The War of the Worlds Panic: When Humans Thought Aliens Were Actually Invading

"People thought radio fiction was a real alien invasion. Embarrassing."

Alice daintily adjusts her hat, a wicked glimmer in her eye.

“Oh, my darlings, we are gathered today to discuss one of history’s greatest moments of pure, unfiltered human panic.

A moment where rational thought left the building, where grown men ran screaming into the night, and where an entire nation lost its collective mind over a radio drama.

Yes, I am talking about The War of the Worlds broadcast of 1938.

The night when humans thought Martians were invading Earth.”

She leans in conspiratorially, lowering her voice.

“And let me tell you… it was deliciously ridiculous.”

Orson Welles: The Man, the Myth, the Accidental Chaos Agent

Alice twirls a sugar cube in her tea.

“Our troublemaker of the evening was none other than Orson Welles—yes, that Welles, the one who would go on to make Citizen Kane and generally be a dramatic genius with a love for stirring the pot.

In 1938, radio was the dominant form of entertainment—before Netflix, before TV, before people decided that doom-scrolling on their glass rectangles was the pinnacle of leisure.

And Orson? Well, he had this cute little radio show called The Mercury Theatre on the Air, where they adapted classic stories into immersive dramas.

For Halloween that year, they decided to perform H.G. Wells’ classic sci-fi novel, The War of the Worlds—a tale of Martians invading Earth.

But, oh my dears, Orson was not about to simply read the book. No, no, no. He decided to broadcast it like a live news report.”

The Most Realistic Fake News Broadcast Ever

Alice sets down her cup with a clink.

“The show started like any normal evening program—some orchestral music, a light chat, the usual.

Then, without warning, the broadcast interrupted itself.

A panicked news reporter broke in, announcing that scientists had detected strange activity on Mars.

Then came live reports of ‘mysterious explosions’ in the sky.

Then a reporter on the ground, live from New Jersey, describing a massive, metallic object crashing into a field.

And then… the panic really started.

Because suddenly, the ‘news’ announced that Martians were emerging from the spacecraft.

And they weren’t here for tea.

They were melting people with heat rays.

Yes, my dears. A fake radio broadcast convinced thousands of people that actual aliens were incinerating New Jersey.”

People Absolutely Lost Their Minds

Alice cackles, waving a hand dramatically.

“Oh, and the humans? They freaked out.

People ran into the streets, screaming.
Families packed their cars and tried to flee the city.
Churches filled with weeping citizens, convinced the world was ending.
A man in Pittsburgh reportedly loaded his shotgun and waited at his door.
Another called the power company, demanding they shut off all city lights so the aliens wouldn’t see them.

And my favorite?

One woman barged into a bar, hysterically crying, and shouted, ‘The world is ending! You might as well drink!’

Alice claps her hands together, beaming.

“Now, if that’s not a mood, I don’t know what is.”

Why Did People Fall for It?

Now, my darlings, let’s break down why this ridiculous mass panic even happened.

People tuned in late.
- The broadcast had a disclaimer at the beginning saying it was fake, but if you missed the first few minutes? Oops.
It was produced TOO well.
- The actors were too convincing. The ‘live’ reporters sounded terrified. The sound effects? Suspiciously realistic.
It was the 1930s, and people were already on edge.
- World War II was looming, and many assumed if it wasn’t Martians, it was the Germans.
Radio was trusted like gospel.
- Back then, if the radio said something, you believed it. People weren’t used to fake news for fun.