War of the Worlds Adaptation List

Since its publication in 1898, The War of the Worlds has inspired countless adaptations across film, television, radio, and more. Below is a curated list of some of the most notable adaptations, categorized by medium. Click on the links for our analysis and further details.

🎬 Films

🎟️ Theatrical Releases

(These were major theatrical releases with widespread distribution.)

• 1953: The War of the Worlds 🎥
  • Produced by George Pal and directed by Byron Haskin, this classic Cold War-era adaptation is one of the most famous versions of Wells’ novel.
  • See how it measures up to the book.
• 2005: War of the Worlds 🌎
  • Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise, this modern adaptation reimagines the Martian invasion in contemporary America.
  • Read our adaptation analysis.
• 2023: War of the Worlds: The Attack
  • A recent adaptation by Junaid Syed, this version attempts a fresh take on the Martian invasion.
  • Is it faithful to Wells’ vision?

📀 Direct-to-Video

(Lower-budget adaptations, often taking creative liberties with the source material.)

• 1981: The War of the Worlds: Next Century 🇵🇱
  • A Polish sci-fi film by Piotr Szulkin, interpreting the story through a dystopian political lens.
• 2005: H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds
  • Directed by Timothy Hines, this adaptation aimed for book accuracy but was widely criticized.
• 2005: H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds
  • The Asylum’s take, directed by David Michael Latt, which spawned a sequel. (Titled Invasion or The Worlds in War internationally.)
  • Compare it to the original novel.
• 2008: War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
  • A direct sequel to The Asylum’s 2005 film, starring C. Thomas Howell.
• 2012: Alien Dawn
  • Loosely based on Wells’ novel, but set in modern Los Angeles.
• 2012: War of the Worlds: The True Story
  • A mockumentary-style adaptation blending real and fictional footage.
• 2012: War of the Worlds: Goliath
  • An animated sequel set 15 years after the original story.

📺 Television Adaptations

• 1975: The Night That Panicked America
  • A dramatized retelling of the public hysteria caused by Orson Welles’ 1938 radio broadcast.
• 1988-1990: War of the Worlds (TV Series)
  • A continuation of the 1953 film, set decades later.
• 2019: The War of the Worlds (BBC Mini-Series)
  • A rare adaptation set in Edwardian England, staying closer to the novel’s original period.
  • How does it really stack up to the book?
• 2019-2022: War of the Worlds (Fox/Canal+ Series)
  • A modern reimagining set in contemporary Europe.
  • Is it true to Wells’ vision?

📻 Notable Radio Adaptations

Radio has played a huge role in the legacy of The War of the Worlds, starting with the notorious1938 Orson Welles broadcast. Below are some of the most noteworthy adaptations, with a focus on unique or significant productions.

🎙️ The Most Famous Adaptation

1938: Orson Welles’ Radio Broadcast

• The most legendary adaptation, this broadcast on Halloween night convinced listeners that a real Martian invasion was happening.
• Check out our article on this notorious broadcast.
• How does the broadcast stack up to the book?

📡 Other Notable Broadcasts

• 1944: Santiago, Chile Broadcast 🇨🇱
  • Another radio play that led to widespread panic.
• 1949: Quito, Ecuador Broadcast 🇪🇨
  • This version led to riots and attacks on the radio station.
• 1950 & 1967: BBC Radio Adaptations 🎧
  • Two separate BBC dramatizations, including a serialized version in 6 episodes.
• 1968: WKBW Radio Adaptation 📡
  • A well-regarded version made for American radio audiences.
• 1988: NPR 50th Anniversary Special 🎙️
  • A faithful remake featuring Jason Robards, with an updated script for the modern era.
• 2018: The Coming of the Martians 🔊
  • A highly faithful audio adaptation using 5.1 surround sound.

🎼 Musical Adaptations

H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds has inspired numerous musical interpretations, from rock operas to experimental soundscapes. Below are some of the most notable adaptations:

Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds (1978)

• A progressive rock concept album featuring narration and orchestral elements.
• Richard Burton voices the Journalist, with additional performances by Justin Hayward, David Essex, Phil Lynott, and Julie Covington.
• Known for its iconic songs like Forever Autumn and The Eve of the War.
• A major commercial success, selling millions of copies worldwide.

Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation (2012)

• A modern reworking of the 1978 album with updated arrangements and synthesizers.
• Liam Neeson replaces Richard Burton as the Journalist.
• Features new vocalists and instrumentalists, offering a fresh interpretation of the original themes.

Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds – The Musical Drama (2018)

• A full-cast audio drama blending the score of the musical with new dialogue and performances.
• Features Michael Sheen as the Journalist, alongside Taron Egerton, Adrian Edmondson, and Anne-Marie.
• Released as a five-part dramatized version rather than a traditional album.

Check it out on Audible!

The War of the Worlds (Yuval Sharon / Annie Gosfield: 2017) – Opera

• An operatic stage adaptation by composer Annie Gosfield, directed by Yuval Sharon.
• Incorporates the War of the Worlds radio broadcast within an opera setting, merging the classic story with Orson Welles’ famous 1938 hoax.
• Sigourney Weaver provides narration as a news anchor reporting on the Martian invasion.
• Performed in Los Angeles, featuring live radio elements and site-specific performances.

Michael Romeo’s War of the Worlds Albums (2018 & 2022)

• Albums: War of the Worlds, Pt. 1 (2018) and War of the Worlds, Pt. 2 (2022)
• Genre: Progressive Metal
• Details: Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo crafted these concept albums, drawing inspiration from Wells’ narrative to create a fusion of metal and orchestral elements.

Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds – The Spirit of Man Tour 2025

Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds is currently touring the UK and Ireland with The Spirit of Man Tour 2025, celebrating 130 years since H.G. Wells’ classic was published. The production features Jeff Wayne conducting, with Liam Neeson appearing as The Journalist via 3D holography.

Tour Cast Includes:

• Charlie Simpson
• Rou Reynolds
• Max George
• Maisie Smith
• Nathan James
• Anna-Marie Wayne

For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the official website: THEWAROFTHEWORLDS.COM

🎮 Games

• 1984: The War of the Worlds, a computer game based on Jeff Wayne’s musical version.
• 1998: Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds, a real-time strategy computer game.
• 1999: Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds, a vehicular combat game for PlayStation.
• 2011: The War of the Worlds, a 2D action/platform game narrated by Patrick Stewart.
• 2020: Grey Skies: A War of the Worlds Story, a stealth adventure game.
• 2021: Darker Skies, a survival horror game set after the events of the novel.

💥 Comics & Graphic Novels

H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds has inspired numerous comic book adaptations, reinterpretations, and crossovers over the years. From classic retellings to alternate history mashups, here’s a look at some of the most notable entries.

📜 Classic Comic Adaptations

(These faithfully retell Wells’ story in comic book form.)

• 1946-1947 – The War of the Worlds 🇫🇷
  • A French comic adaptation by Edgar P. Jacobs, originally serialized in Le Journal de Tintin and later collected by Dargaud in 1986.
• 1955 – Classics Illustrated #124
  • A vintage Classics Illustrated adaptation, bringing Wells’ story to a mid-century audience.
• 1977 – Marvel Classics Comics #14
  • A Marvel adaptation retelling the novel in the classic superhero publisher’s visual style.
• 1978 – The War of the Worlds (Polish Edition) 🇵🇱
  • A 20-page comic book adaptation illustrated by Waldemar Andrzejewski, published in Poland.
• 2006 – H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds 🎨
  • A Dark Horse Comics adaptation by Ian Edginton and D’Israeli, bringing the novel to life with detailed period-accurate illustrations.
• 2018 – H.G. Wells: The War of the Worlds
  • A modern graphic novel adaptation published by Insight Comics, known for its striking visuals.

🔄 Alternate Takes & Sequels

(These expand or reimagine Wells’ story rather than directly adapting it.)

• 1989 – The War of the Worlds (Eternity Comics)
  • A six-issue miniseries by Scott Finley and Brooks Hagan, offering a fresh take on Wells’ world.
• 1996 – War of the Worlds (Caliber Comics)
  • An adaptation by Scott Zimmerman and Horus, published by Caliber Comics.
• 1996 – The Searchers: Apostle of Mercy
  • A spin-off miniseries from Caliber Comics, offering a unique perspective on the Martian invasion.
• 2006 – War of the Worlds: Second Wave 🌍
  • A Boom! Studios miniseries reimagining the story with a modern setting and a darker tone.

🦸 Crossovers & Sci-Fi Mashups

(Where Wells’ Martians invade unexpected universes!)

• 1999 – Superman: War of the Worlds 🦸‍♂️
  • A DC Elseworlds comic that reimagines The War of the Worlds with Superman stepping in to fight the Martians.
• 2002-2003 – The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume II
  • A graphic novel by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, featuring Martians from War of the Worlds as part of a larger Victorian-era literary crossover.
• 2002-present – Scarlet Traces 🔴
  • A long-running comic series by Ian Edginton and D’Israeli, exploring the aftermath of the Martian invasion and how humanity reverse-engineers Martian technology.
• 2023 – Orson Welles: Warrior of the Worlds 🎭
  • A graphic novel by Milton Lawson and Erik Whalen, published by Scout Comics, blending fact and fiction by turning Orson Welles into a sci-fi action hero battling Martians.

📖 Literature

• 1898: Edison’s Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss, an unofficial sequel to Wells’ novel.
• 1976: The Space Machine by Christopher Priest, a novel that combines elements of Wells’ The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine.
• 2006: Scarlet Traces by Ian Edginton and D’Israeli, a comic series exploring the aftermath of the Martian invasion.

📝 Final Thoughts

This is just a selection of the many War of the Worlds adaptations, each bringing a unique vision to H.G. Wells’ classic. This ever-growing list highlights the diverse range of adaptations inspired by Wells’ seminal work, reflecting its enduring impact on popular culture.

Do you have a favorite?
Explore our True Adaptation Checklist to see which versions stick closest to Wells’ original vision.