We discuss 10 Movies like Cloverfield you must watch. Add these well-recommended and highly-rated films to your watch list.
Cloverfield arrived at a time when found footage films were still somewhat of a novelty for cinemagoers.
Although as early as the 1970s, filmmakers had tested the waters with the idea of films being recovered on devices used by the characters to show a film, it could be argued that it was The Blair Witch Project that really cemented the genre in the minds of film fans.
Others would follow including Paranormal Activity, VHS, and Rec, and one of those is on our list, but as far as box office movies would go, Cloverfield was incredibly well received.
Basically a monster movie told through the lens of a camera with the longest battery life ever, the film would thrill sci-fi, horror, and found footage fans with its relentless suspense and thrilling set pieces.
Some say it is the best of the genre, but here are ten more movies just like Cloverfield you must watch.
10 Movies like Cloverfield
World War Z (2013)
An Earth under siege from a relentless threat and a breakneck pace gives this similar vibes to Cloverfield.
No found footage here, but there are some tense moments, and A-list imaginary Fight Club founder Brad Pitt holds a lot of it together.
Battle Los Angeles (2011)
An alien attack that threatens to destroy Earth raises the stakes high in this schlocky B movie that seems influenced by Cloverfield.
The military is the last line of defense for Earth as aliens crash land on the planet and start taking out locals just trying to have a good time on the beach.
Godzilla (2014)
The creature in Cloverfield is quite ambiguous and we certainly didn’t catch its name, unlike the beloved giant waddling dinosaur Godzilla.
An A-list cast in this reboot includes wicked witch of the MCU Elizabeth Olsen, who adds a little gravitas to what is essentially a homage to those older Godzilla movies that fans still love.
The Bay (2012)
This entry fully embraces the found footage narrative.
Using iPhones, webcams, and anything else that is available, the story of a hidden government conspiracy that would destroy a small fishing community is tense and terrifying, and the footage might be the key that reveals the real horror behind the tragedy.
The Darkest Hour (2011)
Two American software designers find themselves in Russia looking for sales.
However, their plans don’t work out as they are hoodwinked by a Swedish collaborator and end up with nothing.
In a nightclub, they meet some new friends, but an alien invasion kicks off and the five clubbers hide in an attempt to survive.
When they leave their hiding place, the world has changed, and they may be the only ones left.
Rec (2007)
The footage here comes in the form of a news report, as two reporters covering the night shift get a call from an old lady that says she is trapped in her house.
What transpires is an absolute masterclass in suspense and terror, as the real reason behind the call is revealed, and the scariest newscast ever is produced.
The Mist (2007)
No found footage, but a similar premise puts this on our list.
Based on a story by ex-coke fiend, horror novelist, and cameo expert Stephen King, The Mist has a lot of the usual tropes, including a rag-tag band of characters thrown together, this time in a supermarket, fighting off an invasion of creatures hiding in a mysterious mist.
With one of the most shocking downbeat endings ever, this had to be here.
Grave Encounters (2011)
Here’s another group of would-be investigators, arriving at an abandoned hospital looking for content for their ghost-hunting reality show.
The atmosphere and claustrophobic feel mirrors similar ideas in Cloverfield, but instead of monsters, and mini monsters, we get all kinds of ghoulish apparitions doing that thing where they open their mouths really wide.
Apollo 10 (2007)
There wasn’t a lot of love for this found footage sci-fi, but I always feel it deserved another look, so if you missed this first time around go check it out.
The footage comes from secret recordings that were never released, concerning an abandoned mission to the Moon and the disappearance of three astronauts, and provides an explanation why they never went back there.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Although not obviously stated, this is an entry into what may have been the start of a franchise for the Cloverfield universe, and this twisted tale did get things off to a good start.
The third-act reveal is worth the wait, and it’s a shame the quality would not survive a further outing.
Do you have any other recommendations for Movies like Cloverfield? Let us know in the comments below.
