# What's the name of that old movie with giant ants? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832 "2005-12-16T01:04:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/1 "2005-12-16T01:04:35Z")
I remember seeing an old movie when I was a kid about giant ants. The movie was black and white and I’d guess that it’s from the 1950’s. I believe the premise was that the ants got so large (several times larger than humans) by crawling around in some radioactive chemicals. I don’t remember most of the movie, but I do remember that at the end, they decided to seal the nest by blasting the entrance with a rocket launcher. What was the name of that movie? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/2 "2005-12-16T01:09:03Z")
Them! ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/3 "2005-12-16T01:09:18Z")
Is it “Them” ? I don’t remember if it was black and white though, but it had giant ants in it and it came out in the 50s sometime. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/4 "2005-12-16T01:10:37Z")
[Them!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047573/) With a young Leornard Nimoy. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/5 "2005-12-16T01:24:52Z")
Rio by Duran Duran? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![marque\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@marque\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marque_elf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/6 "2005-12-16T01:34:22Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Rio by Duran Duran? > > 😃 Antz… They were pretty big up on that movie screen… :smack: that was in color, wasn’t it?..Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/7 "2005-12-16T01:56:19Z")
The Food of the Gods had giant wasps and giant rats. There may have been giant ants as well. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/8 "2005-12-16T01:59:11Z")
**Them!** is a great movie. I tend to think of the movies from that era, especially unlikely giant monster movies, as being pretty lame, but _Them!_ is actually really very good. ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/9 "2005-12-16T02:00:00Z")
I believe it was “Them!”. It didn’t take you guys long to get it. Now maybe I can watch it again some time. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/10 "2005-12-16T02:04:25Z")
As stated many times, you’re undoubtedl thinking of **Them!** (with the exclamation point). But if you’re into giant ants, don’t verlook **Empre of the Ants** , supposedly based on an H.G. Wells story and starring Joan Colins. Prime MST3K material, although they never did it. Cheesy special effects, well worth watching to make fun of. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/11 "2005-12-16T02:37:11Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > The Food of the Gods had giant wasps and giant rats. There may have been giant ants as well. Have you seen it? How was it? I heard it was awful. The book is amazing. But I heard the movie had a _bit_ less philosophy than the book. (If I can hijack, as the OP has been answered.) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/12 "2005-12-16T02:56:10Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > Have you seen it? How was it? I heard it was awful. The book is amazing. But I heard the movie had a _bit_ less philosophy than the book. I was eight or nine when it came out. My brother actually saw it in the theater. I did see it a few years later and oh my Og, it was bad. Filled with C and D list actors and horrible FX and Marjoe Gortner. For some reason that has yet to be determined a sequel was made 13 years later - it is available on DVD. While I have never seen the sequal, I will be willing to bet that it is as bad, in every way, as the original. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/13 "2005-12-16T02:57:23Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > [Them!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047573/) > > With a young Leonard Nimoy. Nimoy? There’s a young and incredibly hot James Arness in there, but I didn’t notice Nimoy when I watched Them! a few months ago. Is he one of the cops at the beginning? … Ahh, Nimoy’s [listed as one of the staff sergeants](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000559/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8ZmI9dXxwbj0wfHE9bGVvbmFyZCBuaW1veXxodG1sPTF8bm09MQ__;fc=1;ft=20). ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/14 "2005-12-16T03:12:59Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Ahh, Nimoy’s [listed as one of the staff sergeants](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000559/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8ZmI9dXxwbj0wfHE9bGVvbmFyZCBuaW1veXxodG1sPTF8bm09MQ__;fc=1;ft=20). Thus solidifying **Superdude** ’s reputation as a pop culture savant. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/15 "2005-12-16T03:16:40Z")
Someone needs to cross post this with the “explorable sewers” thread! Them! is great! ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/16 "2005-12-16T03:53:38Z")
The sci-fi club at Texas A&M presented “Them!” my freshman year, and they had one of the bug professors giving a lecture afterwards, and the professor commented on how the movie actually got a great deal of ant-related science facts right (except for the bit about them being able to grow that big). ---
**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/17 "2005-12-16T11:49:21Z")
> [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > Someone needs to cross post this with the “explorable sewers” thread! Them! is great! Why, you can look forward to more great threads from me in the future. Wheels are turning. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/18 "2005-12-16T12:03:49Z")
Must…resist…Simpsons…reference…GAAAAAH! “I for one welcome our new ant overlords!” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/19 "2005-12-16T13:46:03Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Nimoy? > There’s a young and incredibly hot James Arness in there, but I didn’t notice Nimoy when I watched Them! a few months ago. Is he one of the cops at the beginning? > … > Ahh, Nimoy’s [listed as one of the staff sergeants](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000559/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8ZmI9dXxwbj0wfHE9bGVvbmFyZCBuaW1veXxodG1sPTF8bm09MQ__;fc=1;ft=20). He tears off a teletype report and has about one line. It’s in the middle of the film. You can also spot Fess Parker as the guy in the mental hospital (not the drunk in LA: the earlier scene, where they keep him locked up for national security reasons). Rumor has it that Disney saw him in the film and decided he was the right guy to play Davy Crockett. And, yes, other than the size, the science is very accurate; they even stop the film to give a lecture on the natural history of ants. In addition, the scientist’s daughter is a fully capable scientist herself, and puts herself in danger (over Arness’s protests) to go into an ant’s nest to determine if any queens have hatched. Finally, if you want to see another pretty good movie about other giant creatures, check out Jack Arnold’s **Tarantula** (and see if you can spot Clint Eastwood in a bit part). ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832/20 "2005-12-16T13:57:29Z")
So, let’s see: **Them!** –giant ants **Tarantula** **Monster from Green Hell** – giant wasps **The Black Scorpion** **The Monster that Challenged the World** –giant sea snails (not a bad movie, actually–helluva scene in a lab at the climax) What’s the one with the giant grasshoppers? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-that-old-movie-with-giant-ants/335832.md?page=2)