Cloverfield
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Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
Part of a series: Cloverfield Movies in Order · all 3 films
How it scared people
The vibe
The trailer never showed the monster and neither, for a long stretch, does the film — just a camcorder held by someone running, and the Statue of Liberty's head skidding down a Manhattan street. There's no score at all until the closing credits, which is why the subway parasites work. Motion sickness is a genuine risk.
Cloverfield (2008) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated PG-13 |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 85 minutes |
| Jump scares | 4/5 — genuinely scary, with sustained tension and hard-hitting scares |
| Gore | 2/5 — only light gore |
| Dread | 3/5 — a lingering atmosphere that stays for the evening |
| Themes | a found-footage format some viewers find motion-sickness inducing; monster attacks; paranoia and distrust |
Cloverfield is rated PG-13 by the MPA. We score it 4/5 for jump scares, 2/5 for gore and 3/5 for lingering dread, over 85 minutes. Not graphic, but it works hard for the jolt. Older teens and adults — less for what it shows than for how long it stays with you.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is Cloverfield?
- On our intensity scale, Cloverfield rates 8/10 for jump scares and 6/10 for dread. It is genuinely scary, with sustained tension and hard-hitting scares.
- How gory is Cloverfield?
- Cloverfield rates 4/10 for gore — expect only light gore.
- How long is Cloverfield?
- Cloverfield runs 85 minutes (1h 25m).
- What is Cloverfield rated?
- Cloverfield is rated PG-13 by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 8/10 for jump scares, 4/10 for gore and 6/10 for dread — the PG-13 tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch Cloverfield (2008)?
- Cloverfield is not on major US subscription streamers right now — look for it on digital rental or purchase (Apple TV, Prime Video, or your usual store).
