Verdict:Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons is a confirmed HIT based on our analysis of audience ratings and box office momentum.
With a rating of 7.7/10, it has delivered a compelling experience for fans of the Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure genre.
Answer: Yes, Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Science Fiction movies.
It features a runtime of 100 minutes and offers a solid storyline that appeals to general audiences.
Last updated: January 9, 2026
Released in 1971, Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons enters the Science Fiction genre with a narrative focused on The Master, an old adversary of the Doctor, has arrived on Earth to destroy humanity with the aid of the Nestene Consciousness and their army of Autons and killer plastic daffodils - unless the Doctor, joined by new assistant Jo Grant, can stop them. Under the direction of Barry Letts, the film attempts to weave detailed character arcs with visual storytelling.
The film is anchored by performances from Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, Nicholas Courtney. The chemistry between the leads drives the emotional core of the movie, making the stakes feel genuine.
From a technical standpoint, Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons offers a visually stunning presentation. The cinematography aligns well with the tone, keeping the narrative moving at a brisk pace.
As of January 2026, Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons is available in theaters worldwide. For streaming audiences in the US and UK, look for availability on major platforms roughly 45 days after the theatrical release. Check your local listings for specific showtimes.
With an audience rating of 7.7/10, the reception has been generally positive. For fans of Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure, it serves as a worthy addition to the watchlist.
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 7.7/10, and global collection metrics, Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1971 cinematic year.
Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons is considered a hit based on audience response and box office performance. With a rating of 7.7/10, it's highly recommended for fans of Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure movies.
Yes, Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons is definitely worth watching! It's a must-watch hit for fans of Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure cinema.
Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons is a Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure movie that The Master, an old adversary of the Doctor, has arrived on Earth to destroy humanity with the aid of the Nestene Consciousness and their army of Auton...
This might have had a touch more menace to it, had the eponymous creatures bent on Earth's conquest not looked like the famous yellow-coats at a seaside holiday camp. Anyway, they are the chosen implements of the malevolent "Master" (Roger Delgado). He has returned to assist the powerful "Nestene" with their dastardly plans but hasn't counted on the intervention of the "Doctor" (Jon Pertwee) and his UNIT ally the "Brigadier" (Nicholas Courtney) who are intrigued when a secret power unit is stolen; then a radio telescope is put out of action and bodies start popping up all over Britain seemingly the victims of suffocation. Now it's up to our intrepid Time Lord to piece together the pieces of this puzzle before humanity is cling-filmed to death. It's good to have "Capt. Yates" (Richard Franklin) back to complete the military team and this story gives "Jo" (Katy Manning) a little more of a role as she proves invaluable helping the "Doctor" work to thwart their antagonists. Thing is, though, despite the best efforts of Delgado - and his penetrating stare - as the megalomaniacal mastermind of evil, this is just another rather cheap and cheerful drama that comes across as vaguely comical at times, and has way too much script. There's just not enough happening, and though the premiss that the world might regret being quite so dependent on plastic one day has some resonance, there's just no peril here and the flat denouement rather sums it all up. I'm sure budgets were an issue, even in 1971, but I think the "Doctor" needs to get back into space and give us some baddies we can get to grips with rather than yet another series of episodes that focus too much on saving our own planet - again, and again whilst facing the endless red-tape of the British government.
