Tim Holt, Audrey Dalton, Hans Conried

A highlight among 1950s creature-features, The Monster That Challenged the World is a near-classic B movie that never goes out of style. When an earthquake reveals a nest of giant, prehistoric ...( read more  read more... )sea mollusks at the bottom of California's Salton Sea, the local body count skyrockets. Navy lieutenant Twillinger (Tim Holt) takes command, assisting the obligatory scientist (Hans Conreid) while wooing the June Cleaver wanna-be (Barbara Darrow) who inevitably tangles with the monster--a flailing caterpillar-like beastie with snapping mandibles and a voracious appetite. With a moment of vintage gross-out ("Get the eye! Get the eye!"), well-handled suspense, and the requisite balance of tepid romance and sci-fi jargon, this is a prime companion to any film in the atomic-monster lineup. The aging Holt made only two more movies after this (following a thriving career in Westerns), but he gives Monster his best shot and comes up a winner. --Jeff Shannon

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37% liked it

1,084 ratings

G, 1 hr. 23 min.

Directed by: Arnold Laven

Release Date: June 1, 1957

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DVD Release Date: August 28, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (42)


  • May 25, 2007
    One of the best 50's monster movies. GreatF/X.
  • March 7, 2007
    What a horroble title. I guess they can't think up a good title for it. The monsters really have cuty eyes. So sad they died, they were just hungry and overly big that's why they eat human beings.
  • February 27, 2007
    One of many entertaining giant monster movies of the Cold War Era 50's generation. If you enjoy these sort of movies, this should be in your collection.
  • December 3, 2006
    It's got cool giant worms. 'Nuff said.
  • October 7, 2006
    I'd love to see this film. It looks and sound hilarious.
  • September 6, 2006
    OLD TIME MONSTER "B" FLICK but i loved it as a kid
  • April 9, 2006
    havent seen it, but it doesnt look so good.

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