Super 8 (2011): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Super 8 is a 2011 sci-fi film directed by J.J. Abrams, starring Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning and Amanda Michalka. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes and earned $260.1 million worldwide on a $50 million budget. It won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Best Director at the Saturn Awards 2012. Critics gave it 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Stream it on Kanopy and Paramount Plus Essential, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- J.J. Abrams
- Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $50M
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is Super 8 About?
The premise of Super 8 without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During summer in 1979, a group of friends in Ohio are making a Super 8 movie when they inadvertently film a train derailment. Strange occurrences begin to plague the town as people disappear, leading them to believe the crash was not accidental. A young deputy investigates the unsettling events, and the friends uncover a terrifying secret connected to the crash that will change their lives forever.
Super 8 Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- train crash
- small town
- retro
- reference to e.t. the extraterrestrial
- pre teen
- film in film
- friend
- 1970s
- map of the united states
- ohio
- shooting movie
- car train crash
+38 more Show fewer
- movie camera
- creature
- teenage hero
- amateur filmmaker
- scene during end credits
- alien
- year 1979
- group of friends
- zombie
- cult film
- coming of age
- watching tv
- blackout
- boy slaps a girl
- breaking a door in
- watching a movie
- psychotronic film
- smoking marijuana
- cartoon on tv
- bad robot productions
- child in jeopardy
- extraterrestrial
- explosive
- 1950s
- 1960s
- written by director
- writer director producer
- hugging
- makeup
- 20th century
- child drives a car
- police officer
- police
- 8mm film
- boy
- murder
- suspense mystery
- conspiracy thriller
Where to Watch Super 8
Stream it on Kanopy and Paramount Plus Essential, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 7
Kanopy 
Paramount Plus Essential 
Paramount Plus Premium 
Paramount+ Amazon Channel 
Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel 
Peacock Premium 
Peacock Premium Plus 
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
Super 8 Cast
Kyle Chandler leads the cast, with Elle Fanning and Amanda Michalka. Directed by J.J. Abrams.
-
Director J.J. Abrams
Super 8 Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Super 8 81% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
-
IMDb 7.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 81% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 75%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 72 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
2.2K ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.4 /5
See on Movie Insider
Super 8 Plot Summary
What happens in Super 8 from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 16 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The story unfolds in February 1979 at a steel plant in Lillian, Ohio, where a tragic accident claims the life of Elizabeth Lamb (Caitriona Balfe). Her husband, Deputy Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler), grapples with profound grief, yet the community’s focus shifts primarily to their son, Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney). Harboring resentment, Jackson blames Louis Dainard for Elizabeth’s untimely death, forcibly ejecting him from their home and into his squad car. As Joe witnesses this, his attention is drawn to a silver locket clutched in his hand.
Full summary
The whole story of Super 8, scene by scene
Super 8 Box Office & Budget
Super 8 grossed $260.1 million worldwide on a $50 million budget, 5.2 times what it cost. $127 million came from the US and Canada and $133.1 million (51%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$260.1M
5.2× its budget
- US & Canada
- $127M
- International
- $133.1M
- Budget
- $50M
Super 8 Awards & Nominations
Super 8 won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Best Director at the Saturn Awards 2012. Its biggest night was the Saturn Awards 2012, with 1 win from 3 nominations.
1 win7 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Saturn Awards 2012 1 win · 3 nominations- Won Best Director – J.J. Abrams
- Nominated Best Performance by a Younger Actor – Elle Fanning
- Nominated Best Writing – J.J. Abrams
-
Critics' Choice 2012 4 nominations- Nominated Best Action Movie
- Nominated Best Sound
- Nominated Best Visual Effects
- Nominated Best Young Actor/Actress – Elle Fanning
Super 8 Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Super 8.
How Well Do You Know Super 8?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What tragic event sets the story in motion in 'Super 8'?
Cars in Super 8
60 cars on screen, including the 1990 Blue Bird All American and the 1968 Buick Skylark.
-
1990 Blue Bird All American Important role -
1968 Buick Skylark Important role -
1970 Ford M151 A2 'MUTT' Important role -
1970 Ford M151 A2 'MUTT' Important role
Super 8 Also Known As
15 alternative titles, including “1Super8” and “SUPER8／スーパーエイト”.
- Also known as
-
- 1Super8
- SUPER8／スーパーエイト
- Супер 8
- 슈퍼 에이트
- 超级八
- Super-8
- סופר 8
- 超级8
- ซูเปอร์ 8 มหาวิบัติลับสะเทือนโลก
- SUPER 8／スーパーエイト
- 超級8
- S8 驚世檔案
+3 more Show fewer
- Super 8: Quái Vật Vũ Trụ
- سوپر ۸
- 超8外星奇遇
Seen Super 8?
Movies Like Super 8
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Super, Eight Legged Freaks and 8.
Super 8 FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Super 8, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Super 8?
Super 8 runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was Super 8 released?
Super 8 was released on June 10, 2011.
Who directed Super 8?
Super 8 was directed by J.J. Abrams.
More films by J.J. Abrams Who is in the cast of Super 8?
Super 8 stars Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning and Amanda Michalka.
Where can I watch Super 8?
In the US, Super 8 is streaming on Kanopy, Paramount Plus Essential and Paramount Plus and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Super 8 make at the box office?
Super 8 grossed $260.1 million worldwide ($127 million domestic, $133.1 million international) on a budget of $50 million.
How is Super 8 rated?
Super 8 has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
What awards did Super 8 win?
Super 8 won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Best Director at the Saturn Awards 2012.
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