The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
A thawed prehistoric predator turns atomic-age New York into a battlefield for science, military power, and stop-motion spectacle.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- eerie
- foreboding
- propulsive
- classic monster movie night
- retro science fiction marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as an exciting science fiction horror thriller whose ingenious special effects substantially outweighed its conventional script and uneven acting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The creature is awakened by an arctic nuclear test, turning postwar scientific power into a source of existential danger.
Ray Harryhausen's effects bring the rhedosaurus into destructive encounters with human characters and New York landmarks.
Professor Nesbitt is the sole witness to the thawed creature and struggles to persuade scientists and officials of its existence.
The rhedosaurus emerges from the sea and lays waste to Manhattan, including recognizable city districts and landmarks.
Films like The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, and why
Them!
Shared 1950s science fiction horror, giant-monster spectacle, atomic anxiety, and landmark effects work.
Godzilla
Shared black-and-white creature-feature atmosphere, nuclear-era fear, urban destruction, and science fiction thriller structure.
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
Shared stop-motion monster spectacle, prehistoric creature premise, and adventure-driven science fiction horror.
Movie Details
- Director
- Eugène Lourié
- Release Date
- 1953-06-13
- Runtime
- 80 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (208)
Cast
- Paul Hubschmid
- Paula Raymond
- Cecil Kellaway
- Kenneth Tobey
- Donald Woods
- Lee Van Cleef
- Steve Brodie
- Ross Elliott
- Jack Pennick
- Ray Hyke
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 The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms about?
- A thawed prehistoric predator turns atomic-age New York into a battlefield for science, military power, and stop-motion spectacle.
- What is The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as an exciting science fiction horror thriller whose ingenious special effects substantially outweighed its conventional script and uneven acting.
- Which films are like The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms?
- Films with a similar feel include Them!, Godzilla, and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.
- How long is The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms?
- The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms runs 80 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms?
- In United States, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
