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Them!

Play trailer Poster for Them! 1954,  1h 34m,  Sci-Fi/ Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 93% 58 Reviews Tomatometer 77% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 58 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
While investigating a series of mysterious deaths, Sergeant Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) finds a young girl (Sandy Descher) who is unable to speak. As Peterson joins forces with FBI agent Robert Graham (James Arness) and scientist Dr. Harold Medford (Edmund Gwenn), he discovers that all the incidents are due to giant ants that have been mutated by atomic radiation. Peterson and Graham, with the aid of the military, attempt to find the queen ants and destroy the nests before the danger spreads.
Them!

What to Know

Critics Consensus

One of the best creature features of the early atomic age, Them! features effectively menacing special effects and avoids the self-parody that would taint later monster movies.

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Critics Reviews

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Dorothy Masters New York Daily News Sep 28, 2021
3/4
There is added conviction in performance and dialogue, both of which are particularly good for a production largely designed for chilling spines. Go to Full Review
Philip K. Scheuer Los Angeles Times Sep 28, 2021
In the parking lot outside the [theater], I came upon a bustling colony of ants near a crack in the sidewalk. I gave them a wide berth. I had just seen their oversized brothers and sisters in action... and I wanted no more trouble with them. Go to Full Review
Leonard Lerner Boston Globe Sep 28, 2021
The picture has all the necessary ingredients mixed in the proper proportions to make it a top-notch thriller. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 4, 2025
3.5/4
The best of all the “giant creature” movies that flooded theaters during the 1950s. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Jul 1, 2025
4/5
Them! is a great sci-fi film, getting straight to the point of human malfeasance; a warning about leaving an open door to more enviromental damage seems bang on the money...the equivalent of James Cameron’s Aliens, a robust, full-throttle action movie... Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies Aug 25, 2022
4.5/5
The genre holds a special place in my heart, and “THEM!” was the quintessential big bug movie. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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George S Mar 20, 2019 A cinematic classic.
George R Mar 2, 2019 In this film, a girl is found wandering in the desert in a state of complete shock. When she finally revives, she can scream out only one word: "Them!" As it turns out, "Them" are giant ants, a by-product of the radiation attending the atomic bomb tests of the era. Academy Awards, USA 1955 Nominee Oscar Best Effects, Special Effects. A strong cast (James Whitmore, James Arness and Edmund Gwenn), taut direction by Gordon Douglas, an intelligent and involving screenplay, and Oscar-nominated visual effects combine to make this a genuine classic.Them! was Warner Brothers' highest grossing film of 1954 and inspired countless imitations, all of which were inferior to the original. Who doesn't love a giant ant movie?This is the perfect film to watch if you love monster movies. Classic Sci Fi horror doesn't get any better than this. I really enjoyed this film. See more
Albus W Nov 9, 2018 Couldn't even finish this one, it just wasn't for me. Its part of the Universal Monster Universe and most of those classics are unwatchable for me. The concept of oversized spiders on a killing spree just seems ridiculous to me. I know I'm in the minority as this is considered a classic. It still gets 1.5* bc the special effects of the spiders were done very very well. See more
Leia W Oct 5, 2018 Maybe the greatest B movie of all time.
Anakin M Mar 30, 2018 In spite of the outrageous premise, this is a fun film to watch - with a few touches of pathos. Of course giant ants are impossible, as extreme DNA damage causes death or impotence - not rampant mutancy. Watch for Fess Parker, Leonard Nimoy, and Ann Doran to make appearances. See more
Leia S Mar 5, 2018 All time classic horror movie and I consider it a must see if your into horror movies. No this movie dosen't have scary looking kids or ghosts or haunted house but what it dose have is a great story about the A bombs being dropped in the desert and creating giant ants who attack people.The Ants look good for their time and the acting is also good. Horror movies back then were so serious no funny business and thats what I like its nothing wrong with adding in jokes but to many can ruin a horror movie. I wasn't born when this movie came out but I still enjoyed it but one happens to wonder if they tried to remake this movie would the cgi take something away from this movie and could they keep its serious nature like the first one. Peter Jackson would be one for the job maybe JJ abrams or maybe even the guy who did Skull Island Jordan Vogt-Roberts. Them is a good horror movie and if you never have sat down to watch it you should See more
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Them!

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Movie Info

Synopsis While investigating a series of mysterious deaths, Sergeant Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) finds a young girl (Sandy Descher) who is unable to speak. As Peterson joins forces with FBI agent Robert Graham (James Arness) and scientist Dr. Harold Medford (Edmund Gwenn), he discovers that all the incidents are due to giant ants that have been mutated by atomic radiation. Peterson and Graham, with the aid of the military, attempt to find the queen ants and destroy the nests before the danger spreads.
Director
Gordon Douglas
Producer
David Weisbart
Screenwriter
Russell S. Hughes, Ted Sherdeman
Distributor
Cinema Classics, Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers
Genre
Sci-Fi, Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 19, 1954, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 7, 2008
Runtime
1h 34m
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