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Jeff Daniels, Harley Jane Kozak, John Goodman, Julian Sands, Stuart Pankin ... see more see more... , Brian McNamara , Mark L. Taylor , Henry Jones , Peter Jason , James Handy , Roy Brocksmith , Kathy Kinney , Mary Carver , Frances Bay , Chance Boyer , Brandy Norwood , Lois De Banzie , Terese del Piero , Garette Ratliff Henson , Michael Steve Jones , Marlene Katz , Mai-Lis Kuniholm , Warren Rice , Jane Marla Robbins , Theo Schwartz , Jay Scorpio , Nathaniel Spitzley , Robert Frank Telfer , Fiona Walsh , Cori Wellins , Judy Taylor , Valorie Massalas , Mike Fenton , Robert "Bobby Z" Zajonc

Referring to the fear of spiders, Arachnophobia features a particularly deadly species of spider that manages to make its way from the Venezuelan rain forest to a small California town, thanks to the ... read more read more...many oversights of entomologist Julian Sands. Yuppie doctor Jeff Daniels, fed up with the dangers inherent in big-city living, has resettled in this town on the assumption that nothing untoward could ever happen here to himself and his family. Before long, however, Daniels is trying to make sense of a series of sudden deaths-and to figure out why each of the corpses has been drained of blood. The audience, of course, knows that the culprits are those pesky South American spiders, which grow larger with each kill. To make matters worse, Jeff Daniels suffers from a profound case of arachnophobia. John Goodman supports the cast as a slovenly exterminator, and Frank Marshall, longtime producer of Steven Spielberg's films, makes his directorial debut in Arachnophobia. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

43% liked it

208,579 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

33 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Frank Marshall

Release Date: July 18, 1990

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DVD Release Date: June 15, 1999

Stats: 7,703 reviews

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Arachnophobia You eat at least 8 spiders per night
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Flixster Reviews (7,703)

  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    April 20, 2012
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    Eight legs, two fangs and an attitude.

    "Arachnophobia" is a very entertaining horror movie produced by Steven Spielberg.

    A group of researchers are on a research expedition to Venezuela. Upon a routine trapping of insects, the researchers find two stunned spiders in their traps... read more. They are unlike any spiders they have ever seen, and they begin to study the spiders. One of these spiders escapes, and kills a researcher. Once the researcher is discovered dead, the spider hitches a ride back to the researchers home town, Canaima, California. There, Dr. Ross Jennings has just moved in, and he is deathly afraid of spiders. Now, the Venezuelan spider has reached the U.S., and has begun to dominate the town. Soon, people who appear completely healthy start to die suddenly. It is only after the death of the town's only other doctor, that Jennings realizes it may be a spider that is causing the death. Soon, they attract the attention of the head researcher in Venezuela, Dr. James Atherton. He sends his assistant to Canaima, only verifying that the Venezuelan spider was involved. He informs them that the Venezuelan spider plans on taking over its new area, by creating reproductive offspring with a domestic house spider. Now, it's a race against time before the Venezuelan spider manifests the town and eventually the entire country.
  • spielberg00
    October 8, 2011
    spielberg00
    Offbeat horror/comedy is neither "ha-ha" nor "shiver-shiver". It is simply a clever, delightful parody of how Hollywood scared its audiences--using spiders to make clear the true stupidity of those classic scenes.

    If you don't quite understand what I am saying, allow me ... read moreto give you an example: The famous shower scene from the 1960 horror/thriller PSYCHO is parodied somewhere in the latter half of the film. Instead of having an adult woman be stabbed to death, though, the scene shows a spider crawling down the body of a teenage girl, who freaks out in a ridiculous manner.

    That's the kind of humor you'll find in almost every other scene: farcical, overblown, satirical, yet subtle takes on FRANKENSTEIN and the like. What is best about ARACHNOPHOBIA (the film, of course, not the phenomenon) is that it's simply impossible to find a film that slightly resembles it.

    It's odd when we hear this one's a comedy, we're not laughing...but we're still somehow glued to the TV.
  • ScoopOnline
    February 7, 2011
    ScoopOnline
    I watched with a Friend who has arachnophobia, still she wanted to watch this Movie very badly. Okay.

    It wasnt fun for me to hear her scream next to me whenever the Spiders appeared on the Screen and who has seen the Movie it was 95%, so anyone can imagine what Screams I had to... read more suffer. lol

    Long time ago someone recommended this Movie to me and I didnt actually paid attention, ironically a friend who has Arachnophobia told me to give it a try.

    Spiders dont bother me at all. It began a tiny bit "suspense" or in this case "oh this is the beginning" but later I noticed it was more "humourous" and not even CLOSE TO A HORROR.

    The only Horror were the Screams of the Friend during the whole Movie. Jesus Christ I had a headache at the End.
  • kenstachnik
    January 7, 2011
    kenstachnik
    Unless you actually have arachnophobia, it would be hard to really call this film horrific. Frank Marshall (the director) called it a thrill-omedy, and that might be the best description. A little thrilling, a little funny.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    November 18, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Arachnophobia promises to be quite amusing. A film that is tongue in cheek, Arachnophobia is a humourous Horror film, using the fear of spiders as a plot device, director Frank Marshall crafts one terrific Horror Comedy gem with Arachnophobia. The film will definitely not appeal... read more to people with a fear of spiders. Frank Marshall's film is a comical and effective scare flick, and Marshall uses plenty of tricks to scare the audience. The film does contain a good dose of humour and the on screen comedy is well done. Produced by Steven Spielberg and featuring a great cast, including John Goodman as Delbert McClintock. Goodman is definitely one of the funniest actors in the film and he delivers one of his best roles along with his performance of Walter Sobchak in The Big Lebowski. I'm not usually scared of spiders and insects, and at times while watching the film I was squirming a few times. Even if you're not afraid of spiders, you might feel uneasy a few times, but luckily Arachnophobia is a well crafted horror comedy that makes this fear a bit more amusing. This is one terrific tongue in cheek film thats sure to give a great time and a few jitters as the eight legged creatures kill off the population of a small town. A well directed film that uses many scare tactics, Arachnophobia is a film that is just as much fun as it is frightening. But if you're scared of spiders, then you might want to skip this title, or if you are, and you think watching this film will make you get over your fear of spiders, then watch... At your own risk. For the rest of us, laugh out at this awesome well crafted Horror comedy, the actors are terrific and the story is great too. A must see for horror comedy buffs.
  • cosmo313
    August 19, 2010
    cosmo313
    The fact that spiders really do bother me is partially why this film is so effective, at least to me and others like me. Even for people who aren't bothered by spiders, this is still a well made and fun little thrill ride. It's creepy, funny, and it has some good effects. I gave ... read moremore respect to this movie after learning that it was one of the many films Jamie Hyneman (from Mythbusters) worked on.

    The cast is pretty good, and John Goodman is just a riot in the scene stealing comedic relief role. I haven't seen this in a while, and I'm amazed I've seen it multiple times, but I do like it, even though spiders just mess me up. The direction is good, and the script is okay, if just barelty serviceable.

    Overall, this is a scary (but still kinda fun) thrill ride that provides a good balance with the screams and laughs, and makes for decent entertainment.
  • matertenebraum
    July 21, 2010
    matertenebraum
    When a photographer is bitten and killed by a spider in the Venezuelan jungle, his body is shipped back to his home town of Canaima in California. Unfortunately something has hitched a ride in his coffin??

    Mixing B movie conventions with modern day fun, Arachnophobia sees Fran... read morek Marshall direct and Jeff Daniels, Julian Sands, John Goodman and Harley Jane Kozak line up in the cast. Tho horror and comedy on the surface doesn't seem to be a that hard to blend together, it's surprising over the years just how few horror comedy movies can claim to be successful and have been able to to win over a like minded audience. In fact, if we move away from the likes of Sean Of The Dead, the B movie creature feature, especially in modern times, has few offerings of worth. We can certainly mention the awesome (and best of the modern bunch) Tremors, which turned a small Worldwide profit, and then we turn to Lake Placid and Arachnophobia. Both of the latter made considerable amounts of cash (for the genre) and are propelled by a degree of star wattage. What was in Arachnophobia's favour too, was that spiders strike the fear of god into many people, thus, as Marshall said himself on the publicity junket, "People like to be scared but laughing at the same time". Arachnophobia achieves this in spades, mixing real spiders (Avondale breed) with model and magnet work, the effect achieved is nervy giggles coupled with creepy goose flesh putting in an appearance.

    The cast work hard to make it work. OK, Sands remains as wooden as he always is, but in this case his pompous bug professor calls for it. Daniels as the modern doctor hoping to start a new life in the country, is an excellent lead, a fine actor who's no show on the A list of Hollywood remains an utter mystery. But it's with the big jolly blunderbuss that is John Goodman that Arachnophobia gets its frothy B movie fun. His inept, half witted but knowing pest controller, Delbert, engages in that small town Americana way. An innocence to the terrors of the world that makes for a nice play off with the Arachnophobic Dr. Ross Jennings (Daniels). Nicely shot around Cambria, California, to fully realise the small town under arachnid siege, Arachnaphobia is the perfect comedy creeper for all the family. Enjoy: even if you have to watch from behind your hands.
  • ironclad1609
    February 26, 2010
    ironclad1609
    Fun and exciting spider horror thriller that mixes humor with terror quite nicely, while not taking itself too seriously. With plenty of scenes that make you jump or squirm in your seat, depending on your attitude towards spiders, or tricking you into believing you are about to j... read moreump. The good-humored cast takes care of the rest. Particularly awesome: John Goodman's exterminator. Just all around satisfying and entertaining.
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    A horror/thriller the whole family can enjoy :o)
  • dreamfaeries
    August 22, 2009
    dreamfaeries
    Good memories of this movie when I was a kid. Not scary really, more funny.

View All Arachnophobia Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

Frank Marshall's sophisticated feature directing debut never indulges in ultimate gross-out effects and carefully chooses both its victims and its means of depicting their dispatch. Full Review

David Ansen
April 7, 2008
David Ansen, Newsweek

First-time director Frank Marshall has long been Steven Spielberg's producer, and he's learned the master's lessons well. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

That sound you hear in the background is the ''ugh!'' heard round the world. Luckily, ''Arachnophobia'' will also be generating its share of boisterous, nervous laughter. Full Review

Joe Brown
January 1, 2000
Joe Brown, Washington Post

It's a one-joke movie, a funhouse ride, the cinematic equivalent of having a rubber spider thrown in your lap. But it doesn't matter if you reject the wispy script or the plot, which has as much subst... Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Frank Marshall, a constant Spielberg collaborator, makes his directorial debut in this genial horror movie, a sweet infestation that creeps and crawls but wouldn't scare anybody. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is the kind of movie where you squirm out of enjoyment, not terror, and it's probably going to be popular with younger audiences - it doesn't pound you over the head with violence. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
July 18, 1990
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

It gives you the willies in a cheery, presentable way. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
July 24, 2010
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

Preys upon that dread in a wonderfully cinematic manner, elegantly keeping the antics lighthearted enough to encourage a viewing, but eventually digging into spiderific panic -- pure candy to horror j... Full Review

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Designed to reduce the audience to a squirming mass, the film yields plenty of grisly pleasures. Full Review

Christopher Null
June 3, 2003
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Plenty of laughs, but the action scenes don't really generate much in the way of scares. Good enough for Sunday afternoon, though. Full Review

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Arachnophobia Trivia

  • John Goodman & Jeff Daniels battle 8 legged creepy-crawlies?  Answer »
  • What natural disaster happend to Jeff Daniels caracter in Arachnophobia when he moved out of the town invaded by spiders?  Answer »
  • Name this 1990 spider movie starring Jeff Daniels with the following plotline: South American killer spider hitches a lift to the US in a coffin and starts to breed and kill.  Answer »
  • What fear of spiders is also the name of a 1990 film starring Jeff Daniels and John Goodman?   Answer »
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