The Blob
When a ravenous alien blob lands near a Pennsylvania town, two young witnesses must outrun its growth before disbelief becomes catastrophe.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- campy
- tense
- nostalgic
- classic horror night
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics generally regard it as dated and awkward but enduringly entertaining as a colorful, cheesy B-movie monster thrill ride.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The blob arrives from outer space and continuously enlarges as it consumes victims and surroundings.
A nearby Pennsylvania town, including its stores, homes, church, and theater, becomes increasingly alarmed as the creature spreads.
The colorful blob effects and straightforward menace create the satisfying, camp-adjacent B-movie appeal noted by critics.
Steve and Jane see the creature's destructive power, but local police initially have difficulty believing them.
Films like The Blob, and why
The Fly
1950s science fiction monster thrills, small-town panic, and colorful practical effects
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
alien organism horror, escalating threat, and paranoia-driven community response
Them!
cheesy science fiction horror, destructive creature spectacle, and mid-century genre atmosphere
The Killer Shrews
campy monster movie energy, youthful protagonists, and practical-effects spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.
- Release Date
- 1958-09-10
- Runtime
- 82 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (690)
Cast
- Steve McQueen
- Aneta Corsaut
- Earl Rowe
- Olin Howland
- Stephen Chase
- John Benson
- George Karas
- Lee Payton
- Elbert Smith
- Hugh Graham
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel, History Vault, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Blob about?
- When a ravenous alien blob lands near a Pennsylvania town, two young witnesses must outrun its growth before disbelief becomes catastrophe.
- What is The Blob like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Blob as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Blob violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Blob as mild.
- What did critics think of The Blob?
- Critics generally regard it as dated and awkward but enduringly entertaining as a colorful, cheesy B-movie monster thrill ride.
- Which films are like The Blob?
- Films with a similar feel include The Fly, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Them!, and The Killer Shrews.
- How long is The Blob?
- The Blob runs 82 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Blob?
- In United States, The Blob streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel, History Vault, HBO Max.
