The Giant Behemoth

Released Mar 3, 1959

1h 20m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

List

17%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

28%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Special effects by Willis O'Brien ("King Kong") highlight this tale of a radioactive sea monster's assault on Britain.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The Cornwall-set first half is actually more interesting than the London-set second half.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 16, 2022

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

There are fine special effects courtesy of Willis O'Brien, the King Kong creator ... .

Rated: C+

Apr 4, 2012

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Rob Humanick

Suite101.com

Lurches forward in fits and spurts, only truly coming alive during a brief rampage sequence through London.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 26, 2011

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...interminable...

Rated: 1.5/4

Jul 10, 2007

Full Review

David Cornelius

DVDTalk.com

Behemoth is, if not a great film, then a solid one, clever and smart in the right places.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 9, 2007

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James O'Ehley

Sci-Fi Movie Page

At least the Japanese know that for good value for your admittance ticket your giant monster has to demolish at least one well-known landmark!

Jun 25, 2007

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Matt R

It wasn't as impressive as The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms but it had a stop-motion creature made by a master. It wasn't impactful as Godzilla but it was an atomic age giant reptilian monster from the sea. "Behold now the Behemoth! He moveth his tail like a cedar. Out of his mouth go burning lamps. And sparks of fire leap out of the Behemoth." Happy 65th Anniversary to THE GIANT BEHEMOTH (1959). Despite limited budget and a not so original idea, Behemoth brought to life with the help of Willis O'Brien, is worth watching.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie had a different title in its UK release. One presumes that American audiences wouldn't be satisfied with a regular ol' behemoth; it had to be a giant one. Had I seen this in the 1960's on a Saturday TV Creature Feature, I still would'a said it sucked.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

dave s

Despite the fact that things get off to a bad start with the title ("giant" is a bit redundant when describing a behemoth), The Giant Behemoth is not as bad as it sounds. That's not saying that it's good, because it's not, but it is better, in relative terms, than many of the other entries in the giant-radioactive-monster-wreaks-havoc-on-humanity genre. The production values are pretty decent, the acting isn't bad, the locale is a refreshing change, and the stop-motion effects are passable. It does, however, falter in a big way with some of the other effects, namely the miniatures (cars, the boat, etc) used during the final confrontation and the weird radioactive light that the monster uses to toast its victims throughout the film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A sickening movie, saw it when I was 6 or 7 which terrible memory influences this rating

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

Kind of Britain's answer to Godzilla. Just as Godzilla conjured up images of Hiroshima and Tokyo's bombing, so too here, the Battle of Britain and London burning. This B-movie is excessively talkie and takes a long while before the monster attacks the city but the last half hour is worth it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Do you know how some movies are so bad, that they are good (Plan 9 From Outer Space, etc.)? This isn't one of them. This is a movie that is so bad, that it is bad. Poor acting, poor script and poor budget. Essentially a rip off of The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, which was the 1st of the "monster movies" launch in the 1950s that spawned Godzilla and others. It is 1 hour and 20 minutes too long.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

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Douglas Hickox

Director

Eugène Lourié

Director

Gene Evans

Steve Karnes

Andre Morell

Prof. James Bickford

Leigh Madison

Jean Trevethan

Henry Vidon

Tom Trevethan

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Synopsis

Special effects by Willis O'Brien ("King Kong") highlight this tale of a radioactive sea monster's assault on Britain.

Director: Douglas Hickox, Eugène Lourié
Screenwriter: Eugène Lourié
Production Co: Artistes Alliance Ltd.
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 3, 1959, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 20m

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