Cloverfield is a 2008 American found footage monster horror film directed by Matt Reeves, produced by J. J. Abrams and Bryan Burk, and written by Drew Goddard. It is the first film in the Cloverfield franchise. Before settling on an official title, the film was marketed as 01-18-08. The film, which is presented as found footage shot with a home camcorder, follows six young New York City residents fleeing from a gigantic monster-alien life form and various other smaller creatures that attack the city while they are having a farewell party. The film was well received by critics and it earned $170.8 million at the box office against a $25 million budget.
While a proper sequel to the film hasn't materialized yet despite years of rumors and considerations, the movie did serve as the first in a series of movies set in a common universe, so far consisting of 2016's 10 Cloverfield Lane, as well as the upcoming 2017 film God Particle.