It Came from Beneath the Sea
A radioactive giant octopus brings Cold War monster-movie spectacle to the San Francisco waterfront and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- suspenseful
- earnest
- militaristic
- classic monster movie night
- retro science fiction marathon
What critics said
Critics generally regard the film as a predictable but entertaining 1950s monster picture whose Ray Harryhausen effects and climactic destruction far outshine its flat, slow-moving story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The radioactive octopus attacks ships, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge, with Ray Harryhausen's animation providing the film's signature attraction.
The octopus is described as radioactive and has abandoned its normal feeding grounds in search of replenishment.
Commander Pete Mathews works with Professors Lesley Joyce and John Carter while the Navy develops a plan to trap the creature.
The opening and exposition use narration and a cool, clipped, training-documentary style to establish the naval investigation.
Films like It Came from Beneath the Sea, and why
the beast from 20,000 fathoms
1950s radiation-paranoia science fiction, giant creature spectacle, and disaster-movie destruction
godzilla
classic science fiction horror centered on a colossal monster threatening human civilization
them!
mid-century creature feature combining military response, scientific investigation, and miniature-effects spectacle
the creature from the black lagoon
1950s science fiction monster film with environmental anxiety and suspenseful naval action
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Gordon
- Release Date
- 1955-05-02
- Runtime
- 79 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (109)
Cast
- Kenneth Tobey
- Faith Domergue
- Donald Curtis
- Chuck Griffiths
- Ian Keith
- Dean Maddox Jr.
- Harry Lauter
- Richard W. Peterson
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is It Came from Beneath the Sea about?
- A radioactive giant octopus brings Cold War monster-movie spectacle to the San Francisco waterfront and the Golden Gate Bridge.
- What is It Came from Beneath the Sea like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of It Came from Beneath the Sea as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is It Came from Beneath the Sea violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in It Came from Beneath the Sea as mild.
- What did critics think of It Came from Beneath the Sea?
- Critics generally regard the film as a predictable but entertaining 1950s monster picture whose Ray Harryhausen effects and climactic destruction far outshine its flat, slow-moving story.
- Which films are like It Came from Beneath the Sea?
- Films with a similar feel include the beast from 20,000 fathoms, godzilla, them!, and the creature from the black lagoon.
- How long is It Came from Beneath the Sea?
- It Came from Beneath the Sea runs 79 minutes.
- Where can I watch It Came from Beneath the Sea?
- In United States, It Came from Beneath the Sea is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
