Cloverfield

Cloverfield (2008)

Cloverfield was a 'stealth' motion picture created by J.J. Abrams (Alias), that relied more on the mystery of the project and hype to create buzz and interest. It mounted one of the most successful 'mystery' campaigns for a motion picture in recent history, save for the Blair Witch Phenomenon in 1999. So intent was the filmmakers on maintaining the 'secret' of the movie, that its working title changed many times, sometimes to 'wacky and unlikely' titles.

Per the "Making of Cloverfield" documentary enclosed on the DVD, only a few of the filming days were done in New York city. The vast majority of the film was done in Southern California. Many Los Angeles streets, abandoned factories and studio backlots were enlisted to impersonate New York City. Most notably, any scenes with armored vehicles and live firing guns were filmed in California and NOT New York. If California's gun laws are bad, NYC's are insane. The Big Apple's gun restrictions pretty much guarantees that any film based in New York will actually film on location there as little as possible, when weapons are important to the story.

The following weapons were used in the movie Cloverfield:

(NOTE: Because of this movie's first-person POV filming technique, most of the weapons appearing in the film are not seen clearly or in detail, as in other motion pictures. Behind-the-scenes footage from the DVD is used for some of the guns.)

M16A2 Rifle

M16A2 assault rifles are used by the U.S. Army in the first engagement with "Clover" that is taped by Hud, and throughout the film. These rifles could be M16A2 uppers on A1 lowers. However many seem to be firing 3 round bursts in rapid succession, so they could be M16A2s. Some of the M16A2s in this movie are ISS's flashbulb "non guns", and can be discerned by their oversized flash hiders in the first battle.

M16A2 - 5.56x45mm.

US Army charges the Cloverfield Monster with M16A2 rifles.

In the military medical station (in the department store) a clearer shot of the M16A2 rifles can be seen.

US Army guards walk with M16A2 rifles.

M4A1 Carbine

M4A1 carbine assault rifles are also used by the U.S. Army in the first engagement with the monster that is taped by Hud. Some are seen with iron sights. Also used by US. Army members in the news segment that is being aired in the electronics store, the M4A1 being used by some of the personnel have the detachable carry handle mounted on the top of the receiver with Aimpoint sights and ANPEQ-2 IR designators.

Colt M4A1 Carbine - 5.56mm

When first encountering the giant 'ticks' that fall off the monster, soldiers (in this television news segment) fight them off with M4 carbines with carry handles attached.

U.S. troops charge "Clover".

As can be seen above, many of the M4s seen in the film have the carry handles attached to the flat top receivers and scopes mounted on the top.

Special

A behind-the-scenes image of the film's Military Advisor, Tom Minder, posing with two actors playing U.S. Army GIs. The one on the left has an M249 SAW, while the other has an M4A1 Carbine. The "blue-ish" cast on the actor's left side is cast off from a giant "blue screen" put underneath an overpass, to facilitate the digital "insertion" of New York City and other destruction

M249 SAW

Apparently, some of the soldiers in the film use the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). I did not see these guns, but behind-the-scenes footage from the DVD special features confirms the apparent use of this weapon by the actors playing the troops. I will look closely at the film again to see if this weapon is visible.

M249-E2 SAW - upgraded M249 with heat shield and full synthetic Stock - 5.56mm with 200 round ammo drum.

A behind-the-scenes image of the film's Military Advisor, Tom Minder, posing with two actors playing American soldiers. The one on the left has an M249 SAW, while the other has an M4A1 Carbine.

FGM-148 Javelin

FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile launchers are used by the U.S. Army in the first engagement with the monster that is taped by Hud.

FGM-148 Javelin

U.S. soldiers firing upon "Clover"; the one on the left clearly has an FGM-148 Javelin, which he has just fired.

Special

Behind-the-scenes footage of the soldier firing the Javelin at "Clover". This was done on the New York City set on the Warner Brothers Backlot, a street scene that has been seen in many motion pictures.

Browning M2 machine gun

.50-caliber Browning M2 heavy machine guns are seen mounted on the U.S. Army Humvees. They are also seen mounted on the "M109" self-propelled guns and "M1 Abrams" tanks in the movie (the former being British FV433 "Abbots" standing in for the M109, and the latter being visually modified British Centurion tanks - both rented from Army Trucks, Inc.)

Browning M2 .50 BMG

Most of the shots of the Humvees with M2s are blurry, due to the fact that they are always rushing by the camera.

A gunner tries to flee his "M109" before it is destroyed by the monster's foot. The M2 is clearly visible on the turret.

Special

A behind-the-scenes image of an actor playing a U.S. Army machine gunner in a Humvee, sitting behind the M2..

M136 AT4

M136 AT4 84mm rockets are used by the U.S. Army in the first engagement with the monster that is taped by Hud.

M136 AT4 Anti-Tank rocket launcher 84mm fitted with a night-vision scope.

A GI fires an AT4 at the monster.

Unidentified Auto Cannon

Mounted on top of an "M109" during the first major assault; these fire multiple bursts of large caliber ammo at "Clover". They could be modified 50 cal guns or mockups of the Bushmaster 25mm Auto cannon. Noting their placement on the M109s, they 'should' be 50 cals. Later on in the film, we do see M109s with recognizable .50 cal guns mounted on the turret.

I am not sure about this. But the fact that one of the M109s (which, as I have pointed out, are actually FV433s) has an M2 would suggest that it's just one of those. -MT2008

An FV433 with an unknown auto cannon fires.