Cloverfield (2008)
Whatever it is, it's winning.
Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 15 January 2008 |
| Genre | Action, Thriller, Science Fiction |
| Director | Matt Reeves |
| Starring | Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas and T.J. Miller |
| Runtime | 85 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes 78% · Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6.8/10 · Metacritic 64/100 · TMDB users 6.7/10 |
| Budget | $25 million |
Where to watch Cloverfield
Cloverfield is streaming on Paramount+ ($13.99 a month) in the US. It is also on Peacock ($16.99 a month). If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Paramount+ is $13.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 30 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent Cloverfield on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and JustWatch TV Store. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch Cloverfield in 45 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Algeria | Netflix about |
| Angola | Netflix about |
| Austria | Paramount+ |
| Bahrain | Netflix about |
| Cameroon | Netflix about |
| Cape Verde | Netflix about |
| Chad | Netflix about |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Netflix about |
| Egypt | Netflix E£110 |
| Equatorial Guinea | Netflix about |
| France | Paramount+ |
| Germany | Paramount+ |
| Ghana | Netflix about |
| Greece | Netflix €8.99 |
| Iraq | Netflix about |
| Ireland | Paramount+ |
| Italy | Paramount+ |
| Japan | Prime Video ¥600 JPY, U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Jordan | Netflix about |
| Kenya | Netflix KSh300 |
| Kuwait | Netflix about |
| Lebanon | Netflix about |
| Libya | Netflix about |
| Madagascar | Netflix about |
| Mali | Netflix about |
| Morocco | Netflix |
| Mozambique | Netflix about |
| Niger | Netflix about |
| Nigeria | Netflix ₦4000 |
| Oman | Netflix about |
| Palestinian Territories | Netflix about |
| Qatar | Netflix about QR32.72 |
| Saudi Arabia | Netflix ﷼35.00 |
| Senegal | Netflix about |
| Seychelles | Netflix about |
| South Africa | Netflix R99 ZAR |
| Switzerland | Paramount+ |
| Tanzania | Netflix about |
| Tunisia | Netflix about |
| Uganda | Netflix about |
| United Arab Emirates | Netflix AED35.00 |
| United Kingdom | Paramount+ |
| Yemen | Netflix about |
| Zambia | Netflix about |
| Zimbabwe | Netflix |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Cloverfield is an 85-minute action thriller that treats a city-destroying monster attack like a shaky home video. Directed by Matt Reeves, it sticks to the found-footage format from the first frame to the last. The camera never cuts away, which keeps the fear intimate rather than cinematic. You are not watching a spectacle; you are holding the camera while New York falls apart around you. It is the closest thing to being there, and the tagline—Whatever it is, it's winning—does the heavy lifting for the rest of the runtime.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes lists a 78% approval rating from 213 reviews, while Metacritic settles on a 64/100 Metascore. The consensus describes it as economically paced and filled with scares. Marc Savlov of The Austin Chronicle called it "a pure-blood, grade A, exhilarating monster movie." Michael Rechtshaffen of The Hollywood Reporter found it "chillingly effective," noting its claustrophobic intensity. Not everyone agreed. Scott Foundas of LA Weekly criticized the 9/11 references as "cheap and opportunistic." He argued the film lacks the meaningful social commentary found in the work of Spielberg or Romero.
How it did with audiences
It cost $25 million and took in $172 million worldwide, a ratio that suggests audiences were ready to pay for whatever the monster ate next. On TMDB, users give it a 6.7 out of 10, a score that sits comfortably between enthusiasm and polite disappointment.
What came next for the cast
Lizzy Caplan and Jessica Lucas entered Cloverfield from different lanes. Caplan had already made her mark in Mean Girls. Lucas arrived from She's the Man. The credits do not claim the monster caused their subsequent paths. They simply list what followed. For Caplan, that meant a turn in 127 Hours. For Lucas, it was Dear John.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Cloverfield.
Read more: The Mist
Sources
- Cloverfield on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q123742 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Cloverfield” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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