Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Can of Worms

  • TV Movie
  • 1999
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Erika Christensen and Michael Shulman in Can of Worms (1999)
ComedyFamilySci-Fi

A teen is visited by aliens after he broadcasts a message into space.A teen is visited by aliens after he broadcasts a message into space.A teen is visited by aliens after he broadcasts a message into space.

  • Director
    • Paul Schneider
  • Writer
    • Kathy Mackel
  • Stars
    • Michael Shulman
    • Erika Christensen
    • Adam Wylie
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.8/10
    1.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Paul Schneider
    • Writer
      • Kathy Mackel
    • Stars
      • Michael Shulman
      • Erika Christensen
      • Adam Wylie
    • 19User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos14

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 7
    View Poster

    Top cast23

    Edit
    Michael Shulman
    Michael Shulman
    • Mike Pillsbury
    Erika Christensen
    Erika Christensen
    • Katelyn Sandman
    Adam Wylie
    Adam Wylie
    • Nick
    Andrew Ducote
    • Jay
    Lee Garlington
    Lee Garlington
    • Dana Pillsbury
    Brighton Hertford
    • Jill Pillsbury
    Marcus Turner
    Marcus Turner
    • Scott Shneieber
    Malcolm McDowell
    Malcolm McDowell
    • Barnabus
    • (voice)
    Chris Davies
    • Ryan
    Marie Stillin
    Marie Stillin
    • Mrs. Nickerson
    Jessica Murdoch
    • Katelyn's Friend
    Terry David Mulligan
    Terry David Mulligan
    • Coach Trembly
    Brian Steele
    Brian Steele
    • Thoad
    Hrothgar Mathews
    Hrothgar Mathews
    • Thoad Man
    • (as Hrothgar Matthews)
    J.D. Hall
    J.D. Hall
    • Thoad
    • (voice)
    • (as JD Hall)
    Peter Kelamis
    Peter Kelamis
    • Inter-Gallactic Cop
    • (voice)
    • (as Peter Kalamis)
    Guy Fauchon
    • Hanzel
    Bruce Lanoil
    Bruce Lanoil
    • The Bom
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Paul Schneider
    • Writer
      • Kathy Mackel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews19

    4.81.3K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    5doomedmac

    Can of Worms...

    Is a really weird movie. But you already knew that. What you didn't know is that it is extremely mediocre and mildly entertaining.
    5NAHNCEE

    sweet but no jim henson

    About a teenaged boy suffering rejection angst who messages The Universe to come and take him away because he doesn't belong on earth. The movie overall is "sweet" - no one is too awful, and nothing too terrible happens to him. The production values are so low as to become distracting; i.e., the aliens are not cute or interesting, the halloween dance has a total of about 20 participants, and his "high tech equipment" consists of a laptop and a backyard satellite dish. You have never heard of any of the actors in this, except for the kid nextdoor neighbor. I watched it because TV Guide rated it very very highly - I wonder what they were thinking of.
    3TheMysteriousReviewer

    What Is That Disgusting Creature?!?!?!

    Can of Worms is not only one of the most stupidest, but possibly the worst Halloween movie Disney Channel has ever created. Even for straight-to-television, it doesn't excuse to be both cringy and very cheesy. Actually, being a cheesy sci-fi film is just the least of the movie's issues. The story is very basic, the visuals are a joke, the characters have almost no brain, the acting is just overacting, and the animatronics are some of the most disturbing in the worst kind of way. Honestly, I suggest to stay away from this one. Trust me, you will be excruciated the first half hour you watch it. If you want to watch a Halloween related movie by Disney Channel, go watch Don't Look Under The Bed or even the first two Halloweentown films and they are actually much more enjoyable. This is truly the sci fi Disney Channel movie that has little to nothing in entertainment. Well hey, at least we won't have to see those freaks again.
    10briannakrause

    cold sweat

    When I was a child, only at the age of 8 I woke up in a cold sweat while this movie was playing. Traumatic if I do say. I only saw the last 30 minutes of this movie but I had nightmares for the next two years. All I could remember about this movie was the aliens. Everyone thought I was lying, making things up, and after a while I did too. "It must of been a weird dream that suck with me." is what I thought. Oh was I so wrong. Fast forward ten years, I have not stopped thinking about this movie, my every waking moment, every time someone brings up the Critters franchise I have to relish in the fact that its not the movie that has been haunting my thoughts for twelve years.

    I finally found this stupid movie, my character arch is over, I can finally rest.

    Also. Mike is literally the definition of an incel and does NOT deserve Katelyn lmao.
    8Thomas-Musings

    Cliched, but still fun

    The film presents a tale as old as time...but no less fun for it.

    More like this

    Don't Look Under the Bed
    6.6
    Don't Look Under the Bed
    The Scream Team
    6.2
    The Scream Team
    Under Wraps
    6.5
    Under Wraps
    Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire
    5.8
    Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire
    Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
    6.3
    Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
    Smart House
    6.1
    Smart House
    Phantom of the Megaplex
    6.2
    Phantom of the Megaplex
    The Thirteenth Year
    5.9
    The Thirteenth Year
    Up, Up, and Away!
    5.5
    Up, Up, and Away!
    The Even Stevens Movie
    6.2
    The Even Stevens Movie
    Miracle in Lane 2
    5.9
    Miracle in Lane 2
    The Color of Friendship
    7.2
    The Color of Friendship

    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the first Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) to receive a TV-PG rating.
    • Quotes

      Barnabus: Many who feel out-of-place here look down. But not you, Mike Pillsbury. You looked to the stars. Remarkable.

    • Connections
      References Sleepaway Camp (1983)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 10, 1999 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Oanade konsekvenser
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Disney Channel
      • Gross-Weston Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.