Them!

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Them!

1954

1h 34m

Sci-Fi

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

While investigating a series of mysterious deaths, Sergeant Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) finds a young girl (Sandy Descher) who is unable to speak. As Peterson joins forces with FBI agent Robert Graham (James Arness) and scientist Dr. Harold Medford (Edmund Gwenn), he discovers that all the incidents are due to giant ants that have been mutated by atomic radiation. Peterson and Graham, with the aid of the military, attempt to find the queen ants and destroy the nests before the danger spreads.

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Critics Consensus

One of the best creature features of the early atomic age, Them! features effectively menacing special effects and avoids the self-parody that would taint later monster movies.

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Dorothy Masters

New York Daily News

09/28/2021

3/4

There is added conviction in performance and dialogue, both of which are particularly good for a production largely designed for chilling spines.

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Philip K. Scheuer

Los Angeles Times

09/28/2021

In the parking lot outside the [theater], I came upon a bustling colony of ants near a crack in the sidewalk. I gave them a wide berth. I had just seen their oversized brothers and sisters in action... and I wanted no more trouble with them.

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Leonard Lerner

Boston Globe

09/28/2021

The picture has all the necessary ingredients mixed in the proper proportions to make it a top-notch thriller.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 4

3.5/4

The best of all the “giant creature” movies that flooded theaters during the 1950s.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Jul 1

4/5

Them! is a great sci-fi film, getting straight to the point of human malfeasance; a warning about leaving an open door to more enviromental damage seems bang on the money...the equivalent of James Cameron’s Aliens, a robust, full-throttle action movie...

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/25/2022

4.5/5

The genre holds a special place in my heart, and “THEM!” was the quintessential big bug movie.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Dec 6

A really old movie about radioactive mutated ants. That's why I watched it. Love the poster art. I actually paired this with Phantom of the Paradise. Makes a cool combo.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Oct 30

Success in 1 hour and 34 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed in color and black and white versions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mania I

@TheMania510 Oct 15

I love me a big critter movie. This one is really good. From the 1950s and in black and white, it has some scary moments. Well acted and directed. Great popcorn movie that the entire family can watch and enjoy.

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Ray L

Oct 12

I really enjoyed this movie thought it was well done for that time period

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Dallas H

Oct 12

When it comes to post-nuclear radiation movies, Japan has kaiju, and the Americans have giant insects.

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Hughe J

@Hughe Oct 5

Them! was released in theatres all the way back in 1954 and is a black and white monster movie set in the New Mexico desert. The movie opens with two state troopers finding a little girl walking alone in the desert and while trying to learn what happened to the girl they hear a strange alien bug like sound they are unable to identify. Later a destroyed trailer is found with large footprints from something really big outside it, and again that odd sound. We find more attacks and eventually are confronted by gigantic ants who our heroes have to fight. It's learned that the ants were exposed to nuclear testing in the desert and have mutated to enormous size. They eventually make their way into the LA storm drains where the final battle with the ants for humanity's survival will take place. This movie was the first of the big bug movies and all of the effects were practical, giant mechanical ants and all. They fight the ants with real flamethrowers borrowed from the army and had WWII veteran soldiers wielding them. The cast was great including James Arness, James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, and Onslow Stevens. The practical effects were fantastic and that shrilling ant sound was iconic. This an absolute must see for any science fiction fan!

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Gordon Douglas

Director

James Whitmore

Police Sgt. Ben Peterson

Edmund Gwenn

Dr. Harold Medford

Joan Weldon

Dr. Patricia 'Pat' Medford

James Arness

Robert Graham

Onslow Stevens

Brig. Gen. Robert O'Brien

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Synopsis

While investigating a series of mysterious deaths, Sergeant Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) finds a young girl (Sandy Descher) who is unable to speak. As Peterson joins forces with FBI agent Robert Graham (James Arness) and scientist Dr. Harold Medford (Edmund Gwenn), he discovers that all the incidents are due to giant ants that have been mutated by atomic radiation. Peterson and Graham, with the aid of the military, attempt to find the queen ants and destroy the nests before the danger spreads.

Director: Gordon Douglas
Producer: David Weisbart
Screenwriter: Russell S. Hughes, Ted Sherdeman
Distributor: Cinema Classics, Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 19, 1954, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 7, 2008
Runtime: 1h 34m

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