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Lake Placid

Play trailer Poster for Lake Placid R Released Jul 16, 1999 1h 22m Horror Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
47% Tomatometer 97 Reviews 37% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When a mysterious creature violently kills a man in a Maine lake, Jack Wells (Bill Pullman), the local game warden, looks into the bizarre case, along with Sheriff Hank Keough (Brendan Gleeson) and visiting paleontologist Kelly Scott (Bridget Fonda). Looking for clues in a tooth that the beast left behind, Kelly and the others eventually locate the monster, a massive and vicious reptile eager to devour anything in its path. Can the crocodile-like creature be stopped?
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Lake Placid

Lake Placid

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Critics Consensus

Betty White's delightful supporting turn may be worth the price of admission alone, but Lake Placid is swamped by a smarmy script and inability to deliver on the creature feature mayhem.

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Critics Reviews

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Anthony Lane The New Yorker This may be no more than a squib of a B movie, and it remains about as frightening as a fish tank, but, if you have any poetry in your soul, you will surely thrill to a film that ends with a crocodile sticking its head in a helicopter. Nov 30, 2020 Full Review Stephen Thompson AV Club The lazy finale makes Lake Placid seem more marginal and forgettable than it already was, which is actually something of a feat. Jul 9, 2019 Full Review Paul Tatara CNN.com Miner's thoroughly unimaginative visual style sees to it that "Lake Placid" is not the least bit frightening, and the entire undertaking generates maybe one decent laugh. That is, if you don't count Fonda's chronic inability to act. Jul 9, 2019 Full Review Jose Solís Common Sense Media Originally dismissed when it was released, this killer croc film has grown into a strange B-movie gem from the legendary year of 1999. Clocking in at Jul 23, 2025 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It's Jaws, with a croc instead of a shark. Rated: C+ Apr 6, 2022 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast Kelley is an inspired choice for a screenwriter but none of this is actually funny. Also, less than 4 minutes of screen time for the croc in a 78-minute movie? No thank you! Rated: 2/5 Dec 30, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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BadNews R Lake Placid (1999) is the oversized crocodile movie that could have easily been dismissed as corny, campy creature-feature fluff. But instead, it turned into one of the most entertaining and surprisingly well-crafted monster movies of its time. Honestly, it’s one of the best crocodile films I’ve ever seen. The biggest highlight? Betty White. She completely stole the show with her sharp wit and unexpected role, proving once again why she’s one of the most beloved actresses in Hollywood history. Every scene she’s in elevates the movie, adding a layer of comedy and charm that blends perfectly with the suspense. The film’s creativity lies in its direction. The story follows the giant crocodile wreaking havoc across the lake, but what makes it stand out is how grounded it feels compared to most creature features. Instead of cheesy CGI or laughable acting, Lake Placid balances thrills, scares, and dark humor in a way that’s actually believable. The effects—especially for the late ’90s—were handled impressively, avoiding the cheap, fake look that plagues so many animal-attack films today. It’s also fun to note the reveal: the croc may not just be a random monster but actually tied to Betty White’s character in an unexpected way. That twist only adds to the bizarre charm of the film. Yes, the sequels absolutely butchered the franchise with bad CGI and poor writing, but the original remains a cult classic. It’s rewatchable, it’s fun, and it’s a reminder that creature features don’t have to be lazy or ridiculous. In fact, Hollywood should take notes from Lake Placid instead of continuing to churn out cheap, unwatchable animal horror flicks. ⭐ Verdict: Highly recommended, especially if you want a mix of suspense, humor, and a little ’90s nostalgia. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/07/25 Full Review Silva T Incredibly fun movie! The 'monster' interaction is bountiful, top-shelf action with zero-complaint effects. The 'story' was well-above creature-feature peers, in that the development stays engaging. What makes it really shine though is hilarious character interaction which kept me rolling through the whole movie. Fonda vs Pullman and Gleeson, Platt vs Gleeson, Betty White just being belligerent - all done in a very entertaining (not irritating) way. I get that not everyone gets this movie, but for those of us who are fans of the genre, this is an absolute gem. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/03/25 Full Review Jens B In this legacy sequel to "The Golden Girls," we finally learn how Rose Nylund moved from Miami not to St. Olaf after the series ended, but to Maine, where she develops a close bond with the local fauna. Thanks to "Friday the 13th" 2 & 3, Steve Miner is well-versed in remote, crystal-clear lakes and their submerged secrets. Even 26 years later, the crocodile still looks pretty well-engineered. The (few) kills are entertaining, and the runtime is pleasantly diverting. Only the sound mix isn't quite right—at least on Netflix. And the characterizations are lacking for me, too. And the big crocodile could have found a few more victims. For example, a group of teenagers at a summer camp or something. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/24/25 Full Review Adam D. This movie was awful. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/27/25 Full Review Erik B Cheesy, but nonetheless fun. The CGI is pretty awful. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/14/25 Full Review Gabriel M O mais bem feito da franquia sem dúvidas, mas chega a perder para algumas de suas sequências questionáveis no quesito diversão Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 06/21/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Lake Placid

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Movie Info

Synopsis When a mysterious creature violently kills a man in a Maine lake, Jack Wells (Bill Pullman), the local game warden, looks into the bizarre case, along with Sheriff Hank Keough (Brendan Gleeson) and visiting paleontologist Kelly Scott (Bridget Fonda). Looking for clues in a tooth that the beast left behind, Kelly and the others eventually locate the monster, a massive and vicious reptile eager to devour anything in its path. Can the crocodile-like creature be stopped?
Director
Steve Miner
Producer
David E. Kelley, Michael Pressman
Screenwriter
David E. Kelley
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Phoenix Pictures, Rocking Chair Productions, Fox 2000 Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 16, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$31.8M
Runtime
1h 22m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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