Aliens, Bigfoots, and Monsters… Remembering the Age of the Weirdumentary
Sunn Classic Pictures found success in the 1970s with theatrical films about UFOs, Bigfoot and other paranormal subjects, blending documentary claims with dramatised scenes. The article argues that these “weirdumentaries” appealed to audiences questioning accepted accounts of reality during an era of distrust in institutions and growing interest in occult and pseudoscientific ideas.
The company’s breakthrough was a re-edited, English-dubbed version of the 1970 German film *Chariots of the Gods*, released in 1973. Based on Erich von Däniken’s claims about extraterrestrial influence on early humanity, it grossed more than $25 million and received an Oscar nomination. Writer, producer and director James L. Conway recalls that cinemas offered one of the few ways to encounter such unusual subjects before the internet and social media.
In short
- Sunn Classic made paranormal subjects into theatrical hits.
- *Chariots of the Gods* grossed over $25 million.
- Distrust and curiosity helped fuel the 1970s trend.
Explained simply
In the 1970s, Sunn Classic Pictures made films about subjects such as UFOs, Bigfoot and unexplained events. They mixed documentary-style narration and claims with dramatised scenes, leaving audiences to weigh what they saw.
One of the company’s best-known films was Chariots of the Gods, adapted for English-speaking audiences from a German film and based on Erich von Däniken’s ideas about alien influence on ancient civilisations. These films appeared when many people were questioning official accounts and exploring paranormal and occult ideas.
Before the internet, cinemas were one of the few places where audiences could encounter such material on a large scale. The films show how popular culture responded to changing ideas about trust, evidence and what might be possible.
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