In 2013, Jim Knipfel of Den of Geek awarded the film four-and-a-half out of five stars, calling it "intelligent and stylish". Film historian Leonard Maltin gave the film a score of three out of four stars, and wrote: "If you've got to make a film about a giant alligator that's terrorizing Chicago, this is the way to do it—with a sense of fun to balance the expected violence and genuine scares."
In 2013, Jim Knipfel of Den of Geek bestowed four-and-a-half stars out of five to the film, describing it as "intelligent and stylish". Film historian Leonard Maltin gave the film a score of three out of four stars, and wrote: "If you have to make a movie about a giant alligator terrorizing Chicago, this is how to do it—full of fun to counteract the expected violence and genuine scares."