The movie that terrified Steven Spielberg.

Steven Spielberg stands as a pillar in Hollywood’s elite filmmakers. He is among some of Hollywood’s most popular and influential filmmakers, with several major commercial and critical hits under his name. So when Matt Reeves learned that his 2008 movie Cloverfield gave a chilling experience to him, it was the ultimate compliment for the filmmaker.

During an interview discussing the film’s 15th anniversary, The Batman director recalled Speilberg’s views on the film, revealing that the movie truly frightened him.

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg

Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield Scared Steven Spielberg

Directed by Matt Reeves, the 2008 film Cloverfield follows a group of friends in New York City, documenting a monstrous creature’s rampage as they attempt to survive and unravel the mystery behind the destructive force. The film received positive reviews and was a hit, grossing over $171 million at the box office.

Cloverfield (2008)

During the 15th anniversary of the film, the director revealed that Cloverfield also scared the Jaws director, Steven Spielberg. During an interview with ComingSoon.net, he recalled meeting the Oscar-winning filmmaker, saying,

“So I went over there and I’m just sitting there and then he turned to me and after he’s talking, he was giving them a lot of input on the script and stuff and he was really lovely. Then he turned to me, he goes, ‘Wait, so you directed Cloverfield?’ And I said, ‘Yeah.’ He goes, ‘You scared the hell out of me.’”

Matt Reeves on the set of The Batman

Reeves shared that he was thrilled to learn that his film scared the legendary filmmaker and called it the highest compliment he could receive. “I scared Steven Spielberg. That was cool,” he said, expressing how significant the filmmaker’s compliment was, as it validated that the movie did create an impactful and frightening cinematic experience.

Filmmakers Are Planning a Direct Sequel to Cloverfield

Since its release in 2008, Cloverfield has developed into a franchise, followed by two films, 10 Cloverfield Lane and The Cloverfield Paradox. And the director of 10 Cloverfield Lane, Dan Trachtenberg, has shared that he and the actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead have discussed a fourth film in the franchise.

10 Cloverfield Lane

In an interview with Cinemablend, Trachtenberg shared, “We talked a little bit in like ‘what if’ scenarios.” Talking about the future of the franchise, he further shared, “The [upcoming] sequel is to the original Cloverfield,” and described it as “very cool.” Reports have also claimed that, unlike the first film, the sequel would not be shot in a found footage style.