Throughout history, British culture has produced some of the most iconic Science Fiction stories ever composed. From Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic Frankenstein to H.G. Wells’ 1895 The Time Machine and 1898’s The War of the Worlds, the history runs far and deep along the British Isles. Jumping forward to the 20th century, BBC’s Head of Drama, Sydney Newman, led the way for a new television series which would be famously recognized as Doctor Who. First airing on BBC Television in November 1963, Doctor Who became a massive success in the UK, while in places like the USA, it slowly built a smaller, dedicated following.
The story follows a man named The Doctor, an eccentric traveler through space and time who explores the unknown while fighting evil. A compelling idea for those interested in adventure, history, and time travel, following several serials (an estimated 85 episodes) aired, enough interest and a thicker plot were built to usher in the first full-length Doctor Who movie in 1965, called Dr. Who and the Daleks.
A perfect way to dive into feature cinema, The Daleks first appeared early in the series and, as violent, emotionless cyborg aliens, became the most infamous villains in Doctor Who. With this in mind, Dr. Who and the Daleks would be of extreme interest for several other reasons as well. For starters, it would be the first time anyone had seen the story in color, since all the episodes had been in black and white until then. Second, iconic British Actor Peter Cushing was cast as Doctor Who himself.
A smart move by the production company, Cushing was a big name to draw movie viewers in, easily recognized for many Horror film roles such as 1957’s The Curse of Frankenstein and 1958’s Dracula. However, his role as Doctor Who broadened his appeal to a younger audience, because the character is inherently a teacher-like figure.
All of this in mind, Dr. Who and the Daleks premiered in London on August 23, 1965, and became one of the biggest British films that year. Not nearly as successful in the USA, mainly because the Doctor Who series was not as well known in the region yet, it would not reach its peak popularity there until decades later, through PBS. Nonetheless, Dr. Who and the Daleks is an essential piece of the Doctor Who series legacy, paving the way for 1966’s Daleks’ Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D..
An engaging plot where Doctor Who, along with his admiring youngest Granddaughter, Susan (Roberta Tovey), accidentally is transported to another planet because his older Granddaughter Barbara’s (Jennie Linden) boyfriend, Ian (Roy Castle), accidentally touches something in the Doctor’s time machine (Tardis). Casting the four of them off on an adventure, they soon come into contact with the ruthless Daleks and face their own survival, as well as the hopes of a peaceful species called the Thals.
Playing out at a relatively even pace, the film is a delightful mix of Science Fiction, humor, and adventure that is fun for a wide range of ages. Still enjoyable in the present day, as Dr. Who and the Daleks celebrates its 60th anniversary, it arrives in 4K Ultra HD. Available in the UK in 4K Ultra HD since 2022, Severin Films made it available in North America for the first time on June 24, 2025.
A pristine transfer, the colors are vivid, the contrast is balanced, and the image is impeccable and sharp. Broken into two discs (a UHD disc and a Blu-ray disc), you get the film in 4K Ultra HD on both. Joining this, you also have a list of bonus features, including audio commentaries, the 1995 documentary Dalekmania, and more.
Overall, if you are a Science Fiction lover, this is a must-have add-on to your home media collection. That is why Cryptic Rock recommends Severin Films’ 4K Ultra HD release of Dr. Who and the Daleks, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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