What would pop culture be like today if it weren’t for monster movies? Truly, this badass, thrilling genre has been a force to be reckoned with in cinemas, smashing all-time box office records and being the dominant summer movie-going experience. There will always be an audience for these kinds of movies, as they entertain with giant spectacles and jaw-dropping effects.
Many incredible monster movieshave been released throughout the years, and some are even considered the greatest ever made. They are wildly entertaining, visually stunning, near-flawless films that continue to thrill and have devoted fans who love coming back to experience the magic they created.These monster films immediately draw viewers in with their charms and don’t let go until the credits are up.From collosal dinosaurs to terrors from beyond the stars, here are ten monster movies that are perfect from beginning to end.
10’Godzilla' (1954)
Directed by Ishirô Honda
The original black-and-whiteGodzillaclassic from 1954 is widely regarded as one of themost essential giant monster movies of all time. It introduced the world to the one and only king of the monsters, Godzilla, the indestructible force of nature who has stomped and smashed his way to becoming monster movie royalty. This story follows a small group of scientists as they figure out how to stop a mighty pre-historic dinosaur from rampaging through Japan after atomic testing awakens it from its aquatic slumber.
The iconic sequence as Godzilla rampages through Tokyo is a moment that’s become edged in the annals of cinema history. The ‘54Godzillais a benchmark in the genre, one of its most influential and highly entertaining entries.It’s a gripping tale with an iconic villain, fantastic characters, and a powerful message that warns viewers of the dangers of nuclear devastation.It was a monster hit when it first came out, and today, it thrives as a timeless classic.
Godzilla (1954)
American nuclear weapons testing results in the creation of a seemingly unstoppable dinosaur-like beast.
9’Predator’ (1987)
Directed by John McTiernan
Fromiconic action filmmakerJohn McTiernan,Predatoris his 1987 explosive sci-fi horror masterpiece, which defined the decade’s action genre. Starring a beloved ensemble of ’80s action hero archetypes, led byArnold Schwarzeneggerat the height of his powers, it follows an elite special forces rescue team as they’re stalked by an invisible alien warrior on safari in the jungles of Central America.
Thrilling from beginning to end, this remarkable blend of action, horror, and adventure is one of the most kickass, exciting standouts of the creature feature genre.It’s full of crowd-pleasing moments, led by a talented cast who dominate the screen and deliver some of the cherished, most quotable one-liners in movie history.Predatoris a monster film purely made to make the audience cheer.It is undoubtedly the watchable action movie of the 1980s, one that’s often the first to come to mind when thinking about this iconic era of cinema.
8’The Fly' (1986)
Directed by David Cronenberg
Much of the body horror subgenre today owes great gratitude to the works of acclaimed filmmaker David Cronenberg. Known forhis riveting tales featuring violent bodily harmand grotesque monstrosities, his films have rightfully been played on a pedestal and recognized as being essential to horror. His most outstanding achievement was the 1986 remake ofThe Fly, a heartbreaking monster tale of an ambitious scientist (Jeff Goldblum) who slowly transforms into a human/fly hybrid after a teleportation experiment goes terribly wrong.
Praised now as one of themost phenomenal horror remakesever made,Cronenberg’sThe Flyimproves its 1958 source material and elevates the monster genre with some of the most spectacular award-winning effects it’s ever seen.The main character’s slow, agonizing transformation into a fly is a benchmark in state-of-the-art makeup and prosthetics. They still look flawless and stunning today, a testament to this visual marvel that continues to be an essential monster movie.It’s shocking throughout and leaves viewers feeling uncomfortable well after the finale.
In a daring exploration of science’s potential to alter human life, a brilliant but eccentric scientist develops a technology for teleportation. When he decides to test the device on himself, a tragic error involving a common housefly leads to horrifying consequences. The film chillingly portrays his transformation and the impact it has on his relationship and psyche.
7’The Bride of Frankenstein' (1935)
Directed by James Whale
Monster movie history was made in the 1930s with the release of Universal’s Classic Monster Era. This age saw many iconic creatures, likeDracula,Frankenstein, andThe Invisible Man, shine on the silver screen. In 1935, arguably, the most remarkable of these films was released:The Bride of Frankenstein, an incredible sequel to its 1931 original, directed byJames Whales. As a direct continuation, it follows the lonely monster (Boris Karloff) as he teams up with a sinister scientist to force his creator, Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive), to create him a mate.
Thoughnot well known for being particularly frightening,The Bride of Frankensteinis a significant addition to the monster genre, one of the most complex and compelling horror films in history.It’s thought-provoking and dramatic, featuring moments that have become staples of pop culture. As any great sequel must do, it builds on the original story and ideas, offering a deeper look into the monster and his heartbreaking struggles while trying to find his place in the world that doesn’t understand him. It’s one of the most essential monster movies to watch, and its importance to cinema hasn’t dwindled over the years. It’s a timeless black-and-white classic that needs to be seen.
The Bride of Frankenstein
6’King Kong' (1933)
Directed by Merian C. Cooper
Of course, there’s no talking about the most perfect monster movies without mentioning the eighth wonder of the world,King Kong.One of the most thrilling classics in history, this game-changing monster movie was one of the first that changed how audiences look at movies. It’s the now iconic tale of an ambitious film crew as they arrive at an uncharted island to shoot their picture. Only there, they encounter the island’s massive apex predator, The Mighty Kong, who quickly becomes smitten by the crew’s leading lady, Ann Darrow (Fay Wray).
Regularly regarded as a landmark in cinema,King Kongis a highly influential masterpiece that proved that films had the potential to go bigger and bolder with their spectacles.Though its stop-motion and projection effects have shown their age in modern times, it’s still awe-inspiring how they were achieved during their time and continues to inspire other effects. Its plot takes viewers on an incredible adventure full of excitement and action. It later hada worthy remake by the legendaryPeter Jackson, which was equally thrilling, but ut the original remains a definitive monster classic.
King Kong (1933) is a classic adventure film following filmmaker Carl Denham, who travels to Skull Island to capture footage of a legendary giant ape named Kong. Fay Wray stars as Ann Darrow, the woman Kong becomes infatuated with, while Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot also play pivotal roles. The movie is renowned for its groundbreaking special effects and compelling narrative.
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Directed by George A. Romero
Few movie monsters are beloved and recognizable as zombies.Indeed, these often slow-moving, flesh-eating undead creatures have become a staple of horror and our pop culture as they frequently appear throughout cinema. While they’ve been popular for decades, it’s wildly all thanks to the legendary late filmmakerGeorge A. Romeroandhis influential “Dead films,“the best being his 1978 masterpieceDawn of the Dead. Set during the chaos of a mysterious zombie epidemic, it follows two SWAT officers, a helicopter pilot, and a news station attendant as they work together to make an isolated shopping mall their sanctuary.
While Romero’sNight of the Living Deadset the stage for the zombie subgenre, Dawn of the Dead elevated it to new heights and is today recognized asthe most perfect and influential zombie movie of all time.It fires on all cylinders, featuring a talented cast, flawless performances, lavish sets, impressive gore, and a mature story that offers brilliant social commentary. It never lets go of the viewers' attention and reigns supreme as a stunning horror masterpiece that continues to be watched and studied.
Dawn of the Dead
A nurse, a policeman, a young married couple, a salesman and other survivors of a worldwide plague that is producing aggressive, flesh-eating zombies, take refuge in a mega Midwestern shopping mall.
4’Alien' (1979)
Directed by Ridley Scott
Audiences in 1979 weren’t prepared for the absolute terror that was to be experienced inRidley Scott’sAlien, a sci-fi horror monster classic filled with so many unimaginable scares. It stars the legendarySigourney Weaveras Lt. Ellen Ripley, a commercial space towing crew member who and her fellow astronauts encounter a frightening extraterrestrial killer after it sneaks aboard their ship after a distress mission. As the crew is picked off one by one, the survivors realize they’re facing a formidable beast that is nearly impossible to destroy.
Scott’s masterpiece is pure nightmare fuel, a perfect chiller that scares its audiences uniquely.It’s claustrophobic and dark, utilizing audiences' fear of the unknown to make them feel uneasy, and gaze with anticipation, and wonder where the alien will strike next. It introduced cinema to the Xenomorph, a fantastic horror antagonist that looks, acts, and sounds utterly terrifying. Swiss artistH.R. Giger’s Academy Award-winning design for the creature remains timeless and original, and today, it is still themost frightening cinematic monster ever.
In deep space, the crew of the commercial starship Nostromo is awakened from their cryo-sleep capsules halfway through their journey home to investigate a distress call from an alien vessel. The terror begins when the crew encounters a nest of eggs inside the alien ship. An organism from inside an egg leaps out and attaches itself to one of the crew, causing him to fall into a coma.
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3’Jaws' (1975)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
The summer box office season changed forever thanks to directorSteven Spielbergand his monster classicJaws. Indeed,the first film to kick off the summer blockbuster,Jaws, was a critical and commercial smash hit that amazed an entire generation with its exciting thrills, shocking suspense, and plentiful scares. It’s about a massive great white shark as it terrorizes a thriving beach town. To stop the bloodshed, the town’s new sheriff, a marine biologist, and a local shark hunter head out onto the open ocean to end its reign of terror.
This story is jam-packed with thrilling and jaw-dropping moments that keep the entertainment going. The directing is perfect, the cast does phenomenal work, and the shark featured in the film, referred to as Bruce by the developers, isone of cinema’s all-time greatest villains.With nonstop excitement and never a dull moment,Jawsremains one of the finest monster movies ever made.
2’The Thing' (1982)
Directed by John Carpenter
In the history of horror, one monster movie has stood out as an incredible landmark and is praised asone of the scariest of all time. That isJohn Carpenter’s 1982 masterpieceThe Thing, starringKurt Russell. With limitless terror and jaw-dropping thrills, this frightening creature feature follows a group of US scientists at an isolated Antarctic outpost as they descend into chaos and paranoia after an extraterrestrial parasite infiltrates their group and starts assimilating them one by one.
It’s a monster movie that terrifies its audiencewithout much need to show the actual monster.Carpenter, a genius of horror filmmaking, knew the terror came from what viewers didn’t see and crafted a story that is monumentally creepy and dreadful. The scares and effects still hold up nicely today, and its shocking ending is enough to make viewers lose sleep. As the years go on, this monster masterpiece will continue to be an ever-present figure in the minds of movie buffs.
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
1’Jurassic Park' (1993)
Spielberg’s not done yet, as he returns, this time withhis most profitable movie ever,Jurassic Park. StarringSam Neill, it sees him as a revered paleontologist who must lead a small group to escape an island full of hungry dinosaurs after the extinct animals are brought back to life through cloning technology to become theme-park attractions.
Here is one of the most recognizable and beloved monsters of all time, a box office juggernaut that defined the summer blockbuster season of the 1990s.Jurassic Parkis purely entertaining from its thrilling opening credits to its exuberant finale.It goes without saying thatthe state-of-the-art CGI and practical effectsused to bring the dinosaurs to life still look flawless and mind-blowing today. It defines everything fun and exciting about the monster subgenre and continues to be a crowd-pleasing film.It’s the perfect monster movie to watch from beginning to end.
Jurassic Park
In Steven Spielberg’s massive blockbuster, paleontologists Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park’s mastermind, billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when various ferocious predators break free and go on the hunt.
