Arachnophobia
Seen it?1990 | 109 min | Comedy, Horror
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and horror fans. If you loved Tremors or The Lost Boys, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Scary.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 49 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13: scary moments. Probably too much for younger kids.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
A large spider from the jungles of South America is accidentally transported in a crate with a dead body to America where it mates with a local spider. Soon after, the residents of a small California town disappear as the result of spider bites from the deadly spider offspring. It's up to a couple of doctors with the help of an insect exterminator to annihilate these eight legged freaks.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.5 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
2 wins and 5 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$53 million worldwide on a $31 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 196K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Weeknight WatchAnother small-town horror film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Frank Marshall
- Jeff DanielsRoss Jennings
- Harley Jane KozakMolly Jennings
- John GoodmanDelbert McClintock
- Julian SandsDr. James Atherton
- Brian McNamaraChris Collins
- Stuart PankinSheriff Parsons
- Henry JonesDr. Sam Metcalf
- Peter JasonHenry Beechwood
- Mark L. TaylorJerry Manley
- James HandyMilton Briggs