11 Best Crocodile/Alligator Horror Movies Ranked (2024)

There are plenty of crocodile and alligator movies populating the creature-feature horror subgenre, and the very best show why the gigantic reptiles are so terrifying. Due to the popularity of movies like Jaws and The Shallows, many moviegoers consider sharks the most terrifying creature in the water. However, the truth is that the chances of being attacked by a shark are quite slim. However, crocodiles and alligators are much more aggressive with a higher chance of attack and, much like with sharks, Hollywood has attempted to terrify audiences using these cold-blooded reptiles.

While alligator and crocodile movies aren't as culturally prominent as those featuring sharks, there are still plenty of them that are more than worth watching — whether viewers are seeking genuine scares or a camp and cheesy horror comedy. While the niche subgenre has plenty of duds, there are many hidden gems that feature alligators or crocodiles as the key source of peril, such as 1999's Lake Placid, or 2019's Crawl. Crocodiles and alligators are responsible for dozens of deaths around the globe each year, so it's no surprise that — when done right — they make for truly terrifying horror movie monsters.

11 Alligator (1980)

The Often-Overlooked Creature Feature About Crocs In The Sewers

Alligator

R

The cult horror classic that launched a thousand nightmares about keeping exotic pets, Alligator starts when
a pet baby alligator is flushed down a toilet. Twelve years later, the surviving gator grows to enormous size, having gorged on a diet of laboratory dogs injected with growth hormones. And now it's about to be humanity's problem.

Director

Lewis Teague

Release Date

November 14, 1980

Cast

Robert Forster , Robin Riker , Michael V. Gazzo , Dean Jagger , Sydney Lassick

Runtime

91 Minutes

It's rare to have a city setting with alligator or crocodile films. Alligator focuses on the famous myth of alligators living in the sewers of modern cities, specifically Chicago in this instance. The scenes featuring humans range from mediocre to decent at best, but where Alligator excels is with the titular villain. Whenever the alligator is stalking humans in either the sewer segments or in the city, it can be tense and a lot of fun and some of the effects are commendable for the time period.

While Alligator isn't really considered a classic when it comes creature features, or even alligator or crocodile movies, it has its fair share of entertaining moments. Considering how niche the subgenre of a subgenre is, it's definitely not a title to be overlooked for viewers who enjoy seeing the gargantuan reptiles chomp on unsuspecting victims. The movie even spawned a sequel in 1991 — Alligator II: The Mutation — and had a tie-in tabletop boardgame too.

10 Crocodile 2: Death Swamp (2002)

A Bloodthirsty Mother Croc Avenges The Death Of Its Child

Crocodile 2: Death Swamp (2002)

PG-13

After a bank robbery getaway plane crashes in a remote swamp, the surviving criminals and hostages find themselves fighting not just each other but also a monstrous crocodile lurking in the murky waters, turning their escape into a nightmare.

Director

Gary Jones

Release Date

August 1, 2002

Cast

Heidi Lenhart , Martin Kove , Jon Sklaroff , Darryl Theirse , David Valcin , James Parks

Runtime

89 minutes

The sequel to the 2000 film Crocodile showcases a lot more care and effort in its filmmaking than its predecessor did. Rather than aiming for a typical slasher format but with a crocodile, Crocodile 2: Death Swamp has more ambition. It focuses on a group of bank robbers who hijack a plane to flee the village of Santo Cristo, close to the city of Acapulco in Mexico.

After the plane crashes, the four criminals find themselves face-to-face with an enraged 30ft crocodile that's seeking revenge for the death of its spawn, who the survivors killed shortly after their unplanned landing in the swamp. Crocodile 2: Death Swamp offers more atmosphere and a darker tone compared to the original Crocodile movie, and takes itself more seriously as a horror film. While it can be over the top, especially with its kills, Death Swamp offers a more genuine horror experience rather than a so-bad-it's-good type of movie.

9 Eaten Alive (1976)

Slasher Movie Meets Croc-Centric Creature Feature

Eaten Alive (1977)

R

Combining creature feature chills with a redneck horror movie vibe, Eaten Alive! centers on a psychotic hotel owner terrorizing rural Texas. Said hotel owner has a secret: a giant crocodile he keeps as a pet in the swamp next to his hotel, who he feeds anyone who crosses him to.

Director

Tobe Hooper

Release Date

May 13, 1977

Cast

Neville Brand , Mel Ferrer , Carolyn Jones , Marilyn Burns , William Finley , Stuart Whitman , Roberta Collins , Kyle Richards

Runtime

91 Minutes

From Tobe Hooper, who made the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre as well as the first Crocodile movie, comes a very different take on crocodile films. 1976's Eaten Alive is less of a killer animal movie and more of a slasher. It focuses on a deranged hotel owner who gets a taste for killing and disposes of the bodies by feeding them to a local crocodile.

The more people that come to his hotel, the more he views them as food for his pet. Mixing the two subgenres of horror together makes for a neat concept; on top of that, the villain, Judd (Neville Brand) is highly memorable. The movie was widely disregarded and misunderstood upon its release, though even at the time some critics recognized the ambition shown by Tobe Hooper when mixing up the creature feature and slasher genres.

8 Rampage (2018)

The Big-Budget Kaiju Movie Featuring An Oversized Alligator

Rampage

PG-13

Based loosely on the video game series of the same name, Rampage stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Davis Okoye, a former Special Forces soldier and primatologist. When a gorilla that Okoye is working with, George, is exposed to an experimental pathogen, he grows much larger and more aggressive. It's up to Okoye to bring George home safely, saving his friend and countless lives before it's too late.

Director

Brad Peyton

Release Date

April 13, 2018

Cast

Joe Manganiello , Malin Akerman , Dwayne Johnson , Matt Gerald , Will Yun Lee , Jeffrey Dean Morgan , Naomie Harris

Runtime

1h 47m

Based on the video game series of the same name and featuring Dwayne Johnson facing off against three different monsters: a giant ape, a giant wolf, and a giant crocodile, Rampage is pure popcorn fun. The three monsters all wreak some fun havoc and Johnson is a likable lead as always. The crocodile threat doesn't have a lot of screen time, but her presence is built up throughout.

The crocodile, named Lizzie, is quite a spectacle to see and a formidable foe. For those that want to just turn off their brain for some Kaiju-like action in a crocodile movie, this is a good choice. Rampage received middling reviews upon its release, with some critics perhaps expecting more given the nostalgic popularity of the video game series it's based on. However, as far as crocodile and alligator movies go, it's certainly unique, and without a doubt has the biggest budget in the subgenre.

7 Dark Age (1987)

The Crocodile Movie That Makes Humans The Villain

Dark Age (1987)

R18+

In the Australian outback, a wildlife ranger confronts the challenge of protecting a massive indigenous crocodile from poachers while keeping it from attacking the locals. As lives are lost and the creature continues to encroach on humans, the ranger's moral compass and professional duties begin to clash.

Director

Arch Nicholson

Release Date

May 21, 1987

Cast

John Jarratt , Nikki Coghill , Max Phipps , Burnum Burnum , David Gulpilil , Ray Meagher

Runtime

91 minutes

A crocodile that's stalking and killing humans in Australia creates a giant monster hunt in 1987's Dark Age, directed by Arch Nicholson. The concept makes Dark Age sound like one of the many knockoff movies of Jaws but with a crocodile. In reality, Dark Age is a strange yet refreshing take on the concept where the crocodile is simply an animal. It's the humans who are the main villains.

The crocodile in Dark Age has spiritual connections with the local Indigenous people. The main hero must find a way to stop the crocodile, and the human hunters, and keep peace with the locals. So, with the hero stuck between a rock and a hard place, it makes for a lot of tension between humans and the croc alike — all of which is elevated by some stellar performances in this cult gem from the late 1980s.

6 Black Water (2007)

An Incredibly Tense Crocodile Movie Based On A True Story

Black Water (2007)

R

Stranded in a mangrove swamp, three tourists and their guide must navigate the treacherous waters and dense brush after their fishing expedition goes awry, all while being hunted by a relentless, unseen crocodile.

Director

David Nerlich , Andrew Traucki

Release Date

August 23, 2007

Cast

Maeve Dermody , Diana Glenn , Andy Rodoreda , Ben Oxenbould , Fiona Press

Runtime

90 minutes

Loosely based on a true story, 2007's Black Water follows three people stuck in a massive Australian swamp that belongs to a crocodile. Instead of a classic human versus killer animal movie, Black Water is more of an isolation thriller. This makes it one of the tensest crocodile/alligator movies out there, and it has echoes of some shark movies like The Shallows and Open Water (which was also based on a true story).

Most of the Black Water is just three people stuck in a tree, trying to figure out a way to escape the swamp. The body count is small, but each kill is treated carefully and with the right amount of tension and horror. The central cast of Maeve Dermody as Lee, Diana Glenn as Grace, and Ben Oxenbould as Jim are what truly sell the movie, making it an incredibly nailbiting watch.

5 Rogue (2007)

Features One Of The Most Cunning Crocodiles To Grace The Screen

Rogue (2007)

R

On assignment in Northern Australia, an American journalist joins a local tour on a riverboat. Their adventure turns dangerous when a massive, menacing crocodile stalks and isolates them on a tiny mud island. The group must use their wits and bravery against the primordial predator to survive.

Director

Greg Mclean

Release Date

November 8, 2007

Cast

Radha Mitchell , Michael Vartan , Sam Worthington , John Jarratt , Caroline Brazier , Stephen Curry , Mia Wasikowska

Runtime

99 minutes

In the late 2000s, there was a huge spike in crocodile movies. Rogue is one project produced in that boom and features a more straightforward story than most crocodile films. 2007's Rogue, written and directed by Wolf Creek creator Greg McLean, is about a group of tourists in Australia who are stranded in the wilderness and stalked by a crocodile. Though not complex, Rogue manages to deliver a fun thriller with some dedicated performances and really impressive practical effects by ADI Studios.

It's a perfect example of the success that comes when a movie is simple but effective. One element that makes Rogue stand out among other alligator and crocodile movies is the cunning shown by the saltwater crocodile stalking the cast. It manages to outsmart them on multiple occasions, such as when it waits for them to attempt to distract it with bait, which it plays along with only to quickly reveal that it understood the plan and simply faked interest in the meat to ensure the characters let their guard down.

4 Black Water: Abyss (2020)

A Straight-To-Video Crocodile Movie That Surpasses The Original

Black Water: Abyss (2020)

R

Five adventure-seeking friends explore a remote cave system in the forests of Northern Australia, expecting the adventure of a lifetime. Unfortunately for them, a tropical storm floods the caves, and the rapidly rising water traps them, along with a deadly threat lurking in the shadows—a hungry crocodile. Isolated and with limited resources, they must navigate the caves to escape.

Director

Andrew Traucki

Release Date

July 10, 2020

Cast

Jessica McNamee , Luke Mitchell , Amali Golden , Benjamin Hoetjes , Anthony J. Sharpe

Runtime

98 minutes

It's rare that a straight-to-video movie gets a sequel that is even close to being good. In this case, Andrew Traucki's 2020 crocodile movie Black Water: Abyss is a sequel that's not only good but far superior to the original. Taking inspiration from The Descent, Black Water: Abyss features two couples and their friend exploring an uncharted cave in Australia. Unsurprisingly enough, it doesn't go well as they end up in the territory of a crocodile

The five main characters are all well-acted and given believable personalities rather than being bland stereotypes. The characters are also relatively intelligent for a horror movie, so they're not constantly making decisions that infuriate the audience. On top of that, the mix of claustrophobic horror, killer animal, and thalassophobia are blended perfectly with the more realistic peril of the characters' situation.

3 Primeval (2007)

The Movie Based On A Shockingly Large Real Crocodile

Primeval (2007)

R

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In the depths of war-torn Burundi, a news team from the United States ventures into the African wilderness to document a legendary giant crocodile, Gustave, who is rumored to have claimed hundreds of lives. As the team deals with rising local tensions and environmental dangers, they quickly become prey in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the beast.

Director

Michael Katleman

Release Date

January 12, 2007

Cast

Dominic Purcell , Orlando Jones , Brooke Langton , Jurgen Prochnow , Gideon Emery

Runtime

93 minutes

Featuring a great cast including Dominic Purcell and Orlando Jones, the 2007 crocodile movie Primeval is about a massive crocodile named Gustave who's causing problems for locals in Burundi so American journalists have to capture and film the beast while also dealing with a Burundian warlord. The crocodile itself is a brutal force of nature that provides plenty of scares through impressive visual effects.

Orlando Jones is in one of his more serious roles in the movie, but he still provides genuine laughs at just the right points, so it never comes off as forced. What makes Primeval particularly interesting among crocodile movies is that, despite the almost unbelievable size of the killer croc, Gustave is real. The real Gustave from Primeval exists and is believed to have killed as many as 300 people in an around Lake Tanganyika in Burundi.

2 Lake Placid (1999)

One Of The Most Successful Crocodile Movies To Date

Lake Placid

R

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After a series of disturbing incidents at Black Lake, local officials call in specialists to investigate. The team uncovers evidence of a massive predatory crocodile inhabiting the lake. Uncovering a link to a mysterious local man, the team is attacked repeatedly by the killer croc. A plan is devised to capture the crocodile alive, leading to a tense and hazardous showdown.

Director

Steve Miner

Release Date

July 15, 1999

Writers

David E. Kelley

Cast

Bill Pullman , Bridget Fonda , Oliver Platt , Brendan Gleeson , Betty White , David Lewis , Meredith Salenger

Runtime

82 Mins

For the best part of a decade, Lake Placid was considered by many as the quintessential killer crocodile movie. From the film's point of view shots, the local police sheriff as a lead character, and the eccentric character brought in to hunt an aquatic monster: Lake Placid is clearly inspired by Jaws. However, the movie never feels like a total clone and manages to put its own spin on the formula to make it a really fun horror comedy experience.

Two things make Lake Placid a cult gem: the amazing practical and CGI effects by Stan Winston's team and the actors who play their characters to perfection. The comedy is not distracting from the horror; there are plenty of chills to be had with the crocodile villain. For years, it was the definitive crocodile movie and couldn't even have its reputation marred by the mediocre quality of is multiple straight-to-cable sequels.

1 Crawl (2019)

The Movie That Showed Just How Scary Crocodiles Can Truly Be

Crawl

R

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Crawl is a horror thriller set during a Florida Hurricane. It follows a young woman named Haley who refuses to heed the mandatory evacuation order to search for her father, who went missing at the beginning of the storm. When Haley finds her father seriously injured, they discover the hurricane is the least of their problems. Suddenly, their home is besieged by a group of massive alligators looking for their next meal.

Director

Alexandre Aja

Release Date

July 11, 2019

Cast

George Somner , Morfydd Clark , Anson Boon , Jose Palma , Ross Anderson , Colin McFarlane , Barry Pepper , Ami Metcalf , Kaya Scodelario , Annamaria Serda

Runtime

87 minutes

Twenty years after Lake Placid, Alexander Aja delivered what is currently the best alligator or crocodile movie. The film is set during a hurricane and follows a woman (Kaya Scodelario) and her father (Barry Pepper) as they are trapped in their house with an infestation of alligators. Like other alligator or crocodile movies, Crawl is a mix of subgenres but this time natural disaster survival aspects are thrown into the mix.

The best thing about Crawl is that its momentum never stops. From the moment the characters are thrust into the situation, they have to deal with one escalating threat after another. On top of that, Crawl stands out among alligator and crocodile movies for taking full advantage of its R-rating with some gory carnage that even seasoned horror movie fans may wince at. The cast of Crawl is incredibly well selected too, and stars Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper as Haley and Dave Keller, alongside The Rings Of Power's Morfydd Clark as Beth.