Cloverfield (2008)

Last updated:
August 26, 2025

Cloverfield (2008), directed by Matt Reeves and produced by J.J. Abrams, is a found-footage monster movie that shook audiences with its raw, handheld style and mysterious creature. Below is a complete breakdown of the film, including spoilers, hidden details, and behind-the-scenes facts.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Setup: A Party Interrupted

The film begins with what appears to be a normal home-video recording. Rob (Michael Stahl-David) is preparing to move to Japan for work, so his friends, including Hud (T.J. Miller), Jason (Mike Vogel), and Lily (Jessica Lucas), throw him a surprise farewell party in New York City. Through Hud’s camera, we meet Beth (Odette Yustman), Rob’s love interest, with whom he has unresolved feelings. Their complicated relationship sets up the emotional core of the film.

The First Signs of Chaos

Midway through the party, the building shakes, and the power cuts out. The group rushes to the roof, only to see an explosion in the distance. They race to the streets, where they witness the head of the Statue of Liberty crashing onto the pavement—an iconic image of the film. A massive creature is wreaking havoc on Manhattan, though the shaky camera only gives glimpses.

The Escape Plan

As the monster continues its rampage, the group tries to escape the city. During their attempt, Jason is killed when the Brooklyn Bridge collapses under the monster’s attack. Devastated but determined, Rob insists on rescuing Beth, who is trapped in her apartment in Midtown.

The Subway Tunnels and the Parasites

One of the most terrifying sequences occurs in the subway tunnels. As the group navigates the dark passageways, they are attacked by smaller, spider-like parasites that fall off the monster’s body. Marlena (Lizzy Caplan) is bitten, and later in a military medical tent, her body grotesquely swells and bursts—one of the most shocking scenes in the film.

The Mission to Save Beth

Rob, Lily, and Hud continue toward Beth’s apartment. They find her impaled by rebar but manage to free her. Together, they move through the collapsing city while the monster destroys everything in its path.

Movie Ending

The group is evacuated by the military to helicopters. Lily manages to board one chopper safely, but Rob, Beth, and Hud are placed in another. As their helicopter lifts off, the military launches heavy attacks on the monster, but it retaliates, striking their helicopter and sending it crashing into Central Park.

Hud survives the crash and picks up the camera, only to come face-to-face with the monster. In a terrifying moment, the creature lunges at him, killing him instantly. Rob and Beth, the last survivors, hide under a bridge. With bombs about to be dropped on Manhattan, they record a final message, professing their love for each other, before the city is obliterated. The last moments are static, followed by the destruction of the tape.

A chilling detail: in the film’s final flashback, during a clip of Rob and Beth at Coney Island, an object can be seen falling into the ocean in the background—hinting at the monster’s origin.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

There is no traditional post-credits scene. However, at the very end of the credits, a distorted voice can be heard saying, “It’s still alive.” This line has fueled theories that the monster survived the bombing.

Type of Movie

Cloverfield is a found-footage science fiction horror film with elements of kaiju/monster movies. It blends disaster-movie intensity with a deeply personal story told through handheld camerawork.

Cast

Michael Stahl-David as Rob Hawkins
Odette Yustman as Beth McIntyre
T.J. Miller as Hud Platt
Jessica Lucas as Lily Ford
Lizzy Caplan as Marlena Diamond
Mike Vogel as Jason Hawkins

Film Music and Composer

The film has almost no traditional score due to its found-footage format. However, the end credits feature “Roar! (Cloverfield Overture)” composed by Michael Giacchino, a deliberate homage to classic Godzilla-style monster themes.

Filming Locations

Los Angeles and New York City: Although much of the movie takes place in Manhattan, many scenes were shot on soundstages in Los Angeles, with clever set design to replicate New York streets.
Coney Island: The flashback sequences were filmed at the real amusement park, adding authenticity to Rob and Beth’s romantic day.

The found-footage approach made shooting more intimate but also required precision to keep the illusion of raw amateur footage intact.

Awards and Nominations

Winner: Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film
Nominated: Multiple Saturn Awards including Best Actress (Lizzy Caplan) and Best Director (Matt Reeves)
Widely praised for its innovative marketing campaign and use of viral storytelling.

Behind the Scenes Insights

The marketing campaign used a secret viral ARG (Alternate Reality Game) that teased the monster’s origins through fake websites and hidden clues.
The monster was designed by Neville Page, with Abrams insisting it was a “baby” monster experiencing the city in confusion and rage.
Lizzy Caplan was not told in detail what would happen in her “exploding scene” to ensure a genuine reaction.
The cast was kept in the dark about much of the story to keep performances natural.

Inspirations and References

Inspired by Japanese kaiju films, especially Godzilla.
The handheld style was influenced by films like The Blair Witch Project.
Abrams described the project as wanting an “American monster movie” that felt personal and immediate.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

While the ending remained consistent, alternate takes of certain scenes exist, such as extended sequences of the military assault. Deleted moments of the party were trimmed to tighten pacing, but no alternate ending has been officially released.

Book Adaptations and Differences

While not directly based on a book, Cloverfield spawned tie-in materials, including Cloverfield/Kishin, a Japanese manga that provides backstory on the monster and the mysterious corporation Tagruato. The manga adds layers not present in the film.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The Statue of Liberty’s head crashing onto the street.
The subway parasite attack.
Marlena’s shocking death in the quarantine tent.
Hud’s face-to-face death scene with the monster.
The Coney Island flashback with the falling object.

Iconic Quotes

Hud: “I saw it! It’s alive! It’s huge!”
Rob: “If you find this tape… it means we’re probably dead.”
Beth: “I had a good day.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The Coney Island splash foreshadows the monster’s awakening.
The Tagruato Corporation (seen in viral marketing) is referenced, tying into the creature’s backstory.
The distorted ending audio saying “It’s still alive” is reversed audio from an earlier line.

Trivia

The working title during filming was “Slusho” to keep the project secret.
The movie cost around $25 million but grossed over $170 million worldwide.
T.J. Miller carried the camera for much of the film, making him both actor and cinematographer.

Why Watch?

Because it’s not just a monster movie—it’s an immersive survival story told from the ground level. Instead of generals and scientists, you experience the chaos through everyday people caught in an impossible situation. It’s tense, unique, and leaves you thinking long after it ends.

Cloverfield (2008)