Arachnophobia

Year: 1990

Runtime: 103 min

Language: English

Director: Frank Marshall

ThrillerFantasyHorrorComedy

A venomous spider, transported from Venezuela to California, unleashes a terrifying wave of deadly arachnid offspring upon a small town. As the community grapples with the escalating threat, Dr. Ross Jennings, who suffers from a paralyzing fear of spiders, must confront his phobia. He teams up with local exterminator Delbert McClintock to identify the source of the infestation and find a way to stop the spiders before they consume the town and everyone in it.

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Timeline & Setting – Arachnophobia (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Arachnophobia (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Location

Venezuelan tepui, Canaima, California, San Francisco

The Venezuelan tepui is a unique geological formation known for its steep cliffs and diverse ecosystem, serving as the backdrop for the film's initial discovery. Canaima, California, the small hometown where the story unfolds, is depicted as a quaint community that is upended by the spider threat. San Francisco, known for its vibrant culture and iconic landmarks, draws a connection to the Jennings family's origins.

🌄 Wilderness 🏡 Hometown 🌆 City

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:07

Main Characters – Arachnophobia (1990)

Meet the key characters of Arachnophobia (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:07

Major Themes – Arachnophobia (1990)

Explore the central themes of Arachnophobia (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:07

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Phobia-Creature Thrillers like Arachnophobia

Stories where a primal fear becomes a terrifying, tangible threat to survive.If the thought of facing your worst fear becoming real makes your skin crawl, you'll love these movies. This list features films similar to Arachnophobia, where characters must overcome a paralyzing phobia to survive a deadly, tangible threat, blending personal terror with high-stakes creature-feature action.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows an ordinary protagonist with a specific, often common, fear. A new and lethal threat emerges that directly exploits this phobia, escalating from an isolated incident to a widespread danger. The hero's journey is one of forced confrontation, where overcoming their internal terror is the key to defeating the external monster.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared premise of making a phobia real, creating a uniquely personal and visceral form of horror. They mix the thrill of a creature feature with the psychological tension of a character overcoming a profound weakness, resulting in a suspenseful and often triumphant experience.

Small-Town Invasion Movies like Arachnophobia

An isolated community bands together to face an inexplicable and deadly threat.Discover more movies like Arachnophobia where a peaceful small town becomes the epicenter of a deadly threat. These films feature ordinary people, from doctors to exterminators, forced to become heroes to save their community from a terrifying infestation or creature outbreak, creating a tense, localized disaster story.

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Narrative Summary

The story begins with the peaceful normalcy of a small, contained setting. An external threat is introduced, often accidentally, and begins to spread secretly. The narrative follows the escalating discovery of the threat, the failure of conventional authority to contain it, and the rise of unlikely experts within the community who must devise a clever, last-ditch plan to win.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share the compelling dynamic of a close-knit community under siege. The small-town setting amplifies the tension through isolation and familiar faces in danger. The collective struggle for survival, led by relatable protagonists, creates a cohesive and gripping narrative pattern.

Unlock the Full Story of Arachnophobia

Don't stop at just watching — explore Arachnophobia in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Arachnophobia is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Arachnophobia Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Arachnophobia, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Arachnophobia Timeline

Track the full timeline of Arachnophobia with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Arachnophobia Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Arachnophobia that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About Arachnophobia

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Arachnophobia: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to Arachnophobia

Discover movies like Arachnophobia that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.