Tarantula (1955)
A classic 1950s creature feature in which a laboratory experiment gone wrong unleashes a monstrous spider on an unsuspecting desert community.
Tarantula - Movie Information
- Original Title: Tarantula
- Release Year: 1955
- Directed by: Jack Arnold
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Sci-Fi, Horror
- Runtime: 1h 20m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 14, 1955 (United States), March 23, 1956 (Germany - 12), May 29, 1956 (Italy - T)
- Alternative Titles: Тарантул (RU)
- Production Companies: Universal Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
Tarantula - Plot
A rogue scientist near a small desert town arouses the suspicion of the town's doctor when his lab assistant is found dead from a case of acromegaly, which took only four days to develop. As the doctor investigates, aided by the scientist's new female assistant, they discover that something is devouring local cattle and humans in increasingly large quantities.
Tarantula - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the terror that crawls out of the desert:
More terrifying than any horror known to man comes a creeping crawling monster whose towering fury no one can escape!
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Tarantula - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Jack Arnold
Main Cast
- John Agar
- Mara Corday
- Leo G. Carroll
- Nestor Paiva
- Ross Elliott
- Hank Patterson
- Eddie Parker
- Bert Holland
- Raymond Bailey
- Steve Darrell
Writers
- Robert M. Fresco
- Martin Berkeley
Producers
- William Alland
Tarantula - FAQs
What is Tarantula about?
Tarantula follows a small-town doctor who grows suspicious of a reclusive scientist after a lab assistant turns up dead from a bizarre, rapidly accelerating disease. The investigation uncovers something far worse: a massive, mutated spider escaping into the Arizona desert and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Did Clint Eastwood appear in Tarantula?
Yes! Clint Eastwood has an uncredited cameo in Tarantula as a jet squadron leader near the film's climax. It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, but it's become one of the film's most talked-about trivia points — a very early screen appearance for the future Hollywood legend.
Where can you watch Tarantula?
You can rent or buy Tarantula on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It's widely available across digital platforms, making it easy to revisit this classic creature feature any time.
How does the giant spider get destroyed in Tarantula?
The enormous tarantula meets its end when military jets — led by a young, uncredited Clint Eastwood — douse it with napalm in a fiery aerial assault. It's a satisfying, action-packed finale that was genuinely spectacular for a 1955 production and remains one of the film's most memorable sequences.
Who are the main actors in Tarantula?
The film stars John Agar as the skeptical Dr. Matt Hastings and Mara Corday as Stephanie 'Steve' Clayton, the scientist's new assistant. Leo G. Carroll rounds out the central trio as the obsessive Professor Gerald Deemer, whose reckless experiments set the whole terrifying story in motion.
Is Tarantula worth watching today?
Absolutely. Tarantula is widely regarded as one of the best giant-creature films of the 1950s. Director Jack Arnold brings genuine tension and impressive practical effects to the story, and the film holds up remarkably well as both a creature feature and a reflection of Cold War-era anxieties about science run amok.
Who directed Tarantula and what else did he make?
Jack Arnold directed Tarantula, and he was one of the defining voices of 1950s science fiction cinema. He also helmed Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), It Came from Outer Space (1953), and The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) — a remarkable run of genre classics all within a few years.
What movies are similar to Tarantula?
If Tarantula hits the spot, check out Them! (1954), another beloved giant-insect classic from the same era, or The Monolith Monsters (1957) for more Universal sci-fi atmosphere. Phase IV (1974) offers a creepier, more cerebral take on dangerous insects, while The Andromeda Strain (1971) shares the same Cold War science-gone-wrong dread.
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