Summary
A baby alligator is flushed down a toilet and survives by eating discarded lab animals that have been injected with growth hormones. The now gigantic animal escapes the city sewers and goes on a rampage, pursued by a cop and a big-game hunter.
Good for
- Date night
- Friends night
- Party vibe
Skip it if
- Graphic violence bothers you
- You want something quiet and calm
Where to watch
Fingerprint
At a glance
Critics vs audiences
Critics and audiences agree
Critics 62Audiences 62GoodWatch 62
Metascore62
Letterboxd · 34 K ratings3.2/5
User score6.3
IMDb6.1
Running time
1 h 31 min
A typical length for horror movies
typical 9591Half of all horror movies run 88–103 min.
Reach
Streams in 15 countries, rent or buy in 3 more
+5Released
1980
November 14, 1980
46 years ago
Genres
HorrorScience FictionThrillerLanguage
English
Original language
Made in
- United States
Rated
- RUnited States
What's in it
- ViolenceStrong
- Gore, disturbing imagesModerate
- Frightening scenesStrong
- Sex, nudityLittle or none
- Dark themesModerate
In white: what the content advisories name. Levels from the title analysis.
Viewing guide
AdultsDate NightFriends NightParty VibePartner WatchSolo WatchTeensDrop-in FriendlyPure EscapismNot listed for kids or family movie night.
and 22 more58 people
- Robert ForsterDavid
- Robin RikerMarisa
- Michael V. GazzoChief Clark
- Dean JaggerSlade
- Sydney LassickGutchel
- Jack CarterMayor
- Perry LangKelly
- Henry SilvaBrock
Bart BravermanKemp
John Lisbon WoodMad Bomber
James IngersollHelms- RDRobert DoyleBill
- PJPatti JeromeMadeline
Angel TompkinsNewswoman
Sue LyonABC Newswoman- LBLeslie BrownYoung Marisa
Buckley NorrisBob
Royce D. ApplegateCallan- TKTom KindleAnnouncer
- JBJim BrockettGator Wrestler
Simmy BowSeedy- JBJim BoekeShamsky
- SHStan HazeMeyer
- JAJames AroneSloan
Directing · 6
- Lewis Teague Director
- Miller Drake Second Unit Director
- Paul Stader Second Unit Director
- Lisa Marmon Second Assistant Director
- Laurie Cohn Script Supervisor
- Jerram A. Swartz Assistant Director
Writing · 2
- John Sayles Screenplay, Story
- Frank Ray Perilli Story
Production · 9
- Robert S. Bremson Executive Producer
- Brandon Chase Producer
- Mark L. Rosen Producer
- Geno Havens Casting
- Lori Rabin Casting
- Tom Jacobson Production Manager, Associate Producer
Camera · 9
- Joseph Mangine Director of Photography
- Peter Smokler Second Unit Director of Photography
- Hanania Baer Second Unit Director of Photography
- Sam Gart First Assistant Camera
- Jack Cooperman Underwater Camera
- David Schmier Camera Operator
Editing · 5
- Larry Bock Editor
- Ron Medico Editor
- Jim Passon Color Timer
- Bill Williams Assistant Editor
- Patricia Summers Assistant Editor
Sound · 1
- Craig Huxley Original Music Composer
Art · 4
- Michael Erler Art Direction
- Richard Charles Greenbaum Assistant Art Director
- Tomas DeSoto Set Dresser
- Cyd Smyllie Set Decoration
Costume & Make-Up · 1
- Sue Dolph Hairstylist, Makeup Artist
Lighting · 1
- Moshe Yakobovesky Gaffer
Other crew · 16
- Conrad E. Palmisano Stunt Coordinator
- Kenny Endoso Stunts
- Roger Creed Stunts
- Rick Seaman Stunts
- Tom Steele Stunts
- Michael Cassidy Stunts
Tropes
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Watch order
The Alligator series
Film 1 of 2 · then Alligator 2: The Mutation
- Alligator (1980)
GoodWatch score 61You're here
- Alligator 2: The Mutation (1991)
GoodWatch score 35Film 2
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