Super 8

Play trailer

2:11

Super 8

PG-13

2011

1h 52m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

295 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1979 Ohio, several youngsters (Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso) are making a zombie movie with a Super-8 camera. In the midst of filming, the friends witness a horrifying train derailment and are lucky to escape with their lives. They soon discover that the catastrophe was no accident, as a series of unexplained events and disappearances soon follows. Deputy Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler), the father of one of the kids, searches for the terrifying truth behind the crash.

Critics Consensus

It may evoke memories of classic summer blockbusters a little too eagerly for some, but Super 8 has thrills, visual dazzle, and emotional depth to spare.

Read Critics Reviews

Sara Reihani

Bitch Media

01/07/2021

It's a by-the-numbers blockbuster, but one with a key element that's missing from most of the big-budget bloatfests crowding each other for space on the marquee every summer: heart.

Go to Full Review

Violet Lucca

Film Comment Magazine

06/28/2013

While it may not achieve the level of pop culture canonization as the Spielberg films it invokes, Super 8 should inspire many to use their camera-phones for something more creative than a profile pic.

Go to Full Review

Leah Rozen

TheWrap

10/07/2011

Super 8 is accomplished commercial filmmaking.

Go to Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Sep 11

4/5

And exciting and authentic homage to older monster movies that also manages to inject some contemporary thrills into its narrative.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 31

4/5

What can be said is how sharply calculated "Super 8" is as an amalgamation of what both Spielberg and Abrams separately do best.

Go to Full Review

David Griffiths

Subculture Entertainment

10/29/2024

4.5/5

The first 90% of Super 8 are brilliant and Abrams really needs to be congratulated for his skill and vision, but the last 15 minutes of this film really do leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Judah S.

@Judah3963 May 3

It’s a well done thriller that has fun action and a decent enough mystery but what it truly packs is emotional depth.

See more

Downriver R

@Downriver Apr 6

Epic movie that will transcend generations to come. These directors and writers/film makers are the best the movie industry has ever seen. Enjoy what these people make because it's the best you'll see. Epic movie. Awsome Sci fy. Brilliant story. Extravagant film set. A+ cast. Excellent movie

See more

Kenneth L.

@RT71224912 Apr 2

One of my favorite movies ever. Sure , it slowed down a little halfway through, but the overall story was great and the acting was superb by a relatively unknown cast. Ron Eldard was superb as usual!!!

See more

Rich L.

@turnerfan77 Mar 12

It’s been a long time since I had seen JJ Abram’s Super 8. This nostalgia heavy Goonies inspired film had some things going for it like a great cast that had good chemistry and their friendship felt very real. The special effects in this are amazing too! The train derailment scene was phenomenal! The first three fourths of this movie was really good but for me the ending is the weakest part of the film. Since I hadn’t seen this in a long time I forgot how heavy JJ leans into the camera flares and at times it can be very distracting. I did rewatch the 4k disc and it had a great transfer that made the film look fantastic. By The Numbers breakdown: Cast-6 Acting-8 Trailer-10 Ending-6 Story-7 Visuals-9 Direction-8 Sound-9 Genre-9 Sub Genre-9 The Faces For Radio score - 81

See more

Garrett B

@gmoney637 Mar 6

Super 8 has an interesting and promising start that is ultimately ruined by poor charcater development, a story that doesn’t know what it wants to be, and a disappointing final act.

See more

Garrett P

@petersongarrett1991 Feb 3

It's not the movie the year when it's still really good

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

J.J. Abrams

Director

Kyle Chandler

Deputy Jackson Lamb

Elle Fanning

Alice Dainard

Joel Courtney

Joe Lamb

Gabriel Basso

Martin

Ron Eldard

Louis Dainard

Super 8: Official Clip - The Creature's Lair

2:13

Super 8: Official Clip - Final Goodbye

2:15

Super 8: Official Clip - Tanks Invade the Neighborhood

2:12

Super 8: Official Clip - Train Crash

2:14

Super 8: Official Clip - He's Alive

2:12

Super 8: Official Clip - Allie is Abducted

2:12

Super 8: Official Clip - My Father's Fault

2:14

Super 8: Official Clip - Gas Station Terror

2:13

View more videos

Knowing

35%

42%

Knowing

Watchlist

Project Almanac

38%

45%

Project Almanac

Watchlist

The Invasion

20%

40%

The Invasion

Watchlist

The Cloverfield Paradox

22%

41%

The Cloverfield Paradox

Watchlist

The Signal

60%

39%

The Signal

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Super 8: Trailer 1

2:11

Super 8: Teaser Trailer 1

1:26

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In 1979 Ohio, several youngsters (Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso) are making a zombie movie with a Super-8 camera. In the midst of filming, the friends witness a horrifying train derailment and are lucky to escape with their lives. They soon discover that the catastrophe was no accident, as a series of unexplained events and disappearances soon follows. Deputy Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler), the father of one of the kids, searches for the terrifying truth behind the crash.

Director: J.J. Abrams
Producer: Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk
Screenwriter: J.J. Abrams
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Bad Robot, Amblin Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Seq. of Sci-Fi Violenc|Intense Seq. of Sci-Fi Action|Language|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 10, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 18, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $127.0M
Runtime: 1h 52m