Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Kingdom of the Spiders

      PG Released Aug 24, 1977 1h 34m Horror Sci-Fi List
      50% 10 Reviews Tomatometer 36% 2,500+ Ratings Audience Score Arizona farmer Walter Colby (Woody Strode) and his wife, Birch (Altovise Davis), have a problem on their hands: One of their cows was just killed by a creature, but they have no idea what the beast could have been. So they consult local vet Dr. Robert Hansen (William Shatner), who becomes puzzled and calls in scientist Diane Ashley (Tiffany Bolling). Eventually, the duo discovers that oversize spiders are invading the small town, putting the entire population in danger as a county fair begins. Read More Read Less Watch on Prime Video Stream Now

      Where to Watch

      Kingdom of the Spiders

      Prime Video

      Watch Kingdom of the Spiders with a subscription on Prime Video.

      Audience Reviews

      View All (198) audience reviews
      Michelle P Great old 70's horror....was a good watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/24 Full Review matthias s "Kingdom of the Spiders" spins a web of contradictions that leaves you caught between appreciation and disappointment. This B-movie, surprisingly well-made, boasts decent acting and a love for using real-life spiders, adding an authentic creepy-crawly touch. The film weaves some cool shots into its narrative, showcasing its commitment to craft. Shatner, true to form, delivers his quintessential performance—consistently the same, which is oddly comforting. However, the slow pacing leaves you tapping your fingers, and spiders don't make their on-screen debut until the second act. Yet, when they do, the film conjures up some genuinely scary scenes with well-crafted shots. Despite these moments, the overall thread feels thin, not quite enough to elevate it to a decent film. The saving grace lies in a great ending that, much like a spider's silk, manages to weave together a satisfying conclusion. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/23/24 Full Review Michael C Two years before William Shatner returned to the Star Trek universe, he starred in "Kingdom of the Spiders" a goofy horror film that you can't help but sit through once you start watching it. I remember seeing this movie quite frequently during the early days of Home Box Office (HBO). Seeing again for the first time in at least twenty years (Thanks to Svengoolie), I will say the movie is not terrible, but overall it is just mediocre. It is worth seeing for some unintentionally funny moments (Like seeing William Shatner running across a patio covered with tarantulas which looks like he's running on hot coals.) and for seeing some good performances by Shatner (Yes, I said that. Though I will admit he certainly did not deserve an Academy Award!) and a decent supporting cast. Overall, "Kingdom of the Spiders" is an overall forgettable film. Maybe it is worth seeing for one of William Shatners non-"Star Trek" roles, but otherwise I can't think of another reason to see it. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/10/23 Full Review John R Shatner must have been hard up for cash. I don't know how else he could have been convinced to be in this piece of crap. I wonder how many spiders they killed during production. If PETA ever finds out, they're gonna go ballistic. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/12/22 Full Review Audience Member I'm usually really forgiving with cheesy movies, of a time/low budget/tongue in cheek/actually a comedy/they didn't know better etc, but there are 3 huge issues with this movie that seriously hampered my ability to just enjoy it on it's own camp horror merits: 1. crimes against animal welfare, 2. anti-logic of shooting your own hand to kill a spider, 3. mutation is used to explain why the spiders are more more aggressive, but that doesn't explain/give them the ability to: seemingly know how to short circuit a fusebox, give them any kind of eyesight where they can reliably identify large animals to attack. The bright side? Diane Ashley is a breath of fresh air among female protagonists, I in old monster movies or new ones for that matter I rarely find women characters that don't fall into either or both the damsel of eye candy trope. Diane Ashley not only isn't prone to panic but is also a competant arachnologist and manages to get this movie throught the Bechdel test more than once. She is a good character and deserved a better movie. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review robert p I hate William Shatner if not a good director he goes off on his own, Take Star Trek Movie 5 which he directed, it's the worst of them all!! Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      35% 35% Prophecy 18% 26% The Food of the Gods 30% 26% Sssssss 60% 41% Swamp Thing TRAILER for Swamp Thing 57% 43% Audrey Rose Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All Kingdom of the Spiders photos

      Kingdom of the Spiders

      View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (10) Critics Reviews
      Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Like those Biblical epics of yore, here’s a film that can boast of literally presenting a cast of thousands. In this case, though, that number applies to the hordes of spiders seen crawling all over the place (5,000 seems to be the accepted figure). Rated: 3/4 Feb 8, 2024 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It sneaks up on you like a hungry tarantula with a wicked appetite for people. Rated: B- Jun 8, 2010 Full Review Steve Dread Central Kingdom of the Spiders plays just as good and just as fun as it always has. This, as far as we're concerned, is the very first MUST HAVE horror DVD package of 2010. Rated: 5/5 Jan 24, 2010 Full Review Sean Axmaker Seanax.com ... a perfectly serviceable (if never quite memorable) little film with... a cast of hundreds of real tarantulas swarming over the screen and, often, the cast members. Jan 18, 2010 Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com William Shatner battles spiders, and without a phaser! Rated: 2/5 Jan 1, 2008 Full Review Rob Thomas Capital Times (Madison, WI) Certainly cheesy, but it does give you the willies. Rated: 2/5 May 5, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Arizona farmer Walter Colby (Woody Strode) and his wife, Birch (Altovise Davis), have a problem on their hands: One of their cows was just killed by a creature, but they have no idea what the beast could have been. So they consult local vet Dr. Robert Hansen (William Shatner), who becomes puzzled and calls in scientist Diane Ashley (Tiffany Bolling). Eventually, the duo discovers that oversize spiders are invading the small town, putting the entire population in danger as a county fair begins.
      Director
      John Cardos
      Producer
      Henry Fownes
      Screenwriter
      Alan Caillou
      Production Co
      Arachnid Productions
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Horror, Sci-Fi
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Aug 24, 1977, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jul 27, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 34m
      Aspect Ratio
      Flat (1.85:1)
      Most Popular at Home Now