While the debate over what deserves credit as the first found footage thriller has never quite been resolved (the subgenre does, indeed, predate 1999’s The Blair Witch Project) and the success of the Paranormal Activity movies would lead to its massive boom in popularity, I think there is no denying that the spark of its modern mainstream appeal was the release of Cloverfield. That being said, it is still hard to believe that this cleverly framed, character-driven take on the monster movie genre roared into theaters more than a decade ago.
Furthermore, the innovative cult favorite would spawn a quasi-anthological franchise of horror movies with equally bizarre concepts and horrifying tones, but also a more traditional narrative structure. Regardless, watching all the Cloverfield movies together makes for a fun marathon, so allow us to show you how to check them out on streaming, as digital rentals, or on physical media.
Cloverfield (2008)
From producer J.J. Abrams and writer Drew Goddard, director Matt Reeves’ feature-length debut is set at a New York going-away party interrupted by a strange, gigantic creature wreaking havoc on the city. What makes this thriller — which also had a killer ad campaign — one of the most unique and best monster movies of its time is framing it as footage captured by the characters. The result is in an immersive, terrifying, and even heartbreaking experience, with much credit in the last category due to the exceptional Cloverfield cast.
Stream Cloverfield on Amazon Prime.
Stream Cloverfield on Paramount+.
Buy Cloverfield on Blu-ray on Amazon.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
After eight years of dormancy, future Prey director Dan Trachtenberg took the franchise in an entirely new direction, ditching the found footage concept and the monstrous antagonist. The follow-up focuses on a young woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, unaware she was in a Cloverfield movie during filming) who awakens from an accident in an underground bunker, owned by a mysterious man (played by John Goodman) who claims that only danger lurks outside. Also starring John Gallagher Jr., 10 Cloverfield Lane is a riveting thriller with an explosive, surprise third act that paradoxically fuses overtones of claustrophobia with agoraphobia into one masterful blend.
Stream 10 Cloverfield Lane on Pluto TV.
Rent or buy 10 Cloverfield Lane on Amazon.
Buy 10 Cloverfield Lane on Blu-ray on Amazon.
The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
Keeping in line with the franchise’s reputation for surprise, the third installment was released as a Netflix original movie the same day that it was announced, after the Super Bowl, in 2018. Also surprising was the way director Julius Onah’s The Cloverfield Paradox attempts to unlock the mysteries of the original film by showing it from the perspective of an international satellite crew. That is about all that we are at liberty to reveal about this space oddity featuring talents like Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Oyelowo, Daniel Bruhl, and Chris O’Dowd, to name a few.
Stream The Cloverfield Paradox on Netflix.
Buy The Cloverfield Paradox on Blu-ray on Amazon.
It appears that a fourth Cloverfield movie — which is meant to be a direct continuation of the original — is in the works. Until we are able to add it to this streaming guide, enjoy the current trilogy!
