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Michael Caine, Katharine Ross, Richard Widmark, Richard Chamberlain, Olivia de Havilland ... see more see more... , Ben Johnson , Lee Grant , José Ferrer , Slim Pickens , Bradford Dillman , Fred MacMurray , Henry Fonda , Cameron Mitchell , Christian Juttner , Morgan Paull , Alejandro Rey , Don 'Red' Barry , Patty Duke , Frank Blair , Arell Blanton , Doria Cook , Pat Culliton , Howard Culver , Trent Dolan , John Furlong , Chuck Hayward , Steven Marlo , Chris Petersen , Steve Powers , Elizabeth Rogers , Michael Sheehan , Arthur Space , Ernie F. Orsatti , Bill Snider , Robert Varney , John Williams , Marcia Nicholson , George Simmons

Killer bees migrate to the United States from Africa via South America in this disaster film produced and directed by the genre's chief architect, Irwin Allen, and written by Stirling Silliphant, scri... read more read more...be of The Poseidon Adventure. Haughty entomologist Brad Crane (Michael Caine) shows up at a secret military base full of dead soldiers, shocking the attendant General Slater (Richard Widmark). Crane announces that the soldiers are the victims of killer bees with amazingly potent venom; he's been tracking huge swarms of the things and fears they'll kill millions before they're through. Eventually, the president asks Crane to lead the battle against the killer insects and he assembles a team of crack scientists. Meanwhile, the bees overpower a family picnic in nearby Marysville; only the son, Paul (Christian Juttner), escapes with his life. Crane and military physician Helena Anderson (Katherine Ross) head to Marysville to warn the populace about the impending danger. Among the citizens in the direct path of the bees are schoolmarm Maureen Schuster (Olivia de Havilland) and her competing suitors, Felix (Ben Johnson) and Clarence (Fred MacMurray). Eventually, the bees stage a massacre in Marysville and then set their sights on Houston. Neither pesticides, firebombing, nor the heroic sacrifice of scientist Dr. Krim (Henry Fonda) seems to offer a solution for the impending disaster. Universally reviled by critics, The Swarm failed to continue Allen's winning streak at the box office. Caine would re-team with his director the following year for Beyond the Poseidon Adventure. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Flixster Users

21% liked it

3,918 ratings

Critics

14% liked it

7 critics

PG, 1 hr. 56 min.

Directed by: Irwin Allen

Release Date: July 14, 1978

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DVD Release Date: August 6, 2002

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Stats: 195 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (195)

  • blkbomb
    January 10, 2012
    blkbomb
    Dr. Krim: They're more virulent than the Australian Brown-Box Jellyfish! 

    "It's more than speculation- it's a prediction!"

    There are so many of these shitty B-Disaster/Animals Gone Wild films. The Swarm populates a genre that hasn't seen too many successes. What the genre does ... read moredo is make me laugh... most of the time. The Swarm didn't. It actually seemed to be taking itself somewhat seriously, which is a big fucking no-no when it comes to B-Movies. 

    I'll admit that the only real reason I turned this movie on in the first place is that Michael Caine and Katherine Ross are in it. They don't really help the movie go down any smoother though. Seeing as they still have to act in a movie as absurd as this, you know their performances aren't going to be good. And they aren't. They are as bad as I've seen them. 

    While their the only reason I turned it on, there are many reasons I turned it off half way through. First, the movie is 2 hours and 35 minutes. At the hour mark, I said to myself, "Am I really going to sit through another hour and a half of this shit?" Answer: "Fuck no!" 
  • jjnxn
    March 30, 2010
    jjnxn
    Just awful movie with inept "special" effects and a host of usually fine actors giving atrocious performances. Katharine Ross in particular is terrible, beyond wooden to postiively inert but Caine is hardly better. The only one who is seemingly trying to earn his paycheck is Rich... read moreard Widmark who gives his all while surrounded by bored costars. Although who can blame them with a script that stinks like year old cheese. Let's hope they were well paid. Do yourself a favor and don't watch.
    If you have to see a bee disaster movie seek out "Killer Bees" a TV movie with Gloria Swanson and Kate Jackson which at least is entertaining.
  • garyX
    January 9, 2007
    garyX
    The commercial success of the likes of The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure inspired a slew of increasingly absurd disaster movies, and this is one of the most ridiculous. One of those films that's so bad it's funny.
  • deano
    October 19, 2006
    deano
    A long mild horror film of the killer bees and great appearances of famous Hollywood stars.
  • SarahG1988
    September 24, 2006
    SarahG1988
    This really is a bad movie
  • DrLappos
    July 20, 2007
    DrLappos
    Frightened the life out of ma as a kid. Bit dated now though.
  • jmillerdp
    March 12, 2007
    jmillerdp
    Hilariously overblown disaster movie! Marks Irwin Allen's first time in the director's chair, one he should have avoided. Wildly silly! But, the finale is loads of fun.
  • tk7and7is
    June 21, 2006
    tk7and7is
    I am utterly enraptured by this star-studded eco-horror epic's near-operatic ridiculousness. In other words, it's fun as shit.

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Critic Reviews

Chuck O'Leary
October 9, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

Why do the killer bees sting everyone except leading players Michael Caine and Katherine Ross?

Ken Hanke
November 26, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Big stars, big budget, big bore.

Gregory Weinkauf
October 22, 2003
Gregory Weinkauf, New Times

Almost as good as The Hand.

Pablo Villaca
October 4, 2003
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

É constrangedor assistir a talentos como Caine, Fonda e Widmark (para citar apenas três) recitando diálogos horrendos em um filme repleto de absurdos. Ao mesmo tempo, não deixa de ser moderadamente di...

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 9, 2005
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 24, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Rob Vaux
July 27, 2002
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

No review available.

Scott Weinberg
July 25, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Facts

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    • Dr. Andrews: Billions of dollars have been spent to make these nuclear plants safe. Fail-safe! The odds against anything going wrong are astronomical, Doctor!
    • Dr. Hubbard: I appreciate that, Doctor. But let me ask you. In all your fail-safe techniques, is there a provision for an attack by killer bees?
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The Swarm : Watch Free on TV

The Swarm Trivia

  • May 1991 Playmate Erika Eleniak has given us such lovable roles as Ellie May in The Beverly Hillbillies and bodacious Tony Johnson in Chasers, but way before she disclosed her... assetts, she had her first, tiny part as a terrified schoolgirl in a swarm of frogs in this sci-fi feature:  Answer »
  • What film is this quote from "The multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him."  Answer »
  • In which film does Richard Widmark say, 'Houston on fire! Will history blame me... or the bees?'  Answer »
  • Name the actress who appeared in ALL of the following films: - - Gone With The Wind - The Charge Of The Light Brigade - The Swarm - Airport 77 - The Strawberry Blonde  Answer »
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