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Creature from the Black Lagoon
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Creature from the Black Lagoon

1954
Sci-fi, Adventure
1h 19m
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Avg Percentile 46.66% from 835 total ratings

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(835)
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Rated 02 Oct 2018
70
65th
Back when if you needed to have someone move under water you couldn't just CGI Khal Drogo's hair to make him look submerged, you needed a fully functioning rubber suit. Granted when he's gasping for air he looks like a green mouth breathing Eli Manning, but that doesn't diminish the fact that it's a great rubber suit. When Julie Adams goes lantern to face on that thing's bulbous head stuff gets crazy quick!
Rated 17 Jan 2011
3
38th
Cheesy sci-fi fun. There's little in the way of actual scares (though the abrupt appearance of the creature for the first time got me a bit), but the monster, goofy as he is, is admittedly iconic, and there's a sense of adventure and exploration that props up the film. A great drive-thru/popcorn movie, if not much else.
Rated 31 Oct 2011
68
45th
Cheesy B-movie fun. Keeps flipping back and forth between iconic and terrible. The opening monologue is so great.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
48th
It's a classic Universal Pictures monster movie. It's campy and over the top, but it's still fun. It's a blast to watch and commentate a la MST3K style. Pretty good!
Rated 02 Mar 2009
60
22nd
Better than it has any right to be, likely owing to its decent budget and workmanlike direction, but still pretty dumb even for what it is. There's some genuine atmosphere and tension in the opening 10 minutes but it never really goes anywhere after that. The cautionary environmentalist subtext was probably ahead of its time for '54 but nowadays comes off as somewhat trite.
Rated 29 Jan 2010
80
42nd
As good as a movie like this can be. And then there's Julie Adams in that white bathing suit . . .
Rated 18 Apr 2010
60
25th
The underwater scenes are at times claustrophobic, the rest of the movie is highly forgettable.
Rated 30 Aug 2010
86
91st
Classic monster movie. The film is full of powerful scares and steamy eroticism -- the famous swimming scene was obviously the inspiration for the opening sequence in _Jaws_. Originally released in 3-D, this film's great success led to the sequels and an entire school of monster-from-the-deep B movies.
Rated 13 Oct 2013
69
23rd
Jack Arnold's not a bad director, though he's given just the bare bones to work with, and this movie's pretty decent for this kind of thing. The acting is ok, the monster is passable and acceptably frightening for a 60 year old film, the pacing pretty good. Just another 50s monster movie on the competent side of the scale but nothing special.
Rated 18 Aug 2014
73
44th
Simple, straightforward 50s creature horror. The acting is fine, and Julie Adams is easy on the eyes (her only tasks here are to scream and look hot, and she does both admirably). The underwater scenes are well shot. As for the creature, I like him. Sure, he's clearly a guy in a rubber suit, but the design is fun and his underwater movement has a nice fish-like quality. I began watching this movie in 3D, but, as is typical with 3D for me, I began to get a headache, so I switched to 2D.
Rated 22 Oct 2014
70
56th
My first Universal horror movie and honestly better than I expected. Creature was impressive with how fluidly he moved underwater. Had a chance to hit on some more elevated points regarding mans interference with nature but in the end felt compelled to make the creature just a monster that the audience should feel deserved its fate. Not exactly surprising, but more depth would have been nice.
Rated 26 Apr 2015
75
71st
Thankfully little time is wasted before the iconic Gill-man is introduced. The creature is great both in design and behaviour, and the obvious rubber costume doesn't diminish any of its menace. The film's structured like a slasher yet here it's difficult not to sympathise with the undoubtedly complex monster. The extensive underwater photography is impressive for the time, and some shots (most notably the creature hovering under a swimming Julie Adams) are terrific.
Rated 09 Oct 2018
90
91st
I don't really seem to have the problems with this as a lot of other people on here do. It's not incredibly deep but there is a line about how we should just leave shit alone in there and although it doesn't explicitly make it sympathetic, I think if you read between the lines it is. But whatever, it's a fun and atmospheric monster movie with great underwater scenes and scary music for the creature. Can be a little tense at times. I really love this.
Rated 07 Oct 2019
48
17th
They had access to an underwater camera and a good fishman costume, and by God did they ever put those things to work. I can absolutely see a young Guillermo Del Toro watching this movie and going "You know, killer fishmen deserve a proper shot at love too."
Rated 01 Aug 2021
79
55th
The creature design & underwater work are definitely very impressive for the time & budget. The performances are also solid but there's little story & too many underwater swim scenes go on too long. At the time they were no doubt amazing to watch – in 3D no less – but it's much less impressive now. The score's okay but annoyingly unsubtle when it continually blasts a horn every time the creature shows up. What saves this is that the last third w/ higher stakes & cat & mouse back & forth.
Rated 09 Sep 2023
78
63rd
one of the most thrilling black and whites ever! Underwater filming? a monster played by a human in a great natural-like costume! what more did Universal need?
Rated 01 Apr 2007
40
23rd
However famous this movie is, god damn it's stupid
Rated 05 Oct 2007
75
31st
Old monster movies are a vice of mine, but this one was a miss in my book. It had better than average budget, better actcting than normal in this genre, even a decent monster costume. But geeze, super weak plot and absolutely no resoluition at end of film, and for such a viscious creature it swam like a damned girl. Ethel Merman comes to mind. The synchronized swimmer chick. GAY. Gimme a low budget MST3K stinker over this any day.
Rated 14 Oct 2008
63
40th
Pure unadulterated camp.
Rated 26 Feb 2009
43
42nd
Perhaps it was better 50years ago
Rated 08 Mar 2009
3
0th
"...if there really is anything frightening about a man dressed up in a rubber suit with zippers where the gills ought to be, Arnold comes close to finding it."
Rated 09 Apr 2009
0
15th
Unpersuasive and unsuspenseful horror hokum from the bottom drawer of imagination
Rated 01 Aug 2009
60
59th
There are few reasons why I consider this film rather good and important. First, it started something new - Universal studios stopped killing and reviving frankenstein/wolfman/dracula and added some science into fiction. Characters became modern people, not the gentlemen and ladies from 18th century. And there's a long-legged girl in bikini who's only purpose is to walk around and scream in terror. Also underwater photography is great, and I really consider re-watching it soon in original 3D.
Rated 13 Nov 2009
80
0th
the first time i ever saw the movie was in 1997 and its good
Rated 03 Jul 2010
3
31st
moronic/campy goodness.
Rated 27 Oct 2010
73
53rd
A classic that's aged well, the plot is nicely low key (with one illogical premise), the characters and the creature all have personalities to some extent and the creature itself is an iconic and brilliantly rendered design. The excellent use of the underwater angles is not only technically impressive it's immensely effective at building the tension especially in the early part of the movie making it a must see not only for all fans of classic horror but for any fan of the movies at all.
Rated 18 Mar 2011
75
51st
I had a great time watching this, it's better than it should be and actually creates tension and atmosphere that I wasn't really expecting. The underwater scenes were great, especially the fight between Dr. Mark and the Creature. Oh and Julie Adams in that white bathing suit is a great way to keep you interested when it gets a little uneventful.
Rated 17 Nov 2011
65
50th
Gorgeously shot. Really, I'd forgotten how absolutely beautiful and suspenseful the underwater scenes are. And this was made in 1954? Unfortunately, as soon as it gets above water, it's held back by actors chosen for their ability to swim delivering incredibly clunky dialogue that sounds like a first draft. But when the actors shut up and just let the camera talk, gorgeous.
Rated 11 Jan 2012
51
45th
The B-movie plot is familiar (and so is the vague B-movie sexism), but this does manage to capture some competence and excitement, which puts it ahead of many other similar films of the time.
Rated 06 Apr 2012
48
28th
As far as the classic UMM's go, 'Creature' is the most forgettable and formulaic (although these were the films that practically created the genre so it can be forgiven on that level) of the bunch. The creature design appears interesting at first, until its face is revealed and then everything gets a bit daft. The last half hour managed to keep me interested but the majority of the film is overly boring and poorly paced.
Rated 14 Jul 2012
70
75th
Watched this for the first time on Bluray and wow is this movie ever gorgeous.
Rated 30 Sep 2012
83
65th
The creature swimming hesitantly beneath Kay, the fog hugging the floor of the grotto, so much of it is beautifully lyrical.
Rated 31 Oct 2012
97
98th
It's unhampered by storylines that turn out to be too predictable, too disappointing or at odds with character motivations. We see a group who stumble upon a beast they can't fathom, whose intelligence and capacity for emotion may match their own, and they struggle between themselves first over what to do about it, then what to do with the consequences of those decision. Boiled down to a fine essence, Creature From The Black Lagoon gives you room to wonder, to feel the awe of the unexplained.
Rated 26 Oct 2013
74
37th
One of the most iconic 50s sci fi flicks, this one is admittedly far from perfect but quite fun. The creature itself is the main attraction of course, and while it's of course silly as all hell it IS memorable and serves as a formidable villain. The underwater photography is probably what sets this film apart from many of its peers; it is downright impressive at times, especially the famous swimming duet between our creature and Julie Adams.
Rated 25 Mar 2014
80
64th
79.500
Rated 06 Oct 2014
82
53rd
The final movie in the classic Universal Monster line, and it lives up the the legacy. Creature boasts lovely cinematography, a menacing musical score, a fresh setting, and great monster effects. Actually, this film BEGS to be in color, but the black & white still looks great and makes the depths of the lagoon look even darker.
Rated 07 Oct 2014
80
57th
Many know the name "Creature from the Black Lagoon", yet many have also never seen this original movie. But for sure, it's another Universal achievement. The sound, from the roar of the monster to the great music, really helps to put into context the danger of the situation. And the location is great, a beautiful lake in the Amazon that's grand, yet secluded.
Rated 11 Nov 2014
55
34th
Although the monster is quite iconic, it's a pretty typical B-movie. The design of the creature is decent, but it's hard not to see it as a guy in a rubber suit. The underwater sequences are quite well done. It's not a great movie, even by monster movie standards, but it's worth seeing at least once.
Rated 02 Jan 2015
50
0th
Jack Arnold #2
Rated 29 May 2015
82
67th
I'd been wanting to see this movie for years, and it was well worth the wait! Tense atmosphere, well lit cinematography, extremely well filmed underwater scenes, and the creature's design and behavior were all incredible!
Rated 16 Sep 2015
43
25th
Yep, this is a dumb monster movie with all that you would expect from one of those. A scream queen whom the creature falls in love with (Ew!), people making stupid decisions in the name of dubious science and a frankly pathetic rubber suit. Way too many boring underwater shots; maybe they would have looked better in 3D, but probably not. The most remarkable thing about this is that they kept talking about aliens, making me think that the director really wanted to do a movie about those instead.
Rated 28 Feb 2016
15
81st
Star Rating: ★★★★
Rated 16 Oct 2016
60
21st
I was impressed with the quantity and quality of the underwater shots. The reason I wanted to watch this film is because I heard it inspired a lot of special effect artists, and I can see why. Despite being created in the 50's, the special effects look better than the more current Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. There was a lot of alpha male battling going on that I found humorous. Though the film teetered on being boring sometimes, I still enjoyed it quite a bit. I think Jaws was heavily insp
Rated 20 Oct 2016
40
9th
Not necessarily bad, just boring. The creature looks silly and acts silly, and there isn't much tension due to the crummy editing. Julia Adams is distractingly beautiful, for better or for worse.
Rated 11 Sep 2018
40
38th
Fish-man kills a half dozen people and kidnaps a girl. Brave men fight him off, but decide to let him live for the sequels. It's barely an hour long and isn't very good and shouldn't be as famous as it is.
Rated 08 Apr 2019
85
88th
Great theater experience with a responsive audience. Shockingly beautiful in (polarized!) 3D, not only adding depth to scenery and shape to solid objects but also a hyperreality to water, smoke, and the play of light in general. Silly subject matter with some uncomfortable racial undertones but what a far cry from the meager gimmick that 3D is 9 times out of 10.
Rated 31 Mar 2020
50
28th
Swim wear in the 50's was so gay.
Rated 26 Apr 2020
40
14th
Creature from the Black Lagoon is the least interesting Universal monster movie I've seen. Granted, I haven't seen them all, but I've seen most of the big hitters. I get too many shades of crappy b-movie monster movies: the limited filming location, the lack of tension throughout the movie - at least they could restrain themselves from showing the rubber costume until the 30-minute mark, the unbelievable characters. On an unrelated note, have you ever noticed that most monsters are heterosexual?
Rated 22 Sep 2020
65
45th
I've never been a huge fan of the Universal Monster movies- they just don't do a whole lot for me. This one is no exception, but of the few I've seen so far it's probably the best. The creature looks really good for the time & is the big highlight, but the performances aren't bad & the story moves along nicely. Julie Adams just kind of stands there and gets kidnapped or goes swimming, but otherwise her character is handled rather well for the era. A serviceable classic creature feature.
Rated 11 Oct 2020
60
60th
I'm a sucker for creature flicks and old horror films. There is certain charm in the clandestine atmosphere and the expected morally ambiguous connotation. This is no exception and it contains some absolute cinematic gems such as the double-swim scene with Julie Adams (absolutely gorgeous) and the Creature: the scene has an unexpected magnificent impact among the backdrop of the otherwise B-movie quality of the flick: it is an eerie, mysteriously melancholic and tender cinematic excellence.
Rated 19 Mar 2021
60
37th
If you're on the lookout for a dangerous, amphibious, 6ft 5 walking creature, you should probably be looking everywhere, including behind you, at all times.
Rated 29 Mar 2021
35
19th
An attractive young woman has to negotiate some tension between her boyfriend and her boss, with several deaths being the result. Not much else going on, although the production is fairly competent (in other words, there are worse examples).
Rated 21 May 2021
48
54th
I saw the film in 2D, making the claw intrusions less suspenseful. Overall it's a typical B shot on a studio lot with limited sets. I found Julie Adams attractive, but I not sure why the creature did.
Rated 13 Oct 2021
60
35th
This is frustrating to rate, because there are some parts that are strong -- like the underwater photography and even the creature's design, and there's a bit more tension than most of the earlier Universal monster flicks. But the humans are pretty dull, the one female is clearly there just to scream each time Gillman gets close, and the accompanying music has no sense of build-up.
Rated 23 Oct 2021
48
44th
Gorgeous b&w underwater photography and enjoyably campy tone make this an almost passable monster film. Opening narration is like the very best of Ed Wood.

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