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The Cat from Outer Space (1978) movie poster

Plot Summary

The Cat from Outer Space (1978) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
1978 · 104 min · English
Directed by
Norman Tokar
Starring
Harry Morgan, Jesse White, Hans Conried, James Hampton, Roddy McDowall, Alan Young

A curious, cat-like alien named Jake crash-lands on Earth and seeks the assistance of a scientist to repair his spacecraft. He needs a rare substance, and together they embark on a humorous adventure to find it. Along the way, they encounter the challenges of human behavior while pursuing the mysterious "Org 12." Their quest leads to an unexpected bond and a heartwarming reunion with Jake's mothership.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like The Cat from Outer Space
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Cat from Outer Space (1978)

Where can you watch The Cat from Outer Space? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Disney Plus, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Cat from Outer Space: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Cat from Outer Space (1978) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

As the extraordinary cat-like alien, Zunar-J-5/9 Doric-4-7, affectionately known as Jake, makes a dramatic descent to Earth from his beleaguered spaceship, he quickly finds himself under the watchful eye of the United States government. With his Mother Ship poised to leave our solar system, Jake depends on his ingenuity to repair his damaged vessel and set in motion a daring rescue mission. His unique powers, enhanced by a special collar, grant him incredible telepathic and telekinetic abilities.

Jake's journey begins at the Energy Research Laboratory (E.R.L.), where he becomes fascinated with Frank Wilson's groundbreaking theory regarding the UFO's energy source. Although Frank, often underestimated by his peers, stumbles upon the correct answer amidst skepticism. Intrigued, Jake follows him to his office, where Frank affectionately names him "Jake."

Tensions rise when Liz Bartlet, upset by Frank's casual demeanor in the face of significant scientific findings, storms in. Frank smoothly steps in to ease the atmosphere. In this moment, Jake unveils his alien identity to Frank, demonstrating his amazing powers and proposing a quid pro quo: he will share advanced energy knowledge in exchange for Frank’s help.

As the night progresses, they devise a plan to infiltrate the military base housing Jake's spaceship. Liz, accompanied by her feline friend, Lucybelle, unexpectedly joins their dinner plans. To slip past detection, Jake pretends to be unwell, allowing Frank to fly up using a backup collar and attach a diagnostic device to the ship.

Discovering that Jake's ship is in desperate need of an element called "Org 12," which Frank identifies as elemental gold, they solidify their partnership. Back at Frank's apartment, they begin a thrilling quest for a treasure worth $120,000. When Norman Link, a colleague of Frank's, appears, he introduces an evening filled with gambling on horse races and football games. Seizing the opportunity, Jake uses his extraordinary abilities to guide Link's horse to victory. This success inspires Frank and Jake to coax Link into joining their efforts, taking advantage of his financial stake.

However, their progress is stalled when a well-meaning veterinarian, summoned by Liz due to worries about Jake's condition, accidentally knocks him unconscious. Unfazed, Frank briefs Liz on their quest, and they head to a local pool hall where Link has placed his bets, only to find their luck has taken a turn for the worse.

With the clock ticking down and stakes getting higher, they agree to a high-stakes pool match against Sarasota Slim, a cunning hustler. Frank tries to leverage Jake's collar, but just when all seems lost, Jake awakens. Using his unique powers, he alters the game's final moments, leading them to victory and securing the funds necessary to procure the gold needed for his ship's repair.

Their triumphant moment is short-lived, however, as industrial spy Stallwood, working on behalf of the nefarious Olympus, begins to shadow their every move, along with military authorities. As Frank and Jake narrowly evade capture, they face a new danger when Link, Liz, and Lucybelle fall into the hands of the malevolent Olympus.

In a courageous decision, Jake opts to send his ship back to the Mother Ship while he stays on Earth to save his friends. He commandeers a rundown biplane in a daring infiltration of an Olympus helicopter, leading to a chaotic showdown resulting in the chopper's crash. This ultimately leaves Olympus and Stallwood vulnerable to capture by the authorities. With his friends safely back on solid ground, Jake is granted the opportunity to remain on Earth as an ambassador of an extraterrestrial "friendly power" and eventually achieves his dream of becoming a United States citizen.

Last updated: November 18, 2024 at 20:35

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Plot questions answered

The Cat from Outer Space Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Cat from Outer Space (1978): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Jake need gold for his spaceship?

Jake's spaceship is damaged during its descent to Earth and requires a rare element called Org 12 to repair it. Frank Wilson identifies Org 12 as elemental gold, which is needed to power the ship's engines and complete the repair so Jake can return home.

  • org 12
  • gold
  • spaceship repair
  • alien technology
Q2

Why does Jake reveal his alien identity to Frank?

Jake chooses to reveal his identity to Frank because he needs a scientist's help to repair his spaceship. After observing Frank at the Energy Research Laboratory and seeing that he correctly deduced the UFO energy source despite peer skepticism, Jake decides Frank is the right human to trust with his secret.

  • alien identity
  • frank wilson
  • scientist
  • trust
Q3

What is Org 12 and why is it important?

Org 12 is the alien term for elemental gold, which serves as the fuel source for Jake's spaceship. The ship needs approximately $120,000 worth of gold to complete repairs and return to the Mother Ship.

  • org 12
  • gold
  • spaceship fuel
  • alien technology
Q4

How does Jake use his telepathic powers to win the horse race?

Jake uses his telepathic abilities to communicate with and guide Norman Link's chosen horse, influencing its movements to ensure it wins the race. This earns them additional money and convinces Link to join their quest for the gold.

  • telepathy
  • horse racing
  • norman link
  • powers
Q5

Why does Jake send his spaceship back to the Mother Ship?

Jake sends his damaged spaceship back to the Mother Ship to retrieve help and rescue his friends who have been captured by Olympus. This selfless decision allows him to stay on Earth and orchestrate a rescue operation while the ship returns for backup.

  • mother ship
  • rescue
  • olympus
  • friends captured
Q6

How does Jake rescue his friends from Olympus?

Jake commandeers a rundown biplane and uses it to infiltrate an Olympus helicopter. During the chaotic confrontation, he causes the helicopter to crash, which leaves Olympus and Stallwood vulnerable for authorities to capture them, freeing Liz, Link, and Lucybelle.

  • biplane rescue
  • olympus
  • stallwood
  • liz bartlet
Q7

Why does Jake decide to stay on Earth?

After successfully rescuing his friends and defeating Olympus, Jake chooses to remain on Earth as an ambassador for his extraterrestrial civilization. His bond with Frank, Liz, and the others, combined with his growing love for Earth life, motivates him to stay and eventually become a United States citizen.

  • ambassador
  • citizenship
  • earth
  • friendship
  • choice
Q8

What is the Olympus organization in the movie?

Olympus is a nefarious industrial corporation led by a character who serves as the main antagonist. They employ industrial spy Stallwood to track Jake and his companions, ultimately capturing Liz, Link, and Lucybelle to use as leverage against Jake.

  • olympus
  • corporate villain
  • stallwood
  • antagonist
Q9

Why is the military pursuing Jake?

The United States government becomes interested in Jake's spaceship after his dramatic descent to Earth. The military pursues Jake because they want to study his alien spacecraft and technology, viewing it as a significant national security asset.

  • military
  • government
  • spaceship
  • capture
Q10

How does Jake's special collar work?

Jake wears a special collar that enhances his alien abilities, granting him powerful telekinetic and telepathic powers. He uses these abilities throughout the movie for tasks like moving objects, communicating mentally, and influencing events like the pool game and horse race.

  • collar
  • telekinesis
  • telepathy
  • powers
  • alien abilities
Q11

Why does Jake pretend to be sick at dinner?

Jake pretends to be unwell during dinner as part of their plan to infiltrate the military base where his spaceship is held. This allows Frank to use a backup collar to fly up to the ship and attach a diagnostic device to assess the damage.

  • feigning illness
  • stealth
  • military base
  • diagnostic
Q12

How does Jake win the high-stakes pool game against Sarasota Slim?

After waking up from being knocked unconscious, Jake uses his telekinetic powers to subtly alter the pool balls' movements during the final shot. This allows Frank and his team to win the match and secure the money needed to purchase the gold.

  • pool game
  • sarasota slim
  • telekinesis
  • victory

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Cat from Outer Space, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Cat from Outer Space tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Whimsical Alien Encounter Movies like The Cat from Outer Space

Humorous and lighthearted stories of friendly aliens visiting Earth. Looking for more movies like The Cat from Outer Space? This list features gentle, family-friendly sci-fi comedies about friendly aliens landing on Earth. If you enjoyed the humorous adventures and lighthearted tone of Jake the alien cat, you'll find similar charming stories here.

  • whimsical
  • funny
  • lighthearted
  • charming
  • adventurous
  • silly
  • Tone: whimsical, lighthearted
  • Pacing: steady, fun-focused
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically involves an alien's arrival and subsequent need for human help to achieve a simple goal, such as returning home or retrieving an object. The conflict arises from human institutions like the military or government, but is resolved through teamwork and wit, leading to a positive outcome for all.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core vibe of non-threatening, optimistic sci-fi. They prioritize humor and heart over danger, featuring whimsical premises, steady pacing, and a light emotional touch that makes them perfect for family viewing.

Human and Animal Team-Up Adventures like The Cat from Outer Space

Adventures where humans and clever animals become an unlikely team. If you loved the partnership between the scientist and Jake the alien cat in The Cat from Outer Space, explore these movies about human and animal friendships. Discover similar stories featuring clever animals and their human allies working together on fun, adventurous missions.

  • charming
  • adventurous
  • heartwarming
  • funny
  • teamwork
  • friendship
  • Tone: charming, adventurous
  • Pacing: steady, quest-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is driven by a shared goal that requires the unique abilities of both the human and the animal. The animal often possesses special intelligence or skills, while the human provides resources and access to the human world. Their journey strengthens their bond and proves that teamwork transcends species.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their central premise of a cooperative, problem-solving relationship between a human and an animal. They evoke a sense of charm, adventure, and lighthearted fun, focusing on the joy of an unlikely companionship.

If you liked this

Movies Like The Cat from Outer Space

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Every angle

The Cat from Outer Space (1978) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Cat from Outer Space in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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