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Croczilla

Croczilla

201290 minPG-13Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
Director
Lisheng Lin
Starring
Barbie Hsu, Tao Guo, Suet Lam, Zhaoqi Shi

Xiao befriends Amao, a 36 foot crocodile, who lives on his fathers croc sanctuary. Soon his father is forced to sell the crocodiles to a gangster who plans to use them for high priced meals.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Croczilla?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Croczilla to rent or buy on Apple TV, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Croczilla?

Croczilla earns 2 badges, led by Award Winner and Fun.

  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Croczilla worth watching?

Croczilla's Midcredits score is the 8th percentile of all films, from 1.7K ratings across 4 sources. 18% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

8th percentile

Better received than 8% of films

15th percentile among Action9th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)13th
Approval (how many liked it)6th

48 /100

13th percentile of all films

22nd percentile among Action15th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

The crowd leans negative, with most ratings sitting in the bottom half of the scale.

18% liked it

6th percentile of all films

12th percentile among Action6th percentile among 2010s
18% rated it 7–1082% rated it 1–6

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 1 noms overall

63rd percentile

1.7K ratings across platforms

48th percentile among Action66th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 38% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree it's a campy, low-budget creature feature with silly humor and a mixed-quality CGI crocodile.

Fans praised

  • brisk pace and tongue-in-cheek tone
  • fun action scenes with practical croc effects
  • CGI croc looks convincing and cool

Detractors panned

  • weak, cheesy story more family comedy than thriller
  • racial stereotyping and offensive characterizations
  • aggravating subplot about lost money and unnecessary elements

What stands out

Effects and spectacleDivisive60

CGI decent to good, practical croc effects enjoyable

HumorDivisive60

goofy humor lands for fans, falls flat for some detractors

PacingDivisive60

brisk for fans but feels long and draggy to detractors

Characters50

wacky eccentric characters but little development

ActingDivisive40

kookie and cheesy acting, muddled by dubbing

Plot and storyDivisive40

enjoyably inane but weak and unfocused

Originality30

derivative of Godzilla and other creature features

DialogueDivisive30

worse dubbing and silly lines

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is Croczilla like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something that leaves you smiling.

It is funny 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

Very little.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
TenseAbsurdThrilling
Heaviest: middle
Absurdist humor: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
Register
Campy · 4% of filmsAbsurdist · 7% of films: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its monster-movie premise with knowing camp, inviting laughter rather than tension.
The rideThe film balances chase/attack scenes with campy comedy, with the central action and the hunt likely peaking in the middle act.
StructureConventional linear narrative following the crocodile's escape and the ensuing hunt.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

The answer rests on this: FunBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves a sense of amusement from its campy monster antics, but also a surprise emotional hit at the end.
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 archetypeA giant crocodile escapes and becomes a target for both the fearful and the greedy, driving the community's hunt.

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 filmsSelfSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · 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% (this title) · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15% (this title): 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%

Survival

SurvivalGreed · 3% of filmsFamily bonds
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe crocodile fights for its life against capture and slaughter, while humans either fear for their safety or are driven by avarice for the swallowed money; a boy's connection to the crocodile also touches on family and protectiveness.
StanceThe film presents both human greed and the crocodile's survival instinct without strong moral judgment, leaning toward a neutral, almost documentary-like observation of chaotic events.

The world

ContemporaryRuralInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Dong Dongdong
Settinga crocodile sanctuary and surrounding farmland in rural China
MusicOne review mentions an orchestral music score attributed to Chinese composer Dong Dongdong that supports the film's tone.

Content guide

Is Croczilla okay for kids?

PG-13

Croczilla is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some creature violence and mild sensuality” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (58/100), sexual content at moderate (58/100), language at intense (67/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 2 other countries
  • Germany16
  • South Korea15
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Profanity
Intense
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (11 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 Croczilla have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Croczilla?

Cast

Barbie Hsu
as Wen Yan
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Tao Guo
as Wang Beiji
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Suet Lam
as Zhao Dazui
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Zhaoqi Shi
as Guangtou Liu (Bald Liu)
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Xiong Xinxin
as Chaozhou Guy
Jiali Ding
as Wang Xiaoxing
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Qingzhuo Fang
as Auntie Seven
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Purba Rgyal
as Zhou Xiaoou
Jinsong Wang
as Insurance Agent Wang
Qinqin Li
as Liu's Wife

Crew

Directed by

Lisheng Lin

Written by

Lisheng Lin

Cinematography

Li Xi

Edited by

Nan WeiXinxia Zhou

Produced by

Rui Li

More like this

What are movies like Croczilla?

Movies like Croczilla include Watchers (1988), Tentacles (1977) and Lake Placid (1999). Of the 12 closest matches, most are stories about a predator on the loose, and half are films about greed.

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

11 of these 12 share its story type: creature feature. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Croczilla?

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