Big Ass Spider! – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Big Ass Spider!

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2013

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Low-budget creature feature where an exterminator fights a giant alien spider—critics dug the camp, audiences shrugged.

78%

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Big Ass Spider!

movie

PG-13, 2013

38%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Low-budget creature feature where an exterminator fights a giant alien spider—critics dug the camp, audiences shrugged.

78%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a movie literally called 'Big Ass Spider!' and it delivers exactly that: a giant spider, some screaming, and B-movie charm. Critics appreciated it as self-aware schlock, but audiences were less impressed, and the ratings tell the story—it's a 5.3 on IMDb and a 2.6 on Letterboxd.

For the right teen who's into campy creature features and bad-on-purpose movies, this could be a fun Saturday night watch. But for most families? It's too scary for younger kids, too cheesy for serious monster-movie fans, and too forgettable to recommend over better options.

The critic-audience split is telling: film nerds enjoyed the genre exercise, but regular viewers just wanted a better movie. It's free on a dozen platforms, so if your 13+ kid is curious, the barrier to entry is low. Just know you're signing up for schlock, not Spielberg.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media says 13+, which feels right—younger kids would find the giant spider genuinely scary, and the eating-people premise is a no-go for elementary schoolers. Teens who enjoy campy horror-comedy might get some laughs, but most will find it forgettable.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Self-aware B-movie that plays creature-feature tropes for laughs with buddy-comedy dynamics. Has some genuine camaraderie between the exterminator and security guard, but the tone is campy schlock rather than emotionally healthy storytelling. Violence is cartoonish rather than mean-spirited, but it's still a movie about a giant spider eating people.

Imaginative

Giant alien spider premise is a well-worn B-movie trope executed with limited budget and creativity. The 'clever exterminator saves LA' angle adds modest charm, but there's nothing particularly original or thought-provoking here. It's derivative creature-feature fare that knows what it is but doesn't transcend the genre.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 13+, and that tracks. While the violence is campy and the gore is B-movie level (not realistic), there's still a giant spider eating people, military shooting, city destruction, and likely some crude humor. The tone is comedic schlock, but younger kids would find it genuinely scary or disturbing. No indication of sexual content or severe language, but the premise itself is inherently unsafe for younger viewers.

Enriching

This is popcorn B-movie entertainment with no pretense of deeper meaning. No meaningful life lessons, character growth, or skill-building. The 'exterminator saves the day' angle could spark mild interest in problem-solving, but really this is just campy monster-movie fun. Critics liked it more than audiences (78% vs 46% RT), suggesting it works as a genre exercise but doesn't resonate emotionally. Limited entertainment value for most viewers.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Self-aware B-movie that embraces its schlocky premise with humor rather than pretending to be serious
Buddy-comedy dynamic between the exterminator and security guard adds some charm to the monster mayhem
Critics appreciated it as a fun genre exercise (78% RT), so if your teen is into campy creature features, this delivers exactly what it promises
Available on tons of free streaming platforms, so low commitment if you want to check it out

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What to Watch For

Giant spider eating people—played for laughs but still potentially scary or gross for younger/sensitive kids
The 32-point critic-audience gap (78% vs 46%) tells you this is niche appeal, not crowd-pleasing entertainment
Mediocre ratings across the board (5.3 IMDb, 2.6 Letterboxd) suggest limited rewatchability
Dated low-budget effects from 2013 may feel especially cheesy now

Conversation Starters

"What would you actually do if you saw a giant spider in real life? Run? Call someone? Grab bug spray?"
"Why do you think critics liked this way more than regular audiences? What makes a 'good bad movie'?"
"If you had to fight a giant version of any bug, which one would be the scariest and why?"

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