Super 8 (film)

Super 8
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	J. J. Abrams
Produced by	J. J. Abrams Bryan Burk Steven Spielberg
Written by	J. J. Abrams
Starring	Joel Courtney Elle Fanning Kyle Chandler Riley Griffiths Ryan Lee Ron Eldard Bruce Greenwood AJ Michalka
Music by	Michael Giacchino
Cinematography	Larry Fong
Edited by	Maryann Brandon Mary Jo Markey
Production company	Bad Robot Productions Amblin Entertainment
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	June 9, 2011 (2011-06-09) (Australia) June 10, 2011 (2011-06-10) (United States)
Running time	112 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$50 million
Box office	$260.1 million

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

Super 8 is a 2011 American science fiction thriller film written, co-produced, and directed by J. J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning and Kyle Chandler and tells the story of a group of young teenagers who are filming their own Super 8 movie when a train derails, releasing a dangerous presence into their town. The movie was filmed in Weirton, West Virginia and surrounding areas.

Super 8 was released on June 10, 2011, in conventional and IMAX theaters in the United States. The film was well received, with critics praising the film for its nostalgia, visual effects, musical score, and for the performances of its young actors, particularly those of Fanning and newcomer Courtney. It was also a commercial success, grossing over $260 million against a $50 million budget. The film received several awards and nominations, primarily in technical and special effects categories, Giacchino's musical score, as well as for Courtney and Fanning's performances.

In 1979, Deputy Sheriff Jack Lamb (Kyle Chandler) of Lillian, Ohio, and his 14-year-old son Joe (Joel Courtney), mourn the death of his mother Elizabeth (Caitriona Balfe) in a steel mill accident. Jack blames her co-worker, Louis Dainard (Ron Eldard), as she was covering his shift while he recovered from a hangover, and all Joe has left is a locket that belonged to her, that he now holds on to.

Four months later, Joe's best friend Charles Kaznyk (Riley Griffiths) decides to make a low-budget zombie movie for an international film competition. Charles enlists the help of Preston Scott (Zach Mills), Martin Read (Gabriel Basso), and Cary McCarthy (Ryan Lee), as well as Dainard's daughter, Alice (Elle Fanning). Though their fathers would be furious, Joe and Alice become close to each other.