and scary, to hopeful and laughable. The production qualities range from shoestring to huge budgets. They can be viewed and discussed for their varying depictions of UFOs, aliens, and how humans react and interact with them.
If you have an interest in a particular film, you must contact the distributor of the film. Our distributor database provides contact information for numerous companies.
Check out our information on public performance rights to learn more about the rules and regulations surrounding public screenings and showing a movie at your library.
What films could I use to host a public screening for World UFO Day?
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
- Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)
- The Thing From Another World (1951)
- The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976)
- The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951 and 2008)
- Roswell (1994)
- Brother From Another Planet (1984)
- Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
- ET the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
- the Alien/Aliens film series
- Cocoon (1985) and Cocoon: The Return (1988)
- Independence Day (1996)
- The Blob (1958 and 1988)
- The War of the Worlds (1953 and others)
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
- Uforia (1980)
- The UFO Incident (1975)
- Earth Versus the Flying Saucers (1956)
- Hangar 18 (1980)
- District 9 (2009)
- Invaders From Mars (1953)
- Cover Your Eyes (2019)
What TV Shows could I use to host a public screening for World UFO Day?
- My Favorite Martian (1963-66)
- Mork and Mindy (1978-82)
- an episode of The X Files
- ALF (1986-90)
- The animated series Invader Zim
- The character The Great Gazoo in eleven episodes of The Flintstones (and revivals) features aliens and flying saucers.
- Episodes of The Twilight Zone series that feature UFOs and aliens include “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” “The Invaders,” “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?” and “To Serve Man.”
- “The Lost Saucer” is a humorous TV show from 1975.
- “Fireball XL5” is a 1962-63 children’s TV series about space that has a few episodes featuring flying saucers.
- There are select episodes of shows including Futurama, The Simpsons, American Dad (with the character Roger), and South Park (particularly the episode “First Contact” from Season 13) that feature UFOs and aliens.
- And check out the Pink Panther cartoon “Pink UFO” in which the little UFO appears to be a butterfly to the Panter.
What children's shows could I use to host a public screening for World UFO Day?
For young children, you could screen cartoons such as:
- “Sunny Bunnies: The Alien Spaceship.”
- “Glumpers: The UFO”
- “Om Nom Stories: Super Noms-UFO”
- “Bernard Bear: The UFO”
- Lilo and Stitch (2002) is a feature-length film that will entertain kids and adults as well.
World UFO Day can be fun but it can also spur conversation about our place in the cosmos. It can be engaging and some library patrons may end up reading the novels upon which the blockbuster movies are based. Treat it with some gravity, and patrons might find themselves elevated.
For more information about World UFO Day, check out the website www.worldufoday.com