Cloverfield

Name: Cloverfield
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller
Released: January 18, 2008
Duration: 85 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Vogel

2008

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 1096 Ratings

See All

6.4

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.4	Your Score
6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 1096 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Cloverfield

Now Playing: Cloverfield

Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: January 18, 2008 | PG-13

Starring: Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Vogel

Summary: Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives. (Paramount Pictures)

Director: Matt Reeves

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 85 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Empire Olly Richards

A dazzling experiment that paid off immensely, this is cinematic pleasure at its purest. One caveat: If they ever make a sequel, we’re taking two stars back. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Cloverfield is the most intense and original creature feature I've seen in my adult moviegoing life, and that's coming from a guy who knows his Gojira from his Gamera and his Harryhausen from his Honda. Cloverfield isn't a horror film – it's a pure-blood, grade A, exultantly exhilarating monster movie. Read full review

Peter Rainer

It's been a while since we've had a good monster movie, and while Cloverfield probably won't give you sleepless nights, it will certainly keep you awake in the theater. Read full review

Michael Phillips

It’s dumb but quick and dirty and effectively brusque, dispensing with niceties such as character. Read full review

J.R. Jones

The narrative conceit requires a fair amount of indulgence as the story progresses, but the fleeting, incomplete glimpses of the monster early on prove the old dictum of B movie auteur Val Lewton that a momentary image can have greater impact than a prolonged one. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Despite a first reel entirely devoted to establishing characters, Cloverfield is basically a line-'em-up, pick-'em-off horror movie that's effective without being either viscerally frightening or emotionally moving. Watching it is like going through a car wash: You come out of it thoroughly Cloverfield-ized, but essentially unchanged. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

It pretends to examine how self-absorbed we are as a culture, only to be consumed by its own self-absorption. It's also badly constructed, humorless and emotionally sadistic . Read full review

SEE ALL 37 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

MetalMan95

Dec 1, 2010

This is one roller coaster ride. Although this does require a suspension of disbelief because this was on-camera monster attack on NYC, It made me believe it actually happened. This movie was scary, thrilling, emotional, and just plain freakin awesome! I didnt mind the ending whatsoever.This is one roller coaster ride. Although this does require a suspension of disbelief because this was on-camera monster attack on NYC, It made me believe it actually happened. This movie was scary, thrilling, emotional, and just plain freakin awesome! I didnt mind the ending whatsoever. Awesome movie.… Expand

11 of 16 users found this helpful115

MikeW

Jan 26, 2008

I'm long past the age where every new monster/horror movie is a must see, but something drew me to see this one. As usual, going with my gut turned out the wise thing - this was a great movie! I was actually scared by this movie, jumping and flinching often, and I really loved the I'm long past the age where every new monster/horror movie is a must see, but something drew me to see this one. As usual, going with my gut turned out the wise thing - this was a great movie! I was actually scared by this movie, jumping and flinching often, and I really loved the random, real-life pacing and unexplained moments. A very in your face monster, with no time to wonder what it is, much less WHY it is. Kudos to the movie makers, who took a genre that could not possibly be made new again and made a movie that not only made it new, but scared the #*^! out of me, too!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JoeD

Jul 13, 2008

As mentioned before, this is a movie that you either love or hate (as evidenced by the reviews). People mainly complain about the shaking of the camera or how "unrealistic" some parts are. Well, in my view the camera should be shakey. When you hold a little camcorder in your hand and run As mentioned before, this is a movie that you either love or hate (as evidenced by the reviews). People mainly complain about the shaking of the camera or how "unrealistic" some parts are. Well, in my view the camera should be shakey. When you hold a little camcorder in your hand and run full tilt down the street in an attempt to get away before you get squashed, I would be astounded if the footage was as steady as a camera mounted to a tripod. As for the "unrealism" involving injuries and all, I just have one thing to say: You go see a movie about a monster wrecking a city, and you grief about the unrealistic portrayal of cell phone reception?! Sheesh. Anyway, I really enjoyed this movie. True, it didn't have first rate acting talent. But then again, I'd rather see new faces than see Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black, and the slew of other actors we see too much of lately. The monster ("Clover") might not have had laser eyes or atomic firebreath, but its definitely the most bad-ass monster in recent movie history. And Clover is just a baby! Imagine what momma or pappa are like? If you get the DVD, be sure to watch the "making of" special features. The talented FX crew digitally recreated hundreds of real-life NYC buildings so that they would break and collapse just like they would in real life. Plus, if you're like me and wasn't sure what the monster really looked like, the special features include detailed models and drawings of Clover. All in all, this was a great movie, despite the minor flaws. Check it out, and I hope you won't be disappointed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Jmsbpp

Oct 1, 2013

Cloverfield es una pelicula, original, interesante y hasta inteligente me atraveria a decir un buen trabajo de Paramount pictures con una camara de video que hace ver mas real y sufrida la situacion, aclaro que en ciertos momentos es incomodo

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ChristineM.

May 24, 2008

The camera work was very jumpy but that was to be expected. I was very dissapointed that in the end they offered NO explanation as to what happened even after it was obvious they found the video after the fact. It left to uch open to debate as far as what actually happened. I feel like The camera work was very jumpy but that was to be expected. I was very dissapointed that in the end they offered NO explanation as to what happened even after it was obvious they found the video after the fact. It left to uch open to debate as far as what actually happened. I feel like watching this was a waste of my time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

PhilS.

Nov 29, 2008

Just watching the movie gave me a real headache. The whole idea of running around with a video cam is crap. Your visual field is greatly diminished and the movement too vivid. The acting was OK I guess, except for the guy behind the cam. His over-acting just added to the discreditably and Just watching the movie gave me a real headache. The whole idea of running around with a video cam is crap. Your visual field is greatly diminished and the movement too vivid. The acting was OK I guess, except for the guy behind the cam. His over-acting just added to the discreditably and his character is annoying. The special effects is good - the only reason I gave it a 2.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Jenneyl

Jan 19, 2008

If you have ever had a problem with motion sickness, stay away from this movie. I just saw it and forget going out drinking. I got nauseated halfway through it. I didnt realize what it was and I told my boyfriend I might be pregnant. Then I thought about it and knew it was the movie. After If you have ever had a problem with motion sickness, stay away from this movie. I just saw it and forget going out drinking. I got nauseated halfway through it. I didnt realize what it was and I told my boyfriend I might be pregnant. Then I thought about it and knew it was the movie. After that, I had to look away from the screen during the rest of the movie. Why a big budget movie would do this, I dont know. I felt like the only thing else to do was get up and ask for my money back. It ruined what was good of the movie... Made you feel the monster was stupid and the ending wasn't good enough for the whole ordeal the characters and I had to go through. After all this, you realize the only thing different about this movie was the use of one camara camcorder, which is not a very good thing. You are so absorbed with just trying to see what is going on that you don't realize until the ending that there was no substance or explanation of anything. Just random footage from the experience of a few people. I guess that's not what the director was going after... In summary, it was just a long ride at Universal Studios.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 516 REVIEWS

5	#5 Most Discussed Movie of 2008
12	#12 Most Shared Movie of 2008