The Blob

"Terror has no shape."

1988 1h 35m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 1,119

HorrorScience FictionThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In Arborville, California, three high school students try to protect their hometown from a gelatinous alien life form that engulfs everything it touches.

“Terror has no shape.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

PhiloSubscription

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Kevin Dillon
Brian Flagg
Shawnee Smith
Meg Penny
Donovan Leitch
Paul Taylor
Jeffrey DeMunn
Sheriff Herb Geller
Candy Clark
Fran Hewitt
Joe Seneca
Dr. Meddows
Del Close
Reverend Meeker
Paul McCrane
Deputy Bill Briggs

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Chuck Russell
Writers: Chuck Russell, Frank Darabont, Pete von Sholly
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 82% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Chuck Russell, shot by Mark Irwin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Michael Hoenig. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Tod Feuerman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Kevin Dillon and Shawnee Smith and Donovan Leitch carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Terror has no shape.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0094761 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Chuck Russell directs. Mark Irwin behind the camera. Michael Hoenig scores. Tod Feuerman cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 82% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
238 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Chuck Russell, shot by Mark Irwin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Michael Hoenig. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Tod Feuerman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Kevin Dillon and Shawnee Smith and Donovan Leitch carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Terror has no shape.".
8IMDB entry: tt0094761 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 23 themes, including "cold", "quarantine", "killing", "halloween".

The technical file

Cinematography: Mark Irwin
Original score: Michael Hoenig
Editing: Tod Feuerman
Production design: Craig Stearns
Costume design: Joseph A. Porro
Makeup / hair: Mike Smithson
VFX supervisor: Hoyt Yeatman
Sound: Frank A. Fuller Jr.
Stunt coordinator: Steve Holladay
Runtime: 95 min · 1h 35m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $10,000,000
Box office: $8,247,943
Return: 82% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: The Blob (1988)

Also by

Chuck Russell

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

whitsbrain2024-01-30
★ 8/10
Nifty remake of the 1958 classic. This story of a shapeless, featureless space alien, instead of the usual "little green men", opens the door for a decidedly different kind of invasion movie. This version stays pretty true to the original and the advancement of special effects over 30 years allows for some really great and gory kills. The best being a victim being pulled into a sink drain and a wicked attack of a main character in a doctor's office. There are some effects that aren't so good though, you'll scoff when you see them. The acting is really very good, and it's got its share of moments that are actually scary. The characters, even the primaries, could get swallowed up at any time. I'd say this is a must watch for any fan of the original.
Horseface2024-07-16
★ 5/10
The best joke was when they described the Blob as "a plasmic life form growing at a geometric rate." 😂 I even just laughed while writing it down 😂 Other than that, pretty bad. And the campiness doesn't feel fresh for long, turning it into a rather boring watch right when it's supposed to start to be exciting. Still, worth a watch.
tmdb938365502024-10-04
★ 9/10
This is definitely the most brutal horror film I've ever seen and one of the best aswell. The effects in this film are top notch and the storyline is much stronger than the original, the acting is more believable too. This film is nothing short of a horror classic.