Mysterians

Mysterians is a term used in various contexts, most notably to refer to an alien species in the 1957 Japanese science fiction film The Mysterians. The film, directed by Ishirō Honda and produced by Toho, centers on an invasion by a militarized alien race known as the Mysterians and humanity’s response to defend Earth.

In addition to its filmic association, the word is linked to a 1960s American garage rock band. Question Mark & the Mysterians, formed in the Detroit-area scene, rose to fame with their 1966 hit "96 Tears." The group is sometimes referred to simply as the Mysterians, and its name contributed to the broader cultural presence of the term in music.

The term has since appeared in various other media and fan works as a generic label for mysterious or extraterrestrial beings. As a cultural artifact, Mysterians thus encompasses both a notable science fiction film franchise element and a classic mid-20th-century music reference.