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Poster for Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia

Eight legs, two fangs and an attitude.

1990 · 1h 49m · PG-13 Comedy, Horror
Directed by Frank Marshall

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Overview

A large spider from the jungles of South America is accidentally transported in a crate with a dead body to America where it mates with a local spider. Soon after, the residents of a small California town disappear as the result of spider bites from the deadly spider offspring. It's up to a couple of doctors with the help of an insect exterminator to annihilate these eight legged freaks.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
92%
Tomatometer
Fresh

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.

Variety Staff, Variety
Fresh

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

David Ansen, Newsweek
Fresh

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

Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fresh

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.

Janet Maslin, New York Times
Fresh

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 substance as a spider's web; you'll jump every time.

Joe Brown, Washington Post

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