Arachnophobia (1990)

A much better spider movie than Eight Legged Freaks. This time the creepy crawlies are small — well, relatively speaking, anyway — which I I find much creepier. Don't make popcorn.

Lake Placid (1999)

Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water, big, cow-eating crocodiles come along to terrorize a lake, and Bridget Fonda, in this movie that's better than you probably expect. Also stars Bill Pullman and Oliver Platt. And Betty White as a foul-mouthed granny.

Tremors (1990)

Kevin Bacon is only one-degree removed from being lunch for a giant worm. Nail-bitingly tense, and irresistably funny. Best Reba McEntire movie ever!

Evolution (2001)

Not what you'd call a great movie, but fun in its way. Single-celled organisms from space become multi-celled organisms from space much too quickly. And it has David Duchovny, smiling more than he was allowed to do in nine seasons of The X-Files.

Jurassic Park (1993)

They just had no idea what they were doing bringing those dinosaurs back. This one is a great adventure, and besides, how often do you get to see Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum playing action heroes?