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Cloverfield
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Metascore
64 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.0 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 701 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Vogel
  • Summary: Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives. (Paramount Pictures)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 37
  3. Negative: 4 out of 37
  1. Empire
    Reviewed by: Olly Richards
    100
    A dazzling experiment that paid off immensely, this is cinematic pleasure at its purest. One caveat: If they ever make a sequel, we're taking two stars back.
  2. Slate
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    60
    Despite a first reel entirely devoted to establishing characters, Cloverfield is basically a line-'em-up, pick-'em-off horror movie that's effective without being either viscerally frightening or emotionally moving. Watching it is like going through a car wash: You come out of it thoroughly Cloverfield-ized, but essentially unchanged.
  3. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    38
    No movie this year will better embody Macbeth's description of life itself: "a tale ... full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

See all 37 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 252 out of 440
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 440
  3. Negative: 157 out of 440
  1. Spielberg00
    9
    From the creator of the recently-ended TV series LOST (who is now known as the director of later films STAR TREK and SUPER 8, as well), CLOVERFIELD is the thrilling point where THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, and GODZILLA all meet. The use of the similar "cinéma vérité" and "found footage" styles are prevalent to the film's plot, as it enhances the believability of the disaster which the story is centered on. At first, I didn't think it was going to be that great of a film, as it began with a light-hearted mood, but by twenty minutes into it, once the whole disaster started to take place, I was thrilled. Also, the ending was not that great, and it left me flummoxed by how complex it was, but think of the endings to other films made in "found footage" style--especially THE LAST EXORCISM--if you may: they were the same way. Overall, I thought this was a fantastic film. To create yet another monster was a brilliant idea, and for once well-tackled. But if there's one thing about CLOVERFIELD that really goes beyond expectations, it's the cinematography and how ingeniously every action is captured--even if it's on home video.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. grandpajoe6191
    5
    I admit the movie was a crazy, thrilling ride. However, just because "Cloverfield" was filmed in first person perspective doesn't mean it is a good movie.… Expand
    • 3 of 3 users said yes
  3. TimT.
    3
    I thought the special effeects were excellent, but i didn' like how the storyline was or the ending. I also did not like that the movie was a video cam and even the people behind me said it made them dizzy.… Expand
    • 3 of 3 users said yes

See all 440 User Reviews

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