Empire of the Ants

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Empire of the Ants

PG

1977

1h 29m

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

5%

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19 Reviews

26%

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1,000+ Ratings

Con artist Marilyn Fryser (Joan Collins) has a steady and profitable racket. Along with an unscrupulous ship captain (Robert Lansing), she takes gullible investors on a cruise of the Everglades and persuades them to invest in a housing development that will never be. But when she and her latest group of suckers go ashore on a small island, they're horrified to discover that illegally dumped toxic waste has created a breed of giant ants set on human destruction.

Rex Reed

New York Daily News

The Empire of the Ants is edgy, insipid worthlessness that dares to claim it derives from H.G. Wells.

Oct 26, 2021

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Variety Staff

Variety

Periodic moments of good special effects are separated by reels of dramatic banality as players flounder in flimsy dialog and under sluggish direction.

Mar 26, 2009

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Time Out

It's all drastically boring.

Jan 26, 2006

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

[UPDATED 2024 BLU-RAY REVIEW] Yup, you'll be rooting for the ants.

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 7, 2022

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Once the attacks begin, the film grows slightly more interesting, if only because of the curious combination of monster effects.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 29, 2020

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TV Guide

Laughable exploitation film results in a complete waste of time and talent.

Rated: 1/4

Aug 3, 2009

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Brian D

These critics are absolute jokes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/25/24

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CodyZamboni Z

Campy, Cheap, Silly, Ludicrous, 1970s drive in schlock, Laughable, but never boring, Cast of C listers give their all, in this tale of radioactive giant ants snacking on humans, FX consist of fake looking ant mockups, paired with huge closeups of real ants, Along with Bert I Gordon's horror technique of swooping and shaking the camera when the ants attack. Horror indeed.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/18/24

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Regina J

I have watched several movies throughout the years. Once I was a film snob. I would not watch anything unless it was a classic. This movie was thoroughly enjoyable and predictable, It was even educational at the beginning. I suppose this goes along with Frogs, and Godzilla in that it is environmental. Oh how I loved complaining about it. I loved how the visual quality of the ants was not as defined as it was with the humans and the somewhat ridiculous nature of it. I was thoroughly entertained. It definitely was not erudite like Chaucer’s Parliament of Fowls.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/16/24

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James T

I like Pamela Schoop and Joan Collings in the unbutton shirts,that's hot look to me

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/07/24

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Michael C

If you want mindless entertainment, "Empire of the Ants" is just what you need. This 1977 science fiction/horror film is no classic, but it is at least entertaining for what its worth. The cast does as well as they can with the script they have. Joan Collins does a decent job as a con artist posing as a real estate developer Marilyn Fryser. I will admit it was nice to see veteran actors in early roles. Especially a pre-"Chips"" Robert Pine as a horny prospective customer of Marilyn's. The late Robert Lansing does the best acting job in the cast as the boat captain Marilyn recruits to take her prospective guests to a remote island for a tour of the property she plans to develop or so she says. Again the movie is worth seeing for some early performances by well known actors starting their careers. Aside from that there is not much of a reason to see "Empire of the Ants" It is not a terrible movie, but is is not all that great either.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/28/23

Full Review

Dallas H

Bert I. Gordon loves to blow everything out of proportion. He made an entire movie career out of it. Something is intriguing about this 1970's creature feature. Sure, it has a few cheesy special effects, such as the split-screen optical effects, but I still had a bit of fun watching the movie. Just throw back a few cheap beers and enjoy a viewing of mindless good fun.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

Full Review

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Bert I. Gordon

Director

Joan Collins

Marilyn Fryser

Robert Lansing

Dan Stokely

John David Carson

Joe Morrison

Albert Salmi

Sheriff Art Kincade

Jacqueline Scott

Margaret Ellis

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Synopsis

Con artist Marilyn Fryser (Joan Collins) has a steady and profitable racket. Along with an unscrupulous ship captain (Robert Lansing), she takes gullible investors on a cruise of the Everglades and persuades them to invest in a housing development that will never be. But when she and her latest group of suckers go ashore on a small island, they're horrified to discover that illegally dumped toxic waste has created a breed of giant ants set on human destruction.

Director: Bert I. Gordon
Producer: Bert I. Gordon
Screenwriter: Jack Turley
Production Co: American Internat'l Pics
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 15, 2016
Runtime: 1h 29m

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