Upon release in the United States, Message from Space received generally negative reviews from critics who not only found many similarities with the previous year's Star Wars (1977), but also felt the special effects were poorly executed in comparison to the American film.

The planet Jillucia, located in the Andromeda galaxy, is conquered by the steel-skinned Gavanas Empire, who transform it into a military fortress.

Princess Emeralida and the warrior Urocco flee Jillucia in a space galleon as the Gavanas, led by Emperor Rockseia XXII, pursue them.

The Liabe Seeds reach various individuals, including Shiro and Aaron, two reckless space pilots; Jack, a friend entangled in debts to gangsters; Meia, a young aristocrat; and General Garuda, a disillusioned officer.

[1] United Artists acquired Message from Space at a US$1 million cost; according to company personnel: "[It] can't keep 'em from lining up at the box office.

"[7] Kevin Thomas wrote in the Los Angeles Times that the predominantly adult audience when he viewed the film "laughed it off the screen" and that "small children will probably be entertained by it – if they can figure out what's going on.

"[8] The Boston Globe opined that the "fallout from Star Wars space garbage continues to litter [the] motion picture screen".

The review found the special effects and plot to be poor and that the robots and villains were not as funny or interesting as R2-D2 or Darth Vader respectively.

[8] The Washington Star compared the film to the television series Battlestar Galactica (1978) stating that it would make "an American hold his head up high with pride" in comparison.

[8] The Washington Post referred to the cast as "weirdly unappealing" and that the costumes, make-up and décor are "often dazzlingly grotesque and bewildering.