'

Super 8

Play trailer

2:11

Super 8

PG-13

Released Jun 10, 2011

1h 52m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

294 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1979 Ohio, several youngsters (Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso) are making a zombie movie with a Super-8 camera. In the midst of filming, the friends witness a horrifying train derailment and are lucky to escape with their lives. They soon discover that the catastrophe was no accident, as a series of unexplained events and disappearances soon follows. Deputy Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler), the father of one of the kids, searches for the terrifying truth behind the crash.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

It may evoke memories of classic summer blockbusters a little too eagerly for some, but Super 8 has thrills, visual dazzle, and emotional depth to spare.

Read Critics Reviews

Sara Reihani

Bitch Media

It's a by-the-numbers blockbuster, but one with a key element that's missing from most of the big-budget bloatfests crowding each other for space on the marquee every summer: heart.

Jan 7, 2021

Full Review

Violet Lucca

Film Comment Magazine

While it may not achieve the level of pop culture canonization as the Spielberg films it invokes, Super 8 should inspire many to use their camera-phones for something more creative than a profile pic.

Jun 28, 2013

Full Review

Leah Rozen

TheWrap

Super 8 is accomplished commercial filmmaking.

Oct 7, 2011

Full Review

David Griffiths

Subculture Entertainment

The first 90% of Super 8 are brilliant and Abrams really needs to be congratulated for his skill and vision, but the last 15 minutes of this film really do leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 29, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Imbued with that effervescent movie magic quality so often linked to Spielberg, who serves as executive producer here, Abrams' film delivers an exciting and heartwarming adventure.

Rated: 4/4

Jun 7, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

[JJ] Abrams gets fine performances from his young cast, especially Elle Fanning in her breakout performance as the well-possessed young woman they cast in their film...

Dec 3, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

S. M

i don’t even know where to start cuz Super 8 is literally my fav movie ever. like ever. i’ve seen it prob 20 times and it still hits every single time. the vibes, the music, the cast, the way it’s shot—PERFECT. the kids feel like real kids not like fake movie kids and the whole thing feels like something that could’ve actually happened if aliens were real lol. it’s funny and sad and scary and exciting and just everything all in one. and the train crash scene?? bruh. LEGENDARY. also i love how it’s like a love letter to old school Spielberg movies but still totally its own thing. it’s got that nostalgic feeling but doesn’t try too hard. and the ending always makes me cry no matter what 😭 anyway if u haven’t seen Super 8 yet idk what you’re doing w your life. go watch it. masterpiece. forever a comfort movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/23/25

Full Review

Peter B

A flashback to the 80s teenager centred blockbuster feel. A good watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

Full Review

Janis E

This movie is amazing. It's like The Goonies meets Stranger Things meets an alien mythology episode of the earlier seasons of The X Files. All things I love. It's great. The characters are amazing. I love stories with younger casts fighting against adults, like in The Goonies and Stranger Things. And I love stories with government cover ups like The X Files. And this movie has all of that and more. The effects are amazing and the creature design on the alien itself is fantastic. You don't really see it until the last 20ish minutes and I love when that happens. When you don't get a clear shot of the monster or alien of a movie until the end, leaving an air of mystery around it. The train accident that starts off the events of the movie is well done, with a lot of explosions. The acting is great, especially from the younger cast. And as a movie and filmmaking fan, I loved how the kids were making a movie inside the movie. The end credits even play their finished movie. I hope to make movies like this someday. The camera work was great, especially on the train accident and alien attacks. You don't even see the alien attacks, you just hear it. It's amazing and highly recommend this movie. It's great

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

Full Review

J H

One of the best movies I've seen this century.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

Full Review

Tyler M

I love this movie! It reminds me of Stranger Things in a way. I love the relationship between the strange creature and Joe. The friendship between the kids was great too.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/25

Full Review

Benjamin F

Another movie that got itself so engulfed by its pretty cool sci fi that it doesn't even know how to end cool, so love becomes the question to an answer that doesn't make sense

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/16/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

J.J. Abrams

Director

Kyle Chandler

Deputy Jackson Lamb

Elle Fanning

Alice Dainard

Joel Courtney

Joe Lamb

Gabriel Basso

Martin

Ron Eldard

Louis Dainard

Super 8: Official Clip - The Creature's Lair

2:13

Super 8: Official Clip - Final Goodbye

2:15

Super 8: Official Clip - Tanks Invade the Neighborhood

2:12

Super 8: Official Clip - Train Crash

2:14

Super 8: Official Clip - He's Alive

2:12

Super 8: Official Clip - Allie is Abducted

2:12

Super 8: Official Clip - My Father's Fault

2:14

Super 8: Official Clip - Gas Station Terror

2:13

View more videos

Knowing

35%

42%

Knowing

Watchlist

Project Almanac

38%

45%

Project Almanac

Watchlist

The Invasion

20%

40%

The Invasion

Watchlist

The Cloverfield Paradox

22%

41%

The Cloverfield Paradox

Watchlist

The Signal

60%

39%

The Signal

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Super 8 and Conan the Barbarian

Box Office Guru Wrapup: Super 8 Captures #1 Spot

Critics Consensus: Super 8 is Certified Fresh

Super 8: Trailer 1

2:11

Super 8: Teaser Trailer 1

1:26

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In 1979 Ohio, several youngsters (Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso) are making a zombie movie with a Super-8 camera. In the midst of filming, the friends witness a horrifying train derailment and are lucky to escape with their lives. They soon discover that the catastrophe was no accident, as a series of unexplained events and disappearances soon follows. Deputy Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler), the father of one of the kids, searches for the terrifying truth behind the crash.

Director: J.J. Abrams
Producer: Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk
Screenwriter: J.J. Abrams
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Bad Robot, Amblin Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Seq. of Sci-Fi Violenc|Intense Seq. of Sci-Fi Action|Language|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 10, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 18, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $127.0M
Runtime: 1h 52m

Most Popular at Home Now