The 21 Best Monster Movies of All Time – Best Monster Movies Ever – Men’s Health

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While horror comes in many different forms, one subgenre has always had a spot in the canon: monster movies. Who doesnt love seeing the inventive ways that filmmakers bring terrifying creatures to life on the big screen? Theres a primal fear that comes from seeing something not quite real on the screen, whether its terrorizing a films characters or working alongside them. After all, our imaginations run wild every day, and seeing the results of a filmmakers daydreaming is as thrilling as any supernatural horror movie can be.

Of course, monster movies arent necessarily horror in nature. Some of the genres best efforts are more thrillers or adventure rides, choosing to forego the fear for an adrenaline rush thats hard to beat. Why do we love monsters so much? Well, because they are just outside of the realm of possibility, showing us theres another world out there if only we look hard enough. Plus, its just fun to see a giant creature wreak havoc on poor, unsuspecting humans.

Monsters also allow filmmakers to explore complex metaphors; after all, the horrors of the world are very real but not always photogenic. So its helpful then to think of a creature that represents imperialism, or war, or sexually-transmitted diseases and let them relay your message for you to an audience who wants to be thrilled. You might just sneak in a message alongside all the shock and awe and gore.

So, if you want to scope out some monsters that do evil or fight for good, theres almost always a film tailored to your needs. The movies on our list should be a good starting point for those who want to see the impossible come to life.

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Godzilla (1954)

When you think of monster movies, you have to think of Godzilla. The legendary kaiju is the ultimate monster, and his first appearance is still the best of them all. Sure, the special effects dont compare to more recent entries, but the thrill of seeing Godzilla for the first time is unbeaten here. Despite the monsters origin as an allegory about the dangers of nuclear armament, you can skip the heady nature of its themes and enjoy a giant sea monster just wrecking Tokyo. It doesnt get better than that in the genre.

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The Fly (1986)

Though monsters are usually an external threat, David Cronenbergs The Fly brings the body horror internally, as the film sees Jeff Goldblums brilliant scientist Seth Brundle fuse himself accidentally with a housefly. What follows is a psychological and physical trip, as Brundle slowly starts to mutate into a human-fly hybrid. It would be comical if Cronenberg and Goldblum didnt combine to make it terrifying. By the films climax, you will be both grossed out and wildly intrigued to see what happens next to the scientist who just went too far.

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King Kong (1933)

If Godzilla is the top monster in canon, then King Kong is 1A. Hailing from Skull Island, the giant gorilla-like beast is both shockingly quick in his violence and tender in his love for Fay Wrays Ann Darrow. The films finale is one of the most famous scenes in Hollywood history, but its the time on Skull Island that solidifies this 1933 version as the definitive version of Kong. Plus, there are T-Rexes and other primordial monsters strewn about, if a giant ape doesnt fulfill your monster needs.

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The Descent (2005)

Humans are the real monsters is a trope that has been used by horror movies for decades, but The Descent scorches a new trail in that oft-used cliche thanks to its clever usage of horrible protagonists and humanoid creatures. The less said the better about this one, though it thrives because its claustrophobia comes from both the cave of its setting and the interpersonal relationships that rapidly disintegrate as the crawlers come out to play. Not for the queasy, but definitely for those who love monsters, both scary and real.

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The Evil Dead (1981)

As maybe the hardest-to-watch movie on this list, The Evil Dead gets special mention for making the monster movie utterly demonic. It may be low budget in production value and presentation, but the story of five college students who succumb to demonic possession is a thrill to watch, provided you can stand almost nauseating levels of gore. Bruce Campbells Ash Williams is one of horrors most iconic characters, and the origin of his saga is the best of the bunch, giving a violent edge to a genre that often relies on suspense more than visceral thrills.

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It Follows (2014)

Sex is terrifying. So says It Follows, a horror movie focused on a monster that hunts down everyone who has sex with someone previously infected with the entity. A clear and unsubtle metaphor for sexually transmitted diseases, sure, but It Follows succeeds by amping up the atmospheric thrills and creeping dread of death. The movie succeeds for its premise, but its elevated by a perfectly terrified Maika Monroe in the lead role as Jay, an unfortunate victim-to-be of the monsters unexplained wrath.

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Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Joss Whedons send-up of horror movie tropes is, at its heart, a monster horror-comedy. Following a group of teens who are subjected to horrors beyond human comprehension, controlled by mysterious (and hilarious) office workers played by Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford, Cabin in the Woods turns expectations on its end all the way until its unforgettable climax.

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Attack The Block (2011)

Though aliens are technically monsters, the subgenre of alien horror movies deserves its own post (and weve got you covered there!). However, Attack the Block plays less like the Alien of yore by centering the horror on earth, and also by making it very funny. John Boyega is clearly the star, and if this wasnt the role that elevated him to stardom, it was definitely the one that showed he had it in him. Alien invasions have never been this much fun.

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The Thing (1982)

Who do you trust when you cant trust anyone? Thats the guiding question in John Carpenters The Thing, which features a group of researchers in Antarctica stumbling across a mimicking alien parasite that can turn even a best friend into a horrific enemy. The Thing gets points both for being unnerving and for its monster design; the titular parasite can look like anyone, and oftentimes, it is not clear to either the characters or the audience who is friend and who is foe. Its disgusting in its elevated gore, but that same gore serves a purpose: filling the audience with the same dread as those fighting to not get assimilated.

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The Babadook (2014)

Whats a parents worst fear? Not being able to protect their child is certainly up on the list, and The Babadook preys on that fear in a two-character play of psychological horror. The titular character might have become an unlikely LGBTQ+ icon in the years since its release, but in the movie itself, the horror of a monster that haunts Amelia (played wonderfully and terrifyingly by Essie Davis) and her son Samuel is as scary as advertised. This isnt a visual spectacle of a monster movie, with most of it taking place in the shadows, but it wont disappoint those looking for frights of an elemental nature.

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Jaws (1975)

I mean, its Jaws. One of the most famous monster movies of all time, this thriller is all about the terrifying great white shark that torments Amity Island, a made-up place off of the New England coast. The thrill here comes from the moments leading up to Jaws appearances, and that iconic theme song (you know the one), but the design of the animatronic shark is a wonder to behold for the time period. Steven Spielberg didnt miss with this one, and its rightfully one of the most famous monster movies of all time.

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Jurassic Park (1993)

What starts an idyllic trip into the land of dinosaurs quickly turns into a blood-spattered ride through the horrors of cloning and the dangers of bringing back what should remain dead. Jurassic Park spawned a franchise, theme park rides, and countless memes, but the film itself is all adventure and suspense, giving a trio of experts a formidable foe in a T-Rex out for meat, as well as the scariest raptors ever put on film. The T-Rex is of course the star here, but the human counterparts, especially Jeff Goldblums Dr. Ian Malcolm, do just enough to make the audience care about them beyond being the big dinos next meal.

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Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

While monster movies tend to lean towards horror in genre, Pans Labyrinth can better be described as a fantasy fable. The monsters are mythical in nature, with Doug Jones taking the role of a faun that aids the young Ofelia in her tasks to...well, better to not spoil it. However, at its heart, Pans Labyrinth turns the concept of a monster on its head, and Guillermo Del Toros dream-like direction raises the atmosphere to sublime levels.

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Frankenstein (1931)

If youve ever had someone tell you that its not Frankenstein, but Frankensteins monster, then this is the movie for you. The 1931 adaptation of Frankenstein is primitive by todays standards, but iconic nonetheless. The titular scientist gets a bit of a God Complex and creates a monster in his own image, and then all hell breaks loose. With the brain of a criminal but the demeanor of a child, the monster is as endearing a creature as any on this list. Frankensteins monster is as influential as any creature in film history, and hes never better than he is in his origin film.

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Hellboy (2004)

Bless Ron Perlman for his performance as the titular Hellboy in Guillermo Del Toros monster-filled romp. With a silly character design and a fantasy-laden storyline, Hellboy could have flopped, but the care of that design and Perlmans performance make it a blast. It doesnt hurt that the monsters strewn about are wonderfully created by Del Toro and his team; without spoiling anything, the final set piece is a marvel in monster moviemaking.

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Little Shop Of Horrors (1986)

A talking Venus flytrap? Thats the monster in Little Shop of Horrors, a musical comedy with a dark heart at the center. Rick Moraniss Seymour Krelborn owns a flower shop fallen on hard times, but when he realizes the Venus flytrap can grow to immense size when given human blood, business takes off...as do the hijinks. Musicals might not be for everyone, and people expecting an out-and-out monster movie might be let down by the singular creature and the song breaks, but those who enter the Little Shop of Horrors will be rewarded with one of cinemas longest-lasting creatures. Audrey II will stay in your mind longer than Suddenly, Seymour does after someone does it at karaoke.

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Cloverfield (2008)

Cloverfield should have fallen apart under the weight of its own hype. Leading up to its release, the marketing made it seem like the Next Great Monster Movie, and anything but that would have flopped relentlessly. However, despite never showing the monster for an extended period of time, Cloverfield succeeds because director Matt Reeves understands that the unseen is often scarier than the seen. The found footage cinematography is a bit of a gimmick, but it works all the day until its memorable final shot.

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The Host (2006)

Before he was making the Oscar rounds for Parasite, Bong Joon-ho was dipping his toes into monster horror with 2006s The Host. At its core a movie against American involvement and imperialism, the film is also just a violent satire that threatens to overwhelm its intellectual message. Thats not a bad thing, though; the titular creature is unsettling, and its warpath through the South Korean city is depicted in loving awe. Its not surprising, given the director, but every frame is shot with care and purpose, and the result is a nightmare commentary on the horrors America has wrought onto the world.

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The Mummy (1999)

While the franchise went off in wilder and stupider directions after this 1999 debut, The Mummy still holds up as a fun (and funny) trip into 1920s Egypt. The mythology around the titular mummy, played with reckless abandon by Arnold Vosloo, is laid on thick, and dually-charming performances by Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz ground it into a comedic romance surrounding scarabs and plagues and the undead. Dont hold the sequels against it, and The Mummy is a hell of a ride.

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Pacific Rim (2013)

Theres no subtlety or a particularly strong plot in Pacific Rim, but who needs that when you have kaijus fighting giant robots? Its the end of the world as the characters know it, as giant monsters attack the remaining bastions of humanity. Their only defense? Building-sized mechs that resemble giant Gundams and that require two pilots in perfect sync to operate. The action deserves to be seen in all its glory, and the films final half hour is a destructive, exhilarating set piece that should satisfy monster lovers all over.

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A Quiet Place (2018)

Though he had taken the directors chair before, John Krasinskis A Quiet Place was the first true hit he had behind the camera. Simultaneously a monster movie and a meditative piece on the things we do for our family, the movie moves slowly towards its monster-filled climax. It was so successful that Krasinski will be helming a sequel, due out in April of 2021.

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The 21 Best Monster Movies of All Time - Best Monster Movies Ever - Men's Health

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero