Looking like something straight out of Jurassic Park, alligators and crocodiles are among the small minority of creatures that survived the end of the Cretaceous Period and the even smaller group that still walks the earth today. They can grow to incredible sizes and possess razor-sharp teeth and immense brute strength. It’s not surprising, then, that these deadly creatures make frequent appearances in horror movies. If a director wants to keep the movies more grounded in reality, they are probably the closest thing to actual monsters that exist today.
Updated: January 2023: To keep this article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Dylan Reber.
Studios have recognized our inherent fear of these mammoth reptiles and, over the last two decades or so, began churning out ‘killer croc’ or ‘angry alligator’ movies at an insane rate. When a market becomes oversaturated, with so much on offer, it’s natural that output quality will vary. Running out of ideas, these movie concepts and premises became more and more ludicrous. With dozens of movies to choose from, including Lake Placid v. Anaconda, Supercroc, Supergator, Blood Surf, and Mega Python vs. Gatoroid, we’ve taken the time to sieve through the genre and have selected the eight greatest movies about deadly crocodiles and alligators. Here they are, ranked.
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8 Alligator (1980)
Group 1 Films
If you like low-budget ’80s horror, Alligator is the movie for you. Directed by Lewis Teague of Cujo fame, this is a rare alligator film that takes place in a major city - Chicago, in this case. It’s a satirical take on the horror genre and one of the funnier movies on this list. Just don’t expect much in the way of scares.
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7 Eaten Alive (1976)
Mars Productions Corporation
An older attempt at the genre before it became a SyFy channel staple, Eaten Alive sees legendary horror director Tobe Hooper of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre fame team up with iconic horror actors Carolyn Jones (Morticia Addams, The Addams Family) and Robert Englund (Freddy Kreuger, A Nightmare on Elm Street) to deliver something altogether bizarre. Set in rural Texas, Hooper does a fantastic job at creating a dark southern gothic atmosphere, but unfortunately unnatural dialogue and poor production values prevent the film from being the classic it could have become. While it might pale in comparison to some of today’s bloodiest horrors, at the time, the gratuitous violence was highly controversial and landed Eaten Alive on the list of banned ‘video nasties’ in the UK, per BFI, where it remained for over a decade.
6 Rampage (2018)
New Line Cinema
While the crocodile is only of the central monsters in Rampage, it’s one of the few truly giant crocodiles to be featured in a movie. Led by the always charismatic Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, this film is based on the classic video game franchise of the same name. It plays out a lot like the original game did, with giant monsters destroying cities (you might even say rampaging through them). The crocodile is the star of the show here, and the film’s impressive CGI makes him a sight to behold.
5 Rogue (2007)
Roadshow Films
Based on the true story of Sweetheart, the giant saltwater crocodile that wreaked havoc in Australia throughout the ’70s — like Jaws but with a crocodile — Rogue is a fine example of successfully combining multiple elements of the horror genre and producing something that resonates with audiences. There’s violent action adventure, survival horror, and plenty of suspense. Critics couldn’t get enough of the movie upon its release, with it receiving universal acclaim. Unfortunately, however, the movie was considered a commercial flop and was unable to recuperate its $25 million budget at the box office. Whatever the reason, it’s a shame that many out there are missing out on this Australian white-knuckle killer croc thrill ride.
4 Black Water (2007)
AV Pictures
Set in the northern Australian mangrove swamps, Black Water is based on the real-life events of a pregnant woman and her boyfriend and sister who end up the victims of a deadly crocodile’s hunt. Due to budget constraints, the production team relied on a combination of practical effects and their own CGI knowledge to create action the viewers were treated to on-screen. The gamble played off as many critics found it to be extremely effective and a refreshing change to the overused CGI effects being used in Hollywood at the time. The film was nominated for multiple Australian awards, winning Best Director and Best Cinematography at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival.
3 Lake Placid (1999)
Fox 2000 Pictures
For a long time, Lake Placid was the benchmark for movies centered around deadly crocodiles or alligators. Compared to many others of its ilk, it had a fairly large budget estimated at around $30 million and turned over a healthy profit. It also has a surprisingly impressive cast, comprised of Hollywood legends like Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda, Oliver Platt, and Betty White. Admittedly, it received mixed reviews from critics, but has since gained a cult following, and has spawned five sequels. Not a film that needs a lot of brain power to follow; it’s a campy creature feature that focuses on a giant 30-foot saltwater crocodile that terrorizes a local lake in Maine. While some might write it off as just a bit of dumb fun, it does boast an M. Night Shyamalan-worthy twist ending.
2 The Pool (2018)
Dark Army Studio
Like many great horrors, The Pool plays on our deepest fears by focusing on realism and putting the viewers in the position of playing out their biggest nightmares vicariously through the actors on screen. This time around, it revolves around a couple who end up trapped in an empty pool that’s too deep for them to escape after being drained. Honestly, this will make you second guess ever relaxing on a floating lido for fear of falling asleep and ending up in this horrific scenario. To make matters worse, a crocodile enters the pool with them. Less of an action affair like others on this list, The Pool is a tense survival horror in which the couple must battle against the heat, hunger, and a deadly crocodile. This Thai movie was universally praised by critics, achieving a highly respectable 96% on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.
1 Crawl (2019)
Raimi Productions
Crawl is a genuinely terrifying movie set in Florida about a congregation of alligators that hunt a family and their dog during a storm that causes mass flooding. While certainly not for children, it doesn’t solely rely on its use of blood and gore. It is certainly action packed, but it’s the palpable sense of tension and suspense that remains constant throughout that makes Crawl so successful in conveying a scenario that for many is far from far-fetched. Produced by Sam Raimi, the film was a huge success financially, especially considering its modest budget. Quentin Tarantino himself has come out as a fan, per IndieWire, and rates it among his favorite movies of 2019. Fans of the movie will be delighted to hear that, with all its critical and commercial success, there have been reports that a sequel is in the works.
