# Cloverfield

> 2008 film directed by Matt Reeves

**Wikidata**: [Q123742](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123742)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloverfield)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cloverfield

## Summary
Cloverfield is a 2008 science fantasy disaster film directed by Matt Reeves, produced by Bad Robot Productions and Paramount Pictures. It combines elements of found footage, kaiju, and thriller genres, following a group of survivors during a monster attack in New York City. The film is noted for its pseudo-documentary style and viral marketing campaign.

## Key Facts
- **Release Dates**: January 16, 18, and 31, 2008 (varies by country).
- **Director**: Matt Reeves.
- **Production Companies**: Bad Robot Productions (founded 1998) and Paramount Pictures (founded May 8, 1912).
- **Genres**: Science fantasy, disaster film, found footage film, fantasy film, thriller film, pseudo-documentary.
- **Themes**: Giant monster (kaiju) attack, survival, urban destruction.
- **Related Films**: Preceded by *10 Cloverfield Lane* (2016), directed by Dan Trachtenberg.
- **Awards**: Won the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film (established 1973).
- **Website**: http://www.cloverfieldmovie.com.
- **Sitelink Count**: 43 (Wikidata).
- **Country**: United States (declared independence July 4, 1776; recognized May 12, 1784).

## FAQs
- **Who directed Cloverfield?** Matt Reeves directed the film, with production led by J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions and Paramount Pictures.  
- **What genres does Cloverfield belong to?** It blends science fantasy, disaster, found footage, thriller, and pseudo-documentary elements, featuring a kaiju (giant monster).  
- **When was Cloverfield released?** The film premiered on January 16, 2008, with subsequent releases on January 18 and 31, 2008, in different markets.  
- **Is Cloverfield part of a franchise?** Yes, it spawned a series including *10 Cloverfield Lane* (2016), though the films are loosely connected by theme rather than narrative.  
- **What awards did Cloverfield win?** It received the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film, an honor established in 1973 to recognize excellence in sci-fi cinema.  

## Why It Matters
Cloverfield revitalized the found footage genre and redefined modern monster movies through its immersive, first-person perspective and innovative viral marketing. Its success demonstrated the viability of low-budget, high-concept filmmaking and influenced pop culture with its mysterious promotional campaign. The film’s real-time disaster narrative also resonated as a metaphor for post-9/11 trauma, cementing its cultural relevance. As a franchise starter, it paved the way for subsequent films like *10 Cloverfield Lane*, expanding the Cloverfield universe into a versatile sci-fi anthology series.

## Notable For
- **Found Footage Innovation**: Pioneered mainstream use of handheld camera work to create immediacy and realism.  
- **Viral Marketing**: Launched a cryptic campaign featuring fake websites and trailers without a title, generating widespread speculation.  
- **Cultural Impact**: Grossed $172 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, proving the profitability of minimalist, effects-driven storytelling.  
- **Awards Recognition**: Earned a Saturn Award, solidifying its status as a landmark sci-fi film.  
- **Franchise Potential**: Established a flexible franchise model, enabling diverse sequels united by thematic motifs rather than direct continuity.  

## Body

### Production & Release
Cloverfield was directed by **Matt Reeves** and produced by **Bad Robot Productions** (founded 1998) and **Paramount Pictures** (founded May 8, 1912). The film premiered in the **United States** on January 18, 2008, with earlier releases in select markets on January 16 and a later rollout on January 31. It was shot in a pseudo-documentary style, using handheld cameras to simulate raw footage of a kaiju attack on New York City.

### Genres & Themes
The film merges multiple genres:  
- **Science fantasy** and **kaiju** (giant monster) tropes, centered on a colossal creature’s destruction of urban environments.  
- **Disaster film** and **thriller** elements, emphasizing survival and suspense.  
- **Found footage** and **pseudo-documentary** techniques, presenting events through the lens of a personal video recording.  

### Legacy & Franchise
Cloverfield spawned the **Cloverfield franchise**, including *10 Cloverfield Lane* (2016), directed by **Dan Trachtenberg**. Though not direct sequels, the films share thematic connections to survival and existential threats. The original film’s success earned it a **Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film**, an accolade inaugurated in 1973 to honor outstanding sci-fi cinema.

### Cultural & Commercial Impact
- **Box Office**: Grossed $172 million globally against a $25 million budget, demonstrating the commercial viability of low-budget, high-concept projects.  
- **Marketing Strategy**: Its viral campaign, featuring uncredited trailers and fake websites, became a case study in modern promotional tactics.  
- **Cultural Resonance**: Released 7 years after 9/11, the film’s portrayal of urban chaos and civilian resilience struck a chord with post-traumatic audiences.  

### Technical Specifications
- **Website**: http://www.cloverfieldmovie.com (part of its immersive marketing).  
- **Sitelink Count**: 43 (indicating robust online presence across Wikidata-linked platforms).  
- **Wikidata Description**: “2008 film directed by Matt Reeves,” with a sitelink count of 43.  

### Associated Entities
- **Bad Robot Productions**: Founded in 1998, the company co-produced Cloverfield as part of its slate of sci-fi and thriller projects.  
- **Paramount Pictures**: As a subsidiary of Paramount Global (headquartered in **Q65**), it distributed the film under its longstanding industry influence (founded 1912).  
- **United States**: The film’s primary setting and production country, recognized as independent since May 12, 1784.  

This dense interplay of genre, production history, and cultural context cements Cloverfield’s role as both a product of its time and a catalyst for future storytelling innovations.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=129846.html)
2. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/)
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7. [Source](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/18/movies/18clov.html)
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9. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/fullcredits)
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15. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/technical)
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35. [Source](https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/15/cloverfield-a-viral-guide)