Featured Audience Ratings

• Christopher H

  
  An enjoyable 50's creature feature in which the effects have aged rather well for the most part. A real tarantula was used in the scenes were the title creature crawls across a miniature desert landscape. There is also a scene where we see a lab full of enlarged animals that… More
  An enjoyable 50's creature feature in which the effects have aged rather well for the most part. A real tarantula was used in the scenes were the title creature crawls across a miniature desert landscape. There is also a scene where we see a lab full of enlarged animals that looks pretty cool. Despite some entertaining effects, the makeup used for the facial deformities of the professor guy look a bit laughable at times. The movie also boasts from some good acting from the cast, a good dose of atmosphere, and a welcome tongue-in-cheek nature. It is not mind-blowing, but it is a nice little creature feature that does not easily fall into the goofy self-seriousness that plagued some other 50's B-movies. Be on the look out for a young Clint Eastwood, who plays an ariel squad leader that attacks the giant tarantula in the film's blazing climax.

• AJ V

  
  "Tarantulas take to the hills!" That is, towering over the hills! This movie is sensational, but not that great in any other department. Overall, it's okay.

• Randy T

  
  <i>Tarantula</i> is 50's sci-fi gold, complete with a giant guinea pig and a mysterious microphone that appears from time to time in the upper frame of certain scenes. Unless you suffer from severe arachnophobia, this is not a film that will cause you any sleepless… More
  <i>Tarantula</i> is 50's sci-fi gold, complete with a giant guinea pig and a mysterious microphone that appears from time to time in the upper frame of certain scenes. Unless you suffer from severe arachnophobia, this is not a film that will cause you any sleepless nights. It is, however, a lot of fun to watch and a must-see for those who are old enough to remember Saturday nights at the local drive-in theater watching two-for-one "creature features".

• Anthony L

  
  A classic 50's B-movie. I've often wondered how good it would have been had the Guinea-pig had escaped though! Tarantula vs. Guinea-pig should have been the sequel!

• Jason O

  
  Like many of the bug flicks back in the days of black & white television, "Tarantula" is a good movie. Yes, it is incredibly dated by today's standards, and it's easy to see that the spider itself is fake, or that it was just blown to proportions, but special… More
  Like many of the bug flicks back in the days of black & white television, "Tarantula" is a good movie. Yes, it is incredibly dated by today's standards, and it's easy to see that the spider itself is fake, or that it was just blown to proportions, but special effects aren't what makes a movie. Really, for the time (1955), "Tarantula" has good special effects. The spider itself looks and moves realistically (I don't know for sure, it might actually be real and look to be the size it is), there are lots of explosions to be seen, and more. You'll also see an early attempt at making a man look distorted and extremely old. But what really makes this a good movie to me, is its premise. I've always been fascinated with watching movies in which a normal, everyday creature tries to take over the lives of human beings, and "Tarantula" is one of those movies. How often do you see a tarantula roam through the countrysides, knocking over huge boulders and eating cattle in a matter of seconds? But it's not just the spider that is convincing. Everybody in the movie, especially the two main people, do a good job of acting. As a surprising extra, watch closely at the end of the movie for the pilot that's in command. This pilot is Clint Eastwood, in one of his very early (only his second ever as a matter of fact), bits of a role. "Tarantula" is just a classic horror film that seems pretty basic these days, but it's still just as great and entertaining as when it was new. That is, it should be, if you're a true fan of old horror flicks. If you like other horror/sci-fi classics such as "Creature from The Black Lagoon," "The Deadly Mantis," and even the old Godzilla flicks, you will probably like "Tarantula." I know I recommend it. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2002.

• Bruce B

  
  This is the way Sci-Fi / Horror was meant to be. This is what I grew up on, Chiller Theater on WPIX on Saturday Nights, staying up till 1:30 in the morning, then being woke up by Mom and Dragged into church, ahh those were the days. Of course we have our Mad Scientist, Our Pretty… More
  This is the way Sci-Fi / Horror was meant to be. This is what I grew up on, Chiller Theater on WPIX on Saturday Nights, staying up till 1:30 in the morning, then being woke up by Mom and Dragged into church, ahh those were the days. Of course we have our Mad Scientist, Our Pretty Girl, Our Hero, and the Sheriff, and our Giant Spider on some hormones that our Dr has mad up called nutrients back then. How can I give a Black & White Film where when the sheriff sees the Giant Spider he says " Jumping Jupiter" when?s the last time you heard that in a film. What would they say today. I got this for the fact that Ross Elliott was in it, came in the Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection, which I recommend all to try there best to get a copy, has 3 DVD's and 5 Different films all Classics. 4 1/2 stars Jumping Jupiter.

• Luke B

  
  An unstoppably awesome B-Movie. Giant monsters are always a lot of fun, especially when you get cheesy lines to laugh at "Jumping Jupiter" and even hokier acting. It also has those classic moments that have you questioning the actions of characters, but in an endearing way.… More
  An unstoppably awesome B-Movie. Giant monsters are always a lot of fun, especially when you get cheesy lines to laugh at "Jumping Jupiter" and even hokier acting. It also has those classic moments that have you questioning the actions of characters, but in an endearing way. Tarantula stands the test of time due to the incredible trick photography and effects. The tarantula always looks comfortable in his environments, though sometimes you can see through his legs. The beginning, where we see a giant guinea pig is actually so impressive I almost rubbed my eyes in disbelief. The make-up on the deformed humans is also surprisingly real. It's short and fun, not to mention a cameo from Clint Eastwood in one of his first film roles.

• Anthony V

  
  One of the best of the giant monster movies of the 50s. Catch Clint Eastwood's first film appearance as a jet fighter pilot.

• Emily B

  
  Jumping Jupiter, a 100 foot tarantula!

Read all 9 featured audience ratings