Super 8

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2:11

Super 8

PG-13

2011

1h 52m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

296 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Leah Rozen

TheWrap

10/07/2011

Super 8 is accomplished commercial filmmaking.

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Matthew Rozsa

Dread Central

Jun 17

4/4

It is a "perfect movie" because it can be rewatched without ever losing its feeling of freshness and wonder, and because there are no flaws that retroactively diminish the experience.

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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.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

07/31/2025

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.

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Peter F

@pfiggs71 4d

Super 8 is like a cross between The Goonies and X-Files! It's has old school thrills along with a good dose of Sci-Fi and a thread of an emotional story line that pulls at your heart strings. I've watched this movie many times over the years and it still satisfies!! I highly recommend this movie.

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Shelby Q

@ShelbyLynn Jul 16

One of my favorite movies and severely underrated in my book. I hope that in years to come. This will become a cult classic, and people start watching It more. It definitely didn't get the credit that it deserves. Abrams is a genius. These kids did amazing. It's a well-thought-out story.

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Kristen S

@Rocketeer90 Jul 12

This is still one of my favorite movies. It has a wonderful mystery, danger, kids being hero’s and lots of heart. I am so bummed it never became popular because it’s so underrated. It also gave the creators of Stranger Things a lot of ideas because this movie is a lot like it. I would not call it a rip off but it’s so similar at times there is no way this movie was not an inspiration for that show.

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David S

@IH8Phags69 Jul 4

This was a bloated piece of garbage with no real plot or interesting storyline!

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C S

@cfshule Jun 8

Underrated gem probably Abrams best

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Annie W

@Annie502 Jun 2

Pretty good especially at the beginning though I thought that it got a bit boring and to much throughout the ending

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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

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Super 8: Trailer 1

2:11

Super 8: Teaser Trailer 1

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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

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