The Swarm (1978): Cast, Ratings & Plot
The Swarm is a 1978 horror thriller directed by Irwin Allen, starring Michael Caine, Ben Johnson and Lee Grant. It runs 1 hour 56 minutes. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 30 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 56m (116 min)
- Director
- Irwin Allen
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros.
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Swarm About?
The premise of The Swarm without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A catastrophic event unleashes a deadly swarm of killer bees upon America, posing an unprecedented threat to the nation. As the bees spread chaos and destruction, a group of scientists and military personnel must unite to find a way to stop them. Facing an overwhelming and relentless force, they struggle to contain the swarm and prevent total devastation before it’s too late.
The Swarm Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- bee
- military
- texas
- small town
- scientist
- race against time
- panic
- survival
- mass death
- houston texas
- bee attack
- train wreck
+38 more Show fewer
- hallucination
- nuclear power plant
- based on novel
- child in jeopardy
- african honey bee
- air force general
- swarm
- killer bee
- air force base
- antidote
- entomologist
- arson
- female journalist
- self sacrifice
- sea
- destruction
- siren
- u.s. army
- u.s. air force
- female reporter
- person on fire
- hazmat suit
- slow motion scene
- ocean
- molotov cocktail
- train derailment
- bee sting
- poison
- venom
- love triangle
- immunologist
- flower festival
- laboratory
- exploding helicopter
- massacre
- flamethrower
- paraplegic
- doctor
The Swarm Cast
Michael Caine leads the cast, with Ben Johnson and Lee Grant. Directed by Irwin Allen; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Irwin Allen
Also Starring in The Swarm
· 6 moreMore from Irwin Allen
More films directed by Irwin Allen, best-rated first: Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, Lost in Space - No Place to Hide and Five Weeks in a Balloon.
The Swarm Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Swarm 30 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 30 Metascore
User score 3.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 49% User score
See on TMDB
The Swarm Plot Summary
What happens in The Swarm from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A group of determined soldiers, led by Major Baker, is dispatched to investigate an off-limits basement station that has reportedly come under attack. During the assignment, Baker makes contact with his superior, Gen. Slater, as they delve deeper into the mystery surrounding a civilian van that had encroached upon the base. It is soon revealed that this vehicle belongs to the sole attack survivor, Dr. Bradford Crane, a scientist whose harrowing experiences set off a chain of events that would lead to unforeseen chaos. Slater, alarmed by the dire nature of the situation, issues an order to send out two helicopters for further reconnaissance, specifically to scout an ominous black mass nearby—thought to be an unidentified threat—only to discover that it consists of swarming killer bees.
Full summary
The whole story of The Swarm, scene by scene
The Swarm Awards & Nominations
The Swarm was nominated for 1 Oscar.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Oscars 1979 1 nomination- Nominated Costume Design
The Swarm Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Original Theatrical Trailer
How Well Do You Know The Swarm?
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 is the main threat in 'The Swarm'?
Cars in The Swarm
38 cars on screen, including the 1971 Ford Econoline and the 1965 Ford Mustang.
-
1971 Ford Econoline Important role -
1965 Ford Mustang Important role -
1975 Ford Torino Important role -
1974 Buick Century Minor role
The Swarm Also Known As
19 alternative titles, including “O Enxame” and “冲天大蜂灾”.
- Also known as
-
- O Enxame
- 冲天大蜂灾
- 蜂灾
- L'Inévitable Catastrophe
- El enjambre
- Der tödliche Schwarm
- Rajzás
- Swarm - Lo sciame che uccide
- הנחיל
- Katastrofplats Houston
- Rój
- 스웜
+7 more Show fewer
- Helvedet kommer fra himlen
- Рой
- 杀人蜂
- Roj
- L’eixam
- Tuhoparvi
- Roiul
Seen The Swarm?
Movies Like The Swarm
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Bees, Swarmed and The Swarm.
The Swarm FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Swarm, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Swarm?
The Swarm runs 1 hour 56 minutes (116 minutes).
When was The Swarm released?
The Swarm was released on July 14, 1978.
Who directed The Swarm?
The Swarm was directed by Irwin Allen.
More films by Irwin Allen Who is in the cast of The Swarm?
The Swarm stars Michael Caine, Ben Johnson and Lee Grant, among 10 credited actors.
How is The Swarm rated?
The Swarm has 30 on Metacritic and 49% on TMDB.
Was The Swarm nominated for any awards?
The Swarm received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does The Swarm have a post-credit scene?
No. The Swarm has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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