Summary
Scientist Dr. Bradford Crane and army general Thalius Slater join forces to fight an almost invisible enemy threatening America; killer bees that have deadly venom and attack without reason. Disaster movie-master Irwin Allen's film contains spectacular special effects, including a train crash caused by the eponymous swarm.
Good for
- Friends night
- Party vibe
- Teens
Skip it if
- You want something to laugh at
Where to watch
Fingerprint
At a glance
Critics vs audiences
Audiences like it more than critics (+17)
Critics 20Audiences 37GoodWatch 29
Metascore30
Tomatometer9%
Letterboxd · 6 K ratings2.3/5
IMDb4.5
User score3.6
Audience score19%
Box office
37%of its budget back
- Budget
- $21 M
- Worldwide
- $8 M
Worldwide it made back $8 M of the $21 M it cost.
Running time
1 h 56 min
Longer than most sci-fi movies, +17 min on the typical 99
typical 99116Half of all sci-fi movies run 90–112 min.
Reach
Streams in 3 countries, rent or buy in 15 more
Released
1978
June 26, 1978
48 years ago
Genres
Science FictionHorrorLanguage
English
Original language
Made in
- United States
Academy Awards1979
- Costume Design1979Nominated
Rated
- PGUnited States
Not for young kids: it's rated PG in the United States for violence and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.
What's in it
- ViolenceMild
- Gore, disturbing imagesMild
- Frightening scenesModerate
- Sex, nudityLittle or none
- Dark themesMild
In white: what the content advisories name. Levels from the title analysis.
Viewing guide
AdultsFriends NightParty VibePublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensDrop-in FriendlyPure EscapismNot listed for kids or family movie night.
and 30 more61 people
- Michael CaineBrad Crane
- Katharine RossHelena
- Richard WidmarkGeneral Slater
- Richard ChamberlainDr. Hubbard
- Olivia de HavillandMaureen
- Ben JohnsonFelix
- Lee GrantAnne MacGregor
- José FerrerDr. Andrews
Patty DukeRita
Slim PickensJud Hawkins
Bradford DillmanMajor Baker
Fred MacMurrayClarence
Henry FondaDr. Krim
Cameron MitchellGeneral Thompson
Christian JuttnerPaul Durant
Morgan PaullDr. Newman
Alejandro ReyDr. Martinez
Don 'Red' BarryPete Harris
Elizabeth RogersWoman Scientist- DCDoria Cook-NelsonMrs. Durant
- RVRobert VarneyMr. Durant
Ernie F. OrsattiDuty Officer
Patrick CullitonSheriff Morrison
John FurlongCameraman
Directing · 1
- Irwin Allen Director, Producer
Writing · 2
- Stirling Silliphant Screenplay
- Arthur Herzog III Novel
Production · 2
- Jack Baur Casting
- Norman A. Cook Production Manager
Camera · 1
- Fred J. Koenekamp Director of Photography
Editing · 1
- Harold F. Kress Editor
Sound · 1
- Jerry Goldsmith Original Music Composer
Art · 2
- Stan Jolley Production Design
- Stuart A. Reiss Set Decoration
Costume & Make-Up · 3
- Paul Zastupnevich Costume Design
- Tony Lloyd Makeup Artist
- Ruby Ford Hairstylist
Visual Effects · 1
- L.B. Abbott Visual Effects
Other crew · 5
- Loren Janes Stunts
- Ernie F. Orsatti Stunts
- Larry Holt Stunts
- Howard Jensen Special Effects
- George E. Swink Post Production Supervisor
More like this
Similar
Most like The Swarm overall
Nearest on the related map: closest in everything it does to you, not one trait
- The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
GoodWatch score 78 - Rodan (1956)
GoodWatch score 68 - The War of the Worlds (1953)
GoodWatch score 76 - The Day of the Triffids (1963)
GoodWatch score 68 - The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
GoodWatch score 63 - The Spine of Night (2021)
GoodWatch score 66 - Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2014)
GoodWatch score 64 - The Thing from Another World (1951)
GoodWatch score 78 - Hulk Vs. (2009)
GoodWatch score 83 - Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
GoodWatch score 71 - You're Next (2013)
GoodWatch score 69 - Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995)
GoodWatch score 89 - Ultimate Avengers: The Movie (2006)
GoodWatch score 63 - Superman: Doomsday (2007)
GoodWatch score 60 - The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
GoodWatch score 69 - Alligator (1980)
GoodWatch score 61
Same genre
More science fiction movies
- The Matrix (1999)
GoodWatch score 79 - Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
GoodWatch score 71 - Iron Man 2 (2010)
GoodWatch score 61 - Captain Marvel (2019)
GoodWatch score 60 - The Wolverine (2013)
GoodWatch score 62 - Super 8 (2011)
GoodWatch score 71 - The Running Man (2025)
GoodWatch score 59 - Starship Troopers (1997)
GoodWatch score 73