Despite its futuristic title, In the Year 2889 is a 1967 made-for-television horror sci-fi film that’s not actually set in the year 2889—and has nothing to do with Jules Verne’s short story of the same name. Directed by Larry Buchanan, this low-budget production was commissioned by American International Pictures (AIP) as a color remake of Roger Corman’s Day the World Ended (1955).
Plot Summary
After a nuclear apocalypse, a small group of survivors gathers in a secluded valley, protected from radiation. Among them are Steve Morrow (Paul Petersen), Jada (Quinn O’Hara), and Joanna Ramsey (Charla Doherty). As tensions rise, they must fend off mutant humans, internal betrayals, and the psychological toll of isolation.
The film explores themes of survival, paranoia, and the breakdown of social order—but with a heavy dose of camp and recycled dialogue from its predecessor.
Cast Highlights
- Paul Petersen as Steve Morrow
- Quinn O’Hara as Jada
- Charla Doherty as Joanna Ramsey
- Neil Fletcher as Capt. John Ramsey
- Hugh Feagin as Mickey Brown
- Max W. Anderson, Bill Thurman, and Byron Lord round out the cast
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The title In the Year 2889 was originally registered by AIP for a planned Jules Verne adaptation, but when that project was shelved, they reused the title for this remake
- The film is an almost line-for-line remake of Day the World Ended, with minimal changes to the script
- Shot in 16mm color, it was designed to pad out AIP’s television syndication packages
- Actress Charla Doherty made her final film appearance in this production
- Promotional materials often listed the title as Year 2889, but the on-screen credits use the full title
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