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Super 8

Super 8

2011
Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller
1h 52m
After witnessing a mysterious train crash, a group of friends in the summer of 1979 begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town, and begin to investigate into the creepy phenomenon.
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Super 8

2011
Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller
1h 52m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 48.34% from 5509 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(5509)
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Rated 02 Jul 2011
59
63rd
ET. The Iron Giant. Close Encounters. Star Trek. Stand By Me. Cloverfield. Super 8 lies somewhere in the middle of those, both in terms of plot, and the sense of thrill, innocence, and wonder it tries to capture. Although it's not always successful, and can't measure up to some of its influences, enough scenes do connect to put it a few steps ahead of the average summer blockbuster. PS: I know you directed this, J.J.; you can stop putting lens flares over all of your shots.
Rated 16 Jun 2011
85
89th
Stirs up powerful nostalgic memories of a time when even blockbuster movies gave much weight to the story and its characters instead of bombarding the audience with mindless action. Super 8 is an exhilarating experience filled with humor, excitement, and tenderness. Plus we get an awesome, masterfully edited train crash sequence. It's still early on but it's probably the best sci-fi film you're ever going to see this summer, maybe even this year.
Rated 14 Jun 2011
84
73rd
J.J. Abrams' homage to Spielberg. The setting and band of youths are right out of a classic 80s film like Stand By Me or The Goonies, yet each character is unique and memorable. This is the perfect summer movie - an amazing balance of fun and fright; action, humor and heart. Though the back-story should have been developed a little further and the ending is a tad rushed and predictable, the strength lies with the fantastic and inspired performances from the the best ensemble kids cast in years.
Rated 25 May 2016
85
63rd
Pretty good pastiche of early Spielberg movies that, above all, captures the era's atmosphere, tone, and emphasis on characterization over blow-'em-up special effects. It won't blow you away, but you'll smile a lot.
Rated 10 Jun 2011
63
61st
For its first two thirds, really solid stuff. The problem is that the monster mystery stuff is a lot less compelling than these kids doing their thing, so as the creature begins to take less and less of an incidental role, the movie suffers.
Rated 09 Jun 2011
7
65th
Reminds me a lot of 'Stand by Me'. Kids taking on big responsibilities, dealing with emotions far beyond their years and the child actors doing it were all excellent. It has humor, charm and when shit hits the fan, the movie really gets going. Pieced together perfectly and those credits were a great touch. Highly enjoyable and one of the best cinema experiences I've had in quite some time.
Rated 14 Jun 2011
84
82nd
Abrams pieced together a real cinematic ride full of both humor and thrills with plenty of nods to classic Spielberg thrown in there. All the young actors did an excellent job, even better than their older counterparts. Although the ending felt a bit rushed and the monster disappointing, the mini-film during the credits was an awesome touch. Best summer blockbuster this year.
Rated 01 Aug 2017
74
76th
It's like Son of Rambow Meets The Host, if by Son you mean Goonies, by Rambow you mean Close Encounters and by Host you mean Jumanji. Once facts are faced, it's more like things than it is a thing on its own. Still very entertaining.
Rated 11 Jun 2011
7
84th
I feel cleansed. This movie was exactly what I needed. I loved it. Objectively, I'll admit that the creature and overall "mythology" aren't exactly breaking down cinematic barriers (if they had, this could be one of my new all-time favorites), but it's bursting at the seams with heart and soul that I haven't seen in a summer blockbuster in years. I don't even have the negativity in me right now to disagree with the people who feel they're above enjoying this movie - I just feel sorry for them.
Rated 14 Jun 2021
80
65th
JJ is a master at recreating the look & feel of movies that influenced him. Here he mimics the tone of late '70's Spielberg & Lucas films--essentially throwback genre pictures with coming-of-age conflicts. While watching I wished the leads weren't merely weiner kids experiencing average adolescence. Attack the Block did a better job at taking similar fanboy influences while adding societal obstacles. Still, kudos for casting Glynn Turman, a man who could've been Han Solo, in a supporting role.
Rated 24 Jun 2011
77
62nd
I really enjoyed it, but it is a pretty flawed movie. Some of the lines are groan-worthy. The characterization of some of the adults is either lazy or just plain bad, and this film is full of cliches. That said, it's a good movie with some very cool and funny moments. Pretty much any scene that focuses on the kids is excellent.
Rated 16 Jun 2011
70
84th
Wow, J.J. struck me in the least expected way. Mainstream has became so corrupt and bitter that I never expect total immersion. Super 8 is almost like the reinvention of perfect summer blockbuster. It isn't filled with twist after twist, makes subtle use of the only twist present, doesn't behave like a clown and it respects the intelligence of audience. Dfferent layers of storytelling are intertwined seamlessly. Just that... could have survived better with a dimmer final action.
Rated 29 Jul 2011
75
77th
Disappointment rather than anger is a well-worn cliché which nevertheless precisely describes my feelings towards the flat and unsatisfying resolution to this otherwise superior film. J.J.'s fun, nostalgia-invoking tribute is a real treat, though. One rarely cares so much for characters in a summer blockbuster. In fact, I sort of wanted it to remain a drama instead. At its best, 'Super 8' recalls 'Stand by Me'. Casting of and performances by the children: Mint.
Rated 15 Jun 2011
77
51st
It's well made and for a film centered around children has pretty engaging characters. Surprisingly enough, though, I found them more interesting than the monster part of the movie, and as the climax neared I started to feel bored since the monster was just peripheral to me. The climax is hokey and thin, and does a pretty poor job of resolving what the film builds up to.
Rated 22 Jun 2011
79
70th
Super 8 is a great thriller flick that has plenty of nods to Spielberg's childhood and previous works. The central characters being a group of tweens is certainly reminiscent of films like The Goonies. For the most part Super 8 is exciting and captivating without any dull moments. However, towards the final 10 minutes of the film the plot starts to come apart. Even so, it doesn't make getting there any less fun.
Rated 19 Jun 2011
45
85th
Falls apart a bit at the end, losing sight of the emotional storyline and making a hard left into the (less interesting) alien subplot (and yes, it is basically a subplot). However, it is one of those few films that reminds me why I love movies. They create feelings of sheer awe, terror, longing, keeping our eyes glued to the screen while we beg and plead for a little more time to spend in the film's world if only to remind ourselves why the real world is so beautiful.
Rated 21 Aug 2011
70
71st
The first 2/3's of the movie is fantastic and reminded me of the great films of my childhood, which they just doesn't seem to make anymore. Sadly, Super 8 looses it's momentum towards the ending, and what could have been a great film in line with The Goonies, Stand By Me and E.T. turns out as a film that was just almost there.... Remember to stay during the end credits ;-)
Rated 20 Jun 2011
78
69th
Looses some steam in the third act, but it accomplishes what is sets out to do and provides an entertaining early Spielberg-esque film. Great to return to seeing a Hollywood film with characters you actually care about that are developed realistically. The train crash is awesome in just how spectacular it is, and the end credits are funny.
Rated 29 Jul 2011
70
67th
In it's emulation of Spielberg-produced 80s kids' movies, it manages to create a more interesting tale, than basically any resent movie with the same target audience, and for the older audience it's a decent nostalgic trip. That said, the uninspired final act, with the horrid emotional pay-off, ruined some of the fun for me. Also: The inhabitants of that small town must collectively be the heaviest sleepers on the planet!
Rated 11 Jun 2011
86
92nd
It's a miracle when you finish a movie that's primarily acted by kids, and none of them are bad. The kids are the actually the strength of this film, and they're hilarious while being charming at the same time. The premise isn't anything new, but Abrams handles it well, and the movie is genuinely touching more often than not. The one complaint (and it's a common one, apparently) is that the ending is a little predictable. Side Note: The stuff during the credits is phenomenal.
Rated 12 Jun 2011
81
82nd
After the big-budget, mediocre blockbusters I've seen this summer, I was excited for Super 8. New Abrams! (Relatively) Low-budget! Spielberg produced! It can't be bad, can it? No, it turns out it can't. While it wasn't THE perfect film, Super 8 was just what the movies need. A bunch of kid actors who have little experience create a new generation of Goonies. A bunch of adults who haven't hit the A-list show why Hollywood dropped the ball on them. And a fantastically built story. Great film.
Rated 18 Jun 2011
84
71st
Spielberg comparisons r extremely apt given that this centers around relatable, never cloying, innocent suburban kids as we'd like them 2 b. It's best achievement though is capturing the sweet, but not sacharrine tone Spielberg could pull off. It's safe 2 say if I were 12 this adolescent power fantasy would have me by the balls. There r definitely moments of magic, but having experienced ET the first time around, it's a magic that feels a little too familiar 2 surprise or truly enchant.
Rated 10 Jun 2011
3
38th
Space aliens, daddy issues, and retro-chic? Yeah, Spielberg's influence is all over this one. Abrams isn't as subtle as Spielberg, but he does have much of the same capacity to inspire awe, even if his tastes veer more towards monster movies and massive displays of spectacle. If Super 8 doesn't break any new ground, it does handle old tropes very well, working as both popcorn entertainment and effective family drama. As enjoyable a summer blockbuster you're likely to find this year.
Rated 15 May 2012
80
84th
Prominently displaying its influences (ET, The Goonies, Stand by Me), this is a entertaining and likeable film, populated with a talented young cast - Fanning and Courtney the stand-outs for me. The final ten minutes or so weren't as satisfying as the rest of the film, but this is definitely worth watching.
Rated 30 Dec 2011
4
26th
I loved 'Cloverfield' and most of Spielberg's stuff, but this just didn't hit the mark. There's nothing really bad here, it just all seems a little cliched and done with. Another misunderstood alien? Another small town tormented by strange events? Another evil military conspiracy? Another kid dealing with a dead parent while the remaining one is distant and doesn't understand him? Other reviewers here say the rest. Average, nothing special.
Rated 12 Jun 2011
85
91st
It's more a kid's learning to live after suffering family tragedy with a small side of sci-fi element. A very obvious disconnect between the two supposedly halves (the children characters' development side and the science-fiction side). Not entirely bad, but not particularly wow-ed by it either.
Rated 26 Nov 2011
70
79th
While it will never go down in history with the E.T.'s and Close Encounters, it is a compelling tribute to the "human element" science fiction films of my youth.
Rated 15 Jun 2011
85
85th
I put it below Cloverfield by an inch or so but the two films are very comparable in my level of enjoyment. I didn't expect it to be as funny as it was! The group of kids were awesome, every single one of them. I do agree that the ending was a little rushed, and fell together way too easily, but the ending certainly wasn't bad enough to torpedo the whole flick. Rather, it was convention done very well, and that's enough for me. Elle was fantastic. Very heartfelt monster dramedy. New genre? Haha.
Rated 11 May 2012
56
28th
Whilst appreciating this is a homage to the good ol' days of cinema, and that the lack of originality to the plot is somewhat intentional, I do feel that it stops the film from breaking the mediocre barrier. The end scene just tarnishes my opinion further and just annoyed me. Plot holes and annoying dialogue adding fuel to the fire. At the end I was just a simmering pot of disappointment. Definitely a let down.
Rated 03 Dec 2011
78
57th
A half-decent attempt at melding the kids' entertainment and sci-fi blockbuster genres, while at the same time being wrong on many levels. If Spielberg-wannabe Abrams spent more time on the human side of his story and less time replicating action scenes from Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, War of the Worlds and The Fugitive, this film might have impact. A great first act was wasted because the director was more interested in blowing stuff up than exploring relationships. Familiar ground.
Rated 21 Jun 2011
75
46th
That it was the result of combining two separate ideas makes a lot of sense, as the arc dealing with the monster is in a completely different tonal area from the dramatic arc, and it drags the movie down. But, when it isn't frustrating, it's entertaining. Elle Fanning continues to be the most promising young actress around, and Courtney isn't too shabby, either. Mr. Abrams: jump scares are a perfectly acceptable cinematic device, but not when telegraphed and repeated ad infinitum. Thank you.
Rated 01 Aug 2011
80
80th
Truly a postmodern popcorn flick for the decade, it serves up a mix of The Goonies, Stand By Me, American Grafitti, Alien, Predator, The Twilight Zone, Jaws, Close Encounters of The Third Kind and, of course, E.T. ... I freakin' loved it!
Rated 12 Jun 2011
75
73rd
Well made, very much like a classic Spielberg movie (to a fault). It was basically like the Goonies, ET, and Cloverfield were all thrown into a blender. The funny parts were very funny, the tense parts were very tense, but the story was lacking. You knew the middle and ending the moment you saw the train crash, and anything in between was a by-the-numbers attempt at a "classic Spielberg."
Rated 10 Mar 2012
34
4th
Super 8, or as I think I will refer to it from now on as Close Encouters of Paranormal Activity ft. a monster out of Starship Troopers, is self-indulgent and horribly cliched. Abrams really is trying too hard to be Spielberg. I found hardly anything in this movie original and some parts were laughably bad. For example, how in the world in the middle of the CGI fest train crash does the car next to the destroyed building not have a single scratch on it. Maybe it would be better with a lobotomy.
Rated 27 Jul 2011
87
88th
Whatever plot holes or inconsistencies in the script that may exist are easily overlooked by the fact that hot damn, these kids can act. Courtney, Griffiths and Lee all surprise, but it's Elle Fanning who blows the roof off the joint. She is immensely talented with a very bright future, and of course it's always nice to see Kyle Chandler in anything. Engrossing characters, exciting action and great humour make this the year's best summer blockbuster. The zombie film in the credits is hysterical.
Rated 06 Nov 2011
69
51st
A decent kids' movie, feels like a mix of The Goonies with some E.T. most of the time. Never truly special, and the combination lens flare + teal/orange coloring can fuck right the fuck off. The final movie we see during the credits definitely was the highlight.
Rated 29 Jun 2011
86
72nd
JJ's got the best parts of M Knight's storytelling with his ability to grab your attention with sci-fi intrigue, but that draw always lets down. Today he's going Spielbergian and while mostly successful, it's heavy-handed in its mimicry and, well, everything. You see Jaws is only good because you never see the shark till the end. Oh you heard that before? JJ Abrams caught word of it too! And hey, apparently he thought we LIKED the lens flare in Star Trek. I'm whining though, I had a lot of fun
Rated 11 Jun 2011
80
77th
The train crash was ridiculous. Flashes of brilliance are dampered by some really lousy choices (That alcoholic dad character, the last 15 minutes). The credits were cute. The alien was cool until you saw what it looked like and then it's just "Welp, maybe they'll make a better alien next time". It was really nice to go back to ~Spielberg's Americana~ though.
Rated 19 Jun 2011
68
51st
Abrams crafts a sleek, well-paced summer popcorn adventure a la Spielberg. The actors, esp. the kids, are all top-notch. On the one hand, I'm glad that the new generation of moviegoers have a chance to experience a film reminiscent of Goonies or E.T, wherein adventures have a down-to-earth coming-of-age message. On the other hand, although Abrams handles the mimicry well, he doesn't exactly do anything new, and relies too much on being loud. The abrupt ending left a sour note on the whole thing.
Rated 24 Jun 2011
90
88th
Abrams did a great job recreating the feel of an old Spielberg movie. Great performances from the child actors, awesome story, and fantastic visual effects and sound editing.
Rated 15 Jun 2011
78
69th
The trouble with structuring yourself after 70s/80s Spielberg is that you're just setting yourself up for a fall. This was a valiant effort buoyed by some great child actors, but it got taken down a peg by repetitive jumpscares and lame jokes.
Rated 24 Oct 2011
75
78th
Great child performances and great build up. Unfortunately the ending can't live up to the rest. And the creature design was far from impressive.
Rated 17 Sep 2011
72
62nd
"Super 8" succeeds perfectly in its goal of being a love letter to classic sci-fi Spielberg and recreates its era perfectly. The problem being that it replicates these so well that there is nothing new or thrilling on show. To judge it solely on these factors would be to miss the point entirely as the kids are the true highlights of the film and are incredible to watch (the film during the credits was fucking hilarous, I haven't laughed that hard at a film in a long time).
Rated 28 Jul 2011
70
67th
The kids (lead by Joe Courtney and Elle Fanning) and the intimate scenes dealing with their relations are terrific. Abrams also succeeds in creating a both nostalgic feeling of old-fashioned adventure and heartfelt warmth. He seems less interested in the alien/action stuff, though - as do the audience - and the "don't be scared of strangers, they're just friends you haven't gotten to know"-morale never really takes flight either. Still, "Super 8" is pretty great (hey, it rhymes!).
Rated 24 Nov 2013
83
91st
Super 8 does exactly what it sets out to do: be an homage to the mid 80's films of Steven Spielberg. Equal parts Goonies, E.T., Close Encounters and Stand By Me with absolutely fantastic performances by all the child actors and in particular Elle Fanning.
Rated 09 Jun 2011
80
76th
It's been a while since I've seen a movie in the theater that felt like a good ol' exciting summer film. Fun, a little scary, and well-acted. Unfortunately the work that was put in to give the story some emotional-oomph was lost by the end, and the effects, while not bad, are the typically phony looking modern CGI. Computer effects are becoming the new stop-motion in their unbelievability, only far less charming. I think I'm overrating this, but I had a lot of fun watching it.
Rated 13 May 2012
40
13th
Nothing about this film is overtly bad. However, there wasn't really anything in this film I actually liked. I get that JJ Abrams was trying to do some sort of homage to Spielberg flicks. But there really wasn't anything original in this. There were caricatures rather than characters, the cliché dead mother plot and a rushed ending. And, seriously, Abrams, you need to stop with the lens flares. They are obnoxious and do not make you an auteur.
Rated 30 Jun 2011
66
58th
After the first half, it had a lot of potential, but fell kinda short in the long run.
Rated 25 Jul 2011
75
65th
Abrams' love affair with the lens flare continues, confusing everyone. What is the deal with these lens flares, dude? What is the deal? Nevertheless, this is enjoyable Hollywood-escapism as we haven't seen it since Spielberg jumped directorial ship a bit. Has a few stock shortcomings of Hollywood, and the monster plot was done to death, but the characters made it more than worth my time. Who knew Dakota had a more talented sister? Spielbergian casting all around, with a great result.
Rated 27 Feb 2014
7
57th
Super 8 is one of the most nostalgic pieces of filmmaking I can recall in recent years. J.J Abrams is proving to be an exciting filmmaker and this collaboration with Steven Spielberg feels like a throwback to classics like E.T., The Goonies & Stand By Me. The young actors are made up of unknowns but are all great and pay homage to The Goonies. The visuals are stunning and theres lots of light hearted laughs. Super 8 is a charming film and feels like a nostalgic summer blockbuster of old.
Rated 14 Jun 2011
90
97th
Goddamit I wanna be 12 again
Rated 02 Jul 2011
78
66th
worth a good once over, but it's essentially ET for a generation where children watch slightly more adult oriented television. i highly doubt this one will stick around in people's minds for two long, but it's a decent watch and you wont be bored. if you're willing to fork out some money to see a movie in the theater it's not exactly a bad investment.
Rated 13 Jun 2011
75
51st
It just tried to do too many things and ended up being ineffective in every way. If it had focused on the kids the whole time and didn't switch perspectives to the deputy it would have been much better for it. Too many of the subplots accomplished little or had basic logic flaws, and weakened the film because of how prominently they were used.The "shack of exposition" scene really took me out of the film. It wasn't a horrible film by any stretch of the imagination but it misses the mark.
Rated 08 Aug 2011
72
27th
Am I wrong, or didn't that train crash sequence last about 100 times longer than it actually would according to the laws of physics???
Rated 18 Jun 2011
45
21st
Damn, I was really looking forward to this one. Never once felt original. From the story to the set pieces to the characters to the musical cues to the camera angles, it's all recycled. Hard to tell if it's hero worship on Abrams's part, or if he really thought he was subverting established ideas and making them new again, but it's largely a disappointment. For a blockbuster film these days, it's actually not bad, but I think it may be time to bury this genre of cinema for a good, long while.
Rated 04 Jul 2011
45
15th
Abrams misunderstands his own monster. An huge ungainly alien (with cute human eyes) that can move silently when narratively convenient haphazardly terrorizes a small midwestern town and eats people for no good reason (why not just grab some big juicy cows?) before being swayed to stop being a dick (but only after the damage has all been done and he's about to leave) by a mind-meld with a 12-year-old nerd in the screenwriter's last-ditch attempt to make the premise and the plot intersect.
Rated 26 Jul 2011
87
75th
Excellent coming-of-age story with an incredible young cast, whoever found these kids should be promoted because they were all great. Everything about this movie short of the monster/alien reveal and the final ending were great, but they didn't just quite gel with me. The story, the acting, the special effects, the atmosphere, the 80s throwbacks, the ET vibe, everything was great. J.J. Abrams just needs a new creature designer.
Rated 25 Mar 2013
91
82nd
one of my favorite syfy movies im happy i own it.
Rated 11 Jan 2012
85
49th
A very entertaining trip down memory lane. Feels very much like Spielberg's older stuff so I can see why he produced it. The acting is really solid and I personally found the mystery very intriguing, but that's all almost background to the drama at times, which is why I think it's a good movie. It will be interesting to see if it holds up a legacy like all of the films it's inspired from.
Rated 25 Jun 2011
82
75th
With a fantastic and suspenseful start plus a spectacular train scene, Super 8 is only let down by cliches towards the end
Rated 04 Jul 2011
77
58th
aka "Stand By My Cloverfield Encounters of the ET Kind". Things I learned: A)In Ohio , 1981 actually occurred in 1979, over two years before the rest of the world B)Walkie talkies in the 70's had at least 10x the range they do now C)Kids like swearing. Heck everyone likes wearing...cause it's fun and D)The government is not above killing you or your children if necessary, or, at the very least, if they break into schools. Now, sleep well.
Rated 30 Jul 2011
45
35th
It didn't connect with me at all. If I could learn to respect the craftmanship and ignore that it's Spielberg light, if I could appreciate that for a modern day children's movie, it's way above standard. Heck, even if I could learn to sympathize with a fucked up alien trying to get home, I could just never ever be bothered caring about a fat kid trying to pick up chicks by making horrible zombie movies. That said, I did like his movie better than the original 'Dawn of the Dead'.
Rated 11 Jun 2011
60
8th
I found this movie pretty bland. Not much about it that really shone out or made it original. The monster was hardly more interesting than what we saw in Men In Black over a decade ago. The classic Cold War atmosphere was nice but no better than in a number of other adventure movies. I thought even the new Indiana Jones pulled it off better. I'd say the one shining feature was the dialog of the kids, which remained consistently funny and well-executed throughout.
Rated 20 Jun 2011
25
30th
"Lets be honest: the bs sci-fi plot is so much empty machinery, which becomes steadily more apparent as the film wends its way toward a heavy-metal climax that's narratively and emotionally questionable."
Rated 04 Jul 2011
65
64th
Wow, the kid from "Bad News Bears" hasn't aged at all.
Rated 21 Nov 2011
58
26th
Better than mediocre but not by a lot.
Rated 11 Jun 2011
80
63rd
Great adventure story bogged down by a hokey final act. The mediocre soundtrack turned terrible during the final sequences.
Rated 12 Jun 2011
85
84th
Purely wonderful. It's like what Charade was to Hitchcock, but instead it's the Spielberg kids fantasy film that Spielberg never made. The children were consistently hilarious and adorable, and Kyle Chandler was great, as I expected. The only thing I wish would have been different was that Michael Giacchino had made something more unique instead of trying to mimic John Williams' classic style; he's the best American composer working in film today precisely because he's so fresh.
Rated 18 Jun 2011
83
82nd
Everything a summer blockbuster should be, right up until the last 15 minutes.
Rated 15 Aug 2011
80
52nd
Super 8 is a beautiful tribute to the good old 80's and a time where "Popcorn-Cinema" had endless potencial. Abrams created an interesting movie where coming out age meets science fiction. Nevertheless, the big hype which was the pre-cinema marketing strategy created expectations, Super 8 never fullfiled. It's a feel good movie that's worth watching.
Rated 15 Nov 2011
45
34th
E.T. meets CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with touches of STAND BY ME and GODZILLA. The young cast does a good job, but the warmheartedness too often turns to Spielbergian schmaltz, and at each step the whole thing seems very formulaic. The conclusion comes a little too perfunctorily, and fails to connect the creature to the child protagonists in a satisfying way. Does not quite work as either nostalgia or a monster movie, but does not make for unpleasant viewing either. A reasonably OK kids movie.
Rated 28 Jan 2013
50
37th
Starts quite well and takes an interesting turn, but I would've preferred to watch the initial story through. Nevertheless J.J. Abrams has brought fresh air to science fiction and that is something to be grateful.
Rated 13 Dec 2011
78
71st
This is a fun summer film. The stars of the film are a bunch of likeable kids and they are all very good at their roles. The story is simple yet enjoyable, there are some laughs and some thrilling moments.
Rated 13 Jun 2011
95
86th
I loved when Criticker knows my PSI so well. 95 exactly.
Rated 10 Jun 2011
85
87th
Excellent film. I normal loath child actors, but they were all stellar in this film. I like the way Abrams approaches the monster, leaving us some suspense to what it looks like until the reveal. The story revolving around the monster isn't perfect, but I only thought up any complaints while critically thinking about it afterwards. During the film I was totally absorbed. It's a very charming film and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a god sci-fi thriller.
Rated 27 Jun 2011
90
85th
Super 8 reminds of the time when Spielberg was full of ideas and was not lusting after the long dollar. This mystery movie with teenage actors who act, behave and solve problems like grown ups do, or even better, is just sheer entertainment with deep emotional and problematic under text. There are lots of memorable s?enes which surely must move something in your heart, even though it's a summer blockbuster. Go ahead, mister Abrams...and Mr. Spielberg.
Rated 13 Jun 2011
80
70th
I usually can't stand movies about kids, or teenagers, who make movies. It feels lazy. Once I got over that problem, I really enjoyed 'Super 8'. It's exactly what it sets out to be; a '80s Spielberg film with CGI and too much lens-flare. They mention in the beginning that the trick in a good monster movie is to make people care about the characters so it works better when they die. From then on, you get to know the characters and the monster waits on the sidelines until you're fully invested.
Rated 23 Aug 2011
64
71st
It's like ET, but better. Better because it has trains.
Rated 27 Oct 2011
81
73rd
Superb first half is followed by a second half that's somewhat disappointing, but still not bad in any way. Even the kids do a good job.
Rated 13 Sep 2020
65
23rd
Fitting a government-provoked catastrophe heals all the wounds of a small town. Guilty pleasure blockbuster with a simple meaning behind an unforeseeable force.
Rated 27 Jun 2011
86
73rd
Abrams seems to have taken a few pointers from Spielberg on how to make his child characters lovable, realistic, and completely relatable through an ensemble of remarkable young actors. The drama of their lives is so much more interesting than the alien plot. Perhaps it's the very modern-looking CGI that distracts from the nostalgic tone, but the sheer heart of the film outweighs the qualms.
Rated 27 Jun 2011
60
24th
I...what? What happened? Is the movie supposed to not make a lot of sense? Stuff blew up and people were kidnapped and the special effects were really cool and the alien was freaky but WHAT DID I JUST WATCH
Rated 22 Jun 2011
40
13th
22 haziran 11 & hic suphesiz sondaki kisa film, filmin genelinden daha iyiydi..
Rated 11 Jun 2011
80
83rd
Goonies + ET + (and a pinch of George A. Romero) = Super 8
Rated 19 Jun 2011
60
29th
"Super 8" is extremely uneven -it begins promisingly, with a familiar small-town setting, a bunch of likable kids, an engrossing mystery and an aura of wonder that successfully revived the spirit of early Spielberg. But the film takes a dip in quality in the second half -Abrams's script completely surrenders to cliché and cheap nostalgia while failing to provide a satisfactory solution to the central mystery. Though well-shot and compelling, the film left me moderately disappointed.
Rated 12 Jun 2011
70
40th
It's good, not great. I would say it's 75% Cloverfield, 15% E.T., 10% Close Encounters of the Third Kind. There is much more drama involving the relationships of the kids and adults than I expected, which isn't always a bad thing; however, it just made the overarching story of the alien seem secondary most of the time. The acting by the kids was really strong.
Rated 15 Jun 2011
83
65th
the first half of the movie was great, with the mystery unfolding through the eyes of kids, and also focuses on their naivety and maturity in some situations. the ending could've been better though, maybe some further inquisition into the alien's background. jj abrams' usage of lens flare adds a certain 'out of this world' feeling, just like in star trek. overall enjoyable and heartwarming, but not the kind of 'aliens invading earth' movie
Rated 01 Jul 2011
87
72nd
i only wish they focused more on the kids and less on the alien, because the alien plot is not very fleshed out at all and it leaves many questions unanswered. the child actors were all great.
Rated 06 Aug 2011
62
31st
This movie would be the outcome if E.T. and Cloverfield went to prom together and didn't use condoms later that night. It is a decent but not special movie by two blockbuster masters, in which both overindulged in their obsessions (aliens, non-adult leads and vaguely-seen monsters and mysterious background stories that wouldn't make much sense even if they were fully divulged). The Fanning family should be cloned for the next generation of good actresses by the way.
Rated 03 Dec 2011
66
40th
The characters are pretty interesting, and the first 30 - 60 minutes were great. Unfortunately that is just the subplot, and the alien main plot takes over and is terribly generic. Might have flied in the 80s, but this is 2011 Mr. Abrams. Make something interesting next time.
Rated 29 Jun 2011
95
86th
A fantastic throwback to the days of early Spielberg that also cements J.J. Abrams as a top producer/director talent.
Rated 03 Nov 2012
82
69th
The Stand By Me portions of the films are really great, with a group of very talented young actors just interacting in ways that are intersting and enjoyable to watch. The ET meets Cloverfield parts are less interesting, as the giant monster of the film never feels like the main point of the movie and a lot of those scenes feel tacked on. I wish Kyle Chandler had gotten a better role in this too than the standard emotionally distant father character.
Rated 22 Aug 2019
0
0th
Super 8 would have been good if it's b-story of the kids making a movie was the focus. As it is, Super 8 is typical Abrams nonsense that doesn't go anywhere and crumbles under the slightest amount of thought.
Rated 29 Nov 2019
80
68th
Abrams does a really good job of reproducing the style and all the tropes of a 1980's era Spielberg film, even getting Spielberg himself to produce it. It's not just empty nostalgia either. Set in 1979, it feels very much like a film from that era with only the superior effects work to really give it away. It mostly works too ... it's not exactly Spielberg quality, but it does a convincing job of feeling like one of the films he produced in the 80's for other directors.
Rated 11 Apr 2020
67
30th
For an hour, Abrams pulls off a tricky feat authoritatively capturing the feel of 80s Spielberg, and eliciting well-observed performances from his young cast (Fanning is exquisite here). A nerve jangling crash scene and oppressively paranoid atmospherics are plusses - but once the "threat" is revealed (with some surprisingly poor SFX work), the balancing act topples, falling into mawkish melodrama, with a near-unforgivably hokey finale evoking ET (even if the comparison doesn't make any sense!)
Rated 14 Jan 2021
67
14th
J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg and this is the result? Gosh. An unecessary '80s kid-sci-fi revival imo
Rated 16 Jun 2011
77
78th
Great kids; lame alien. Stay until Fanning's character gets kidnapped, then duck out and go watch the last hour of "X-Men: First Class" again.
Rated 29 Aug 2011
70
61st
A nostalgic recreation of the 80s and the young cast is pretty cool, despite losing a little focus in the end.
Rated 27 Dec 2011
40
14th
The problems with this film are mirrored in the alien in the centre of the film's plot. Its a vague blur of ideas, both emotionally sympathetic with its adolescent characters yet brutish in its explosions and chaos, which feels disjointed and somewhat cobbled together. Like the alien, the emotional core doesn't really feel tangible, never in said characterisation, the references to cinema or as a sci-fi film. Its somewhat surprising for me how well received this was, but maybe I'm an exception.
Rated 01 Jan 2013
80
70th
It has many fine qualities (its young cast is pretty phenomenal). The problem is that the story eventually evolves into a mess that has to be prepped up by cliches and deus ex machinas. And after a while they just keep piling one onto another and at the end you don't really remember how original and interesting the whole thing started. It's just like you had a nice series pilot at the beginning, but then there's no season of instalments to follow on all of its flavors and ideas.

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