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Super 8

  • 2011
  • PG-13
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
376K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,779
204
Super 8 (2011)
This is the 90-second trailer that debuted during the MTV Movie Awards.
Play trailer1:29
28 Videos
99+ Photos
Conspiracy ThrillerActionSci-FiThriller

During the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.During the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.During the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.

  • Director
    • J.J. Abrams
  • Writer
    • J.J. Abrams
  • Stars
    • Elle Fanning
    • AJ Michalka
    • Kyle Chandler
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    376K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,779
    204
    • Director
      • J.J. Abrams
    • Writer
      • J.J. Abrams
    • Stars
      • Elle Fanning
      • AJ Michalka
      • Kyle Chandler
    • 1KUser reviews
    • 557Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 11 wins & 71 nominations total

    Videos28

    New TV Trailer
    Trailer 1:29
    New TV Trailer
    Super 8: "It Arrives" TV Trailer
    Trailer 0:34
    Super 8: "It Arrives" TV Trailer
    Super 8: "It Arrives" TV Trailer
    Trailer 0:34
    Super 8: "It Arrives" TV Trailer
    Super 8: "Jersey" TV Trailer
    Trailer 0:33
    Super 8: "Jersey" TV Trailer
    Super 8: "What Is Coming" TV Trailer
    Trailer 0:33
    Super 8: "What Is Coming" TV Trailer
    Super 8: "Discover" TV Trailer
    Trailer 0:33
    Super 8: "Discover" TV Trailer
    Super 8: Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:22
    Super 8: Trailer #1

    Photos181

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    + 175
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    Top cast77

    Edit
    Elle Fanning
    Elle Fanning
    • Alice Dainard
    AJ Michalka
    AJ Michalka
    • Jen Kaznyk
    Kyle Chandler
    Kyle Chandler
    • Deputy Jackson Lamb
    Joel Courtney
    Joel Courtney
    • Joe Lamb
    Jessica Tuck
    Jessica Tuck
    • Mrs. Kaznyk
    Joel McKinnon Miller
    Joel McKinnon Miller
    • Mr. Kaznyk
    Ryan Lee
    Ryan Lee
    • Cary
    Zach Mills
    Zach Mills
    • Preston
    Riley Griffiths
    Riley Griffiths
    • Charles Kaznyk
    Gabriel Basso
    Gabriel Basso
    • Martin
    Ron Eldard
    Ron Eldard
    • Louis Dainard
    Andrew Miller
    • Kaznyk Twin
    Jakob Miller
    • Kaznyk Twin
    Jade Griffiths
    • Benji Kaznyk
    Britt Flatmo
    Britt Flatmo
    • Peg Kaznyk
    Glynn Turman
    Glynn Turman
    • Dr. Woodward
    Noah Emmerich
    Noah Emmerich
    • Colonel Nelec
    Richard T. Jones
    Richard T. Jones
    • Overmyer
    • Director
      • J.J. Abrams
    • Writer
      • J.J. Abrams
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1K

    7.0376.3K
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    Featured reviews

    8TourettesPersonal

    Mixing Their Trademarks

    The concept of "Super 8" is combining the elements of J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. The trailer made you think it's like E.T. plus Cloverfield. Well, it's true. There is nothing new about "Super 8" but it brought us back to the good old classic times, it's funny, it's exciting, and it's amazing.

    "Super 8" is another intriguing monster movie by J.J. Abrams. Yes, you really wanna know what it looks like but I'm not gonna tell you. The sad thing is it's not as intriguing as Cloverfield. But It's easy to ignore that problem because there is something better than being another Cloverfield. It feels like you are watching a good old classic movie. Great characters, Good old fashion score, and kids intrigued by the situation.

    The story is really about the characters' zombie movie making and the family tragedy while there's a monster attacking their town. The monster is like the background or the subplot of this film. But the movie still got suspense. The movie is indeed beautiful and plenty of heart. The movie is just nostalgic stuff. It's not trying to be new. It just wants to show how J.J. Abrams is inspired by Steven Spielberg's movies.

    There are some amazing scenes in this film. Example, the train collision was breathtaking. The movie sure has a lot of humor. It's like a relic to the old family movies. The CGI is good enough. The performances were good. The kids gave a lot of personality to their roles.

    "Super 8" is a J.J. Abrams film with Spielberg's trademarks all over it. It's not a blockbuster that has a lot of action and less talking. This movie is made in old fashion style. Yep, this movie is nostalgic if you saw Spielberg's old movies and it's good to see another one like it.

    Note: There is something interesting in the credits. You might wanna check it out.
    theevans7

    Best 2011 Movie

    Steven Spielberg and J.J Abrams working on a project together. That idea alone is great however the finished project is a masterpiece. I was expecting a lot when I walked into the theater, when I walked out, not only were my expectations met but it was much better than i thought it would be. Let's start off with the actors, they all did a great job, but I was really impressed with Elle Fanning's acting, she added lots to the movie. I know it won't happen for this movie but I think she deserves an Oscar for her performance. Next, let's talk about the overall movie, it was great, it had, action, comedy, Mystery, romance, and suspense. The special effects were amazing, best this year. Now, the ending, i'm not going to say what happens, but many people hated it but I thought it was perfect, great way to end the film. Overall, suspense, action packed movie with great special effects and great acting from underrated stars makes the best movie of 2011, and one of the best movies ever. 10/10
    7MVictorPjinsiste

    Absolutely Charming

    Overtly nostalgic movie about a bunch of kids stumbling on a secret weapon blunder while making a zombie flick. Yes, it is an obvious hommage to Spielberg, that much have been said.

    The kids are remarkable, everyone of them. In fact, as soon as the movie moves away from them, it suffers, althought Kyle Chandler, reliable, does a good job with non-verbal acting. The one kid I liked most was the "directing" one, reacting with slight disgust at the thought that his own sister (she must have been ugly when younger) could actually be attractive to others, but all of them had their quirps that made them likeable in their own ways.

    When compared with contemporary Stephen King's "It" adaptation, which is similar in many ways, it is less lurid and graphic, and adults are less of a threat, but the nostalgia factor is doubled. I especially liked the middle-class settings and realities, the small Ohio town. My favorite moment was when they actually showed the full movie the kids made ("The Case") during the end credits, which makes it the most agreable end credits I ever witnessed.

    Alas, not all was perfect and the main CGI creature is somewhat of a wet petard, and some characters were less than convincing, like the stoner guy. It is however a movie with a heart. Or maybe it's me who's getting too old.
    6bruce-149

    Been there, done that

    As an homage to the Spielberg films of the 80's, this movie succeeds. As a piece of original entertainment? Nothing happening, folks. Now, if you're a kid and have never seen The Goonies, Jaws, ET, War of the Worlds, and Cloverfield, you may think this film is absolutely wonderful. And judged through the lens of cinema history, it may well be looked upon as a culmination of all that came before.

    Let's just hope that the future is filled with something in rare supply: originality.

    It's not that I wasn't entertained, it's just that I expected something more.

    And I suppose that's another problem with getting older. There aren't as many surprises left in the world.
    csuperman

    Nostalgia Not of the Cynical Kind

    It is nostalgia ridden like many other films have been this past decade, the only difference is it's not of the cynical kind.

    The film's narrative FELT all over the place (probably more the plot than the narrative) - there was a certain tightness missing from this that was present in J.J. Abrams' previous film but, other than that, everything else did exactly what it's supposed to. The kids are both engaging and entertaining, the monster turns out to be quite frightening, the dialogue's great, the acting's great, visual effects, cinematography- everything's on point.

    It felt like I was watching a proper film! I mean it seems too much to ask for from our blockbusters these days.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Conspiracy Thriller
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Riley Griffiths (Charles Kaznyk) played an April Fool's prank on director J.J. Abrams during filming: "On the verge of crying, I told him I had lost my script, lost it at a mall in L.A., somebody took it, and it's online. He totally fell for it... I think I might have been more scared than J.J. I was trembling."
    • Goofs
      After the train wreck, Alice's car is dirty, covered in ash and debris When the kids get in the car to leave the train station, the car is clean.
    • Quotes

      Joe Lamb: She used to look at me... this way, like really look... and I just knew I was there... that I existed.

    • Crazy credits
      Charles Kaznyk's completed zombie movie is shown during the closing credits.
    • Alternate versions
      In the original theatrical version some shot of Jen Kaznyk walk to Donny in the evacuation center are cut from the DVD version
    • Connections
      Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Shrek Forever After/Survival of the Dead/Holy Rollers (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't Bring Me Down
      Written by Jeff Lynne

      Performed by Electric Light Orchestra

      Courtesy of Epic Records

      By arrangement with Sony Music Publishing

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    FAQ32

    • How long is Super 8?Powered by Alexa
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 10, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Acadia
    • Filming locations
      • Weirton, West Virginia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Amblin Entertainment
      • Bad Robot
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $50,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $127,004,179
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $35,451,168
      • Jun 12, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $260,095,986
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 52m(112 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1
      • 2.39 : 1

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