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The Hatching

The Hatching

Does for the moors what 'Jaws' did for beaches.

201490 minRMidcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
Director
Michael Anderson
Starring
Andrew Lee Potts, Thomas Turgoose, Laura Aikman, Georgia Henshaw

On the death of his father, Tim Webber returns to his childhood village in Somerset to find something sinister is disturbing the idyllic peace of the villagers.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Hatching?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Hatching streaming on STARZ and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Hatching?

The Hatching earns 1 badge: Big Budget.

Reception

Is The Hatching worth watching?

The Hatching's Midcredits score is the 6th percentile of all films, from 1.5K ratings across 4 sources. 16% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

6th percentile

Better received than 6% of films

5th percentile among Comedy7th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)12th
Approval (how many liked it)4th

47 /100

12th percentile of all films

11th percentile among Comedy14th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Ratings scatter across the whole scale — one of the most divisive reactions in the catalog.

Approval

How many liked it

16% liked it

4th percentile of all films

3rd percentile among Comedy4th percentile among 2010s
16% rated it 7–1084% rated it 1–6

61st percentile

1.5K ratings across platforms

55th percentile among Comedy64th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 19% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$13M

What reviewers say

Common ground

A low-budget British horror-comedy with a rubber crocodile, a meandering plot, and an odd mix of monster movie and serial-killer subplot.

Fans praised

  • genre-bending monster-serial-killer hybrid
  • sumptuous cinematography and moody location photography
  • playful dry wit and British deadpan humor

Detractors panned

  • rubber crocodile prop with visible seams
  • tedious pacing with barely any creature screen time
  • unfunny comedy that falls flat

What stands out

ActingDivisive55

capable cast let down by spotty direction; accent work praised

OriginalityDivisive55

unusual hybrid formula seen as fresh by some, derivative by others

DialogueDivisive50

occasional witty lines but clichéd overall

CharactersDivisive40

underwritten, forgettable, with a few quirky exceptions

HumorDivisive40

dry Brit wit lands for some, misses for most

Plot and storyDivisive35

unbalanced monster-meets-serial-killer mashup

PacingDivisive25

sluggish first hour, protracted ending

Effects and spectacleDivisive15

laughably fake rubber crocodile

Watch experience

What is The Hatching like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Scary: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want to be scared.

It has a few laughs and leaves you entertained. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Scary.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseAbsurd
Heaviest: middle
Register
Wry · 7% of films: Amused and slightly dry about it.Absurdist · 7% of films: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its horror premise with a tongue-in-cheek, self-aware humour that undercuts any genuine scares.
The rideThe film builds tension as the croc hunts, but the lightness and absurdity keep the intensity moderate and not overwhelming.
StructureThe story unfolds in a conventional beginning-middle-end order, following Tim's return and the escalating crocodile attacks.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

FunUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe cheap effects and goofy tone undercut scares, leaving a sense of fun for those who enjoy low-budget creature features, but the body parts and unresolved plot may leave a mildly unsettling impression.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% (this title) · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

21% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeTim returns to find his childhood village terrorized by crocodiles he inadvertently unleashed, forcing him to confront the past and stop the creatures.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfGuiltMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% (this title) · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Guilt · 3% of filmsSurvival
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film examines the lingering guilt of a childhood mistake and the desperate struggle to survive the consequences.
StanceThe film presents the threat and Tim's quest for atonement without a strong thematic judgement, observing the events.

The world

ContemporaryRuralWildernessRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · John Cameron
SettingA rural Somerset village with surrounding moors and canals.
MusicA traditional orchestral score typical of creature features.

Content guide

Is The Hatching okay for kids?

R

The Hatching is rated R: “Rated R for horror violence, gore, language, drug use and brief sexuality” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at mild (22/100), language at moderate (44/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (50/100) and frightening material at moderate (50/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • UK18
  • Germany18
  • Japan18
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (12 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Hatching have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Hatching?

Cast

At least 2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Andrew Lee Potts
as Tim
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Thomas Turgoose
as Caesar
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Laura Aikman
as Lucy
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Georgia Henshaw
as Britney
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Danny Kirrane
as Lardy
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jack McMullen
as Russell
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Muzz Khan
as Baghi
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Deborah Rosan
as Cheryl Coal
Justin Lee Collins
as Uncle Stan
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Abigail Hamilton
as Miss Dunston
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Hatching?

Movies like The Hatching include Arachnophobia (1990), Slaughterhouse Rulez (2018) and 2-Headed Shark Attack (2012). Of the 6 closest matches, all are creature features, and two are films set in a small town.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 6 share its story type: horror comedy. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Hatching?

578 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: animal. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.