Beginning of the End (1957)

23% of users liked it
(1,857 ratings)

Produced by Bert I. Gordon, The Beginning of the End is a menacing onslaught of giant-sized grasshoppers. Department of Agriculture functionary Dr. Ed Wainwright (Peter Graves) and photojournalist Audrey Aimes (Peggie Castle) discover that the huge grasshoppers are the product of a experiment in… More Produced by Bert I. Gordon, The Beginning of the End is a menacing onslaught of giant-sized grasshoppers. Department of Agriculture functionary Dr. Ed Wainwright (Peter Graves) and photojournalist Audrey Aimes (Peggie Castle) discover that the huge grasshoppers are the product of a experiment in radioactivity gone awry. Before the Army can neutralize the green monstrosities, Chicago has been besieged by the ravenous insects. Beginning of the End was one of two horror films produced by American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres; the other was The Unearthly (1957). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 13 min.
Directed By: Bert I. Gordon
Written By: Fred Freiberger, Lester Gorn
Genres: Horror, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jun 28, 1957 Limited
On DVD: Mar 25, 2003
Studio: Republic Pictures (I)

Critic Reviews

Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
Bert I Gordon, the kitsch master of nature gone giant cinema, created this bargain basement spectacle of supersized locusts eating their way through Illinois to Chicago ...
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Giant grasshoppers, Peter Graves, and Bert I. Gordon. What more can you want?
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Bad Movie Lesson #1: Bert I. Gordon. Avoid.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Another giant bug movie, with a few scenes very reminiscent of Them!. Gordon is my least favourite sci-fi horror director, his movies aren't so bad that they're good, they're just plain bad. The special effects are so simple a kid could have made them, the acting is… More
Another giant bug movie, with a few scenes very reminiscent of Them!. Gordon is my least favourite sci-fi horror director, his movies aren't so bad that they're good, they're just plain bad. The special effects are so simple a kid could have made them, the acting is bad, the story is lacking and full of holes. I wouldn't recommend this movie.
Anthony V

Um, saying its one of the better giant grasshopper movies, isn't exactly an endorsement.