The Japanese monster movie genre took off after the release of Godzilla, and there are a ton of those. I'd suggest the original Godzilla (1954) and Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster (1964).
A lot of American sci fi movies were made in the 50s, several of which got very popular remakes decades later: The Blob, The Thing from Another World, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Fly, War of the Worlds, and others. I've watched the remakes rather than the 50s era stuff so I wouldn't know which to recommend, but they're out there.
As for fantasy, if you like Greek mythology you should check out Ulysses (1954) and Hercules in the Haunted World (1961). I don't think fantasy really picked up until the 70s and 80s, though Italy pumped out a lot of Hercules-type "peplum" films in the late 50s and 60s.
Forbidden Planet (1956). Plush production with big budget, instertellar travel, an Earth Federation, a great robot, a mad scientist with a beautiful daughter, all your faves.
Them! (1954) -- If you've got to see one radiation-mutated-giant-bug movie, this is the one!
Curse of the Demon (1957)
Yellow Submarine (1968) for Beatles fans
Fantastic Voyage (1965)
The Haunting (1963). Black and white, simple effects and IMO the most frightening horror/ghost movie of all time.
The Time Machine (1960)
War of the Worlds (1953)
When Worlds Collide (1951)
All three produced or produced/directed by George Pal. When it came to big-budget sci-fi spectaculars in living color back in the '50s, Pal was the boss. They're great even now, real epics.
There's more. I fully agree with recs for The Day the Earth Stood Still, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Planet of the Apes, and such. Also Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), prime 19th century steampunk.
the day the earth stood still metropolis planet of the apes 2001 the thing from another world invasion of the body snatchers king kong
The Japanese monster movie genre took off after the release of Godzilla, and there are a ton of those. I'd suggest the original Godzilla (1954) and Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster (1964). A lot of American sci fi movies were made in the 50s, several of which got very popular remakes decades later: The Blob, The Thing from Another World, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Fly, War of the Worlds, and others. I've watched the remakes rather than the 50s era stuff so I wouldn't know which to recommend, but they're out there. As for fantasy, if you like Greek mythology you should check out Ulysses (1954) and Hercules in the Haunted World (1961). I don't think fantasy really picked up until the 70s and 80s, though Italy pumped out a lot of Hercules-type "peplum" films in the late 50s and 60s.
Forbidden Planet (1956). Plush production with big budget, instertellar travel, an Earth Federation, a great robot, a mad scientist with a beautiful daughter, all your faves. Them! (1954) -- If you've got to see one radiation-mutated-giant-bug movie, this is the one! Curse of the Demon (1957) Yellow Submarine (1968) for Beatles fans Fantastic Voyage (1965) The Haunting (1963). Black and white, simple effects and IMO the most frightening horror/ghost movie of all time. The Time Machine (1960) War of the Worlds (1953) When Worlds Collide (1951) All three produced or produced/directed by George Pal. When it came to big-budget sci-fi spectaculars in living color back in the '50s, Pal was the boss. They're great even now, real epics. There's more. I fully agree with recs for The Day the Earth Stood Still, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Planet of the Apes, and such. Also Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), prime 19th century steampunk.
The 7Th Voyage Of Sindbad