Day the World Ended is a 1955 independently made black-and-white post-apocalyptic science fiction film, produced and directed by Roger Corman, that stars Richard Denning, Lori Nelson, Adele Jergens, Paul Birch and Mike Connors.

The film's story centers on a heroic scientist who, with a small band of other survivors, faces off against a radioactive mutation following an atomic war that appears to have destroyed most of human civilization.

One exception is an isolated box canyon, surrounded by lead-bearing cliffs, in which former U.S. Navy Commander Jim Maddison lives with his daughter Louise in a home he has stockpiled with supplies in anticipation of such an apocalypse.

Among the survivors are a geologist, Rick, who happens to specialize in uranium mining; and a small-time hood, Tony and his "moll" Ruby, who were on their way to San Francisco.

There are two struggles for survival: The first is a simple question of whether the radioactive fallout will ever dissipate, and if so, if it will do so before the next rain comes which will wash out what is in the atmosphere onto the earth, contaminating their shelter.

The second threat comes in the form of a hideous atomic mutated monster, which seems bent on killing anything it comes across, but only consuming those creatures whose flesh is contaminated by fallout.

After the rain, Rick and Louise, the two survivors, walk hand-in-hand out of the canyon (as the end card saying "The Beginning" appears on screen).

[3] James H. Nicholson of ARC came up with the title, then commissioned Lou Rusoff (Sam Arkoff's brother-in-law) to write a script.

"[5] Effects creator Blaisdell made the monster costume from foam rubber, with claws from a magic shop, and toenails carved from white pine.

Due to his height, he had limited visibility in the costume, which was particularly an issue in shooting the scenes of the monster carrying Nelson through the woods.

[16] American International Pictures (formerly ARC) commissioned Larry Buchanan to remake the film in color for television in 1967, under the title In the Year 2889.