It Came From Beneath the Sea

Released Dec 9, 1955

1h 20m

Sci-Fi

List

60%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

39%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

While on a routine mission, Cmdr. Pete Mathews (Kenneth Tobey) runs into trouble when his submarine is nearly sunk by an unknown creature. Back at base in Pearl Harbor, Dr. John Carter (Donald Curtis) and Professor Lesley Joyce (Faith Domergue) identify the beast as a giant octopus from the nether reaches of Mindanao Deep, which has been awakened by nearby nuclear testing. Radioactive and monstrously huge, the rampaging leviathan is heading toward the North American Pacific Coast.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Mar 13

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent It Came From Beneath the Sea on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

While the low budget dictated that Harryhausen's octopus only be constructed with six rather than eight tentacles, only a major-league dweeb would spend time trying to count them instead of enjoying the top-notch entertainment.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 13, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Harryhausen's many-armed gargantuan (for budgetary reasons, it actually only possessed six appendages) is easily the best reason to watch this production.

Rated: 5/10

Aug 23, 2020

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

Given the number of movies like this that DIDN'T pay off with such a top-notch monster, it is easier to forgive the various narrative, cinematic, and psychological failings.

Rated: 6/10

May 18, 2013

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Harryhausen wasn't yet on top of his game, but the special effects still were the feeble film's best feature.

Rated: C

Mar 30, 2008

Full Review

Mark Bourne

DVDJournal.com

Of course, in perspective it's all a fun kind of bad and any Cahiers du Cinema critique dissolves on contact.

Apr 6, 2006

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 14, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Blobbo X

It tries pretty hard! Thumbs up for effort.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Edge of your seat drama. The fate of San Francisco rests in the hands of daring Naval officers and the top minds of the scientific community. What hath God wrought?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This falls into the So-Bad-It's-Good [or at least mildly entertaining] category. Reportedly, the budget for the special effects were at rock bottom, but the results aren't any worse than the typical B-movie sci-fi horror schlock of the era. Smart-but-tough lady scientist rebuffs the captain's crude passes but ultimately falls for his "toxic masculinity" after he heroically slays the dragon...er, octopus.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A giant, radioactive octopus rises from the Philippine Trench to terrorize the North American Pacific Coast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

dave s

It Came from Beneath the Sea is a cut above the average 1950s mutant monster movie, but that's not really saying much when you consider the quality of the average 1950s mutant monster movie. In this case, the story is centered around a giant radioactive mutant octopus, who is understandably aggravated by hydrogen bomb tests taking place in the vicinity around his south Pacific lair. Predictably, mayhem ensues. The movie is hindered by inane dialogue, the unnecessary presence of a narrator, and a creepy love story that adds nothing to the plot. What elevates it slightly above others in the genre are some pretty decent special effects (for its time) by the legendary Ray Harryhausen.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

william o

anytime one of rays movies are on i watch it.to think of the effort and artistry that had to go into that end product is just amazing

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Robert Gordon

Director

Kenneth Tobey

Cmdr. Pete Mathews

Faith Domergue

Prof. Lesley Joyce

Donald Curtis

Dr. John Carter

Ian Keith

Adm. Burns

Harry Lauter

Deputy Bill Nash

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

75%

55%

20 Million Miles to Earth

91%

68%

The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms

93%

77%

Them!

92%

85%

Forbidden Planet

73%

45%

This Island Earth

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

While on a routine mission, Cmdr. Pete Mathews (Kenneth Tobey) runs into trouble when his submarine is nearly sunk by an unknown creature. Back at base in Pearl Harbor, Dr. John Carter (Donald Curtis) and Professor Lesley Joyce (Faith Domergue) identify the beast as a giant octopus from the nether reaches of Mindanao Deep, which has been awakened by nearby nuclear testing. Radioactive and monstrously huge, the rampaging leviathan is heading toward the North American Pacific Coast.

Director: Robert Gordon
Production Co: Clover Productions
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 9, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 20m

Most Popular at Home Now