Monster movies are a classic feature of the horror genre and have deep roots in cinema because of the universal nature of the narratives. However, the creatures in these movies aren’t what they seem to be on the outside, as they often serve as a metaphor for the overarching themes and critiques the plot focuses on. This becomes especially clear when the monsters featured in the film aren’t seen onscreen for long periods of time, as the narrative is more concerned with the development of the characters and their dynamics.
The Universal classic monster movies helped establish the genre as a place for the fears and anxieties of humanity to be explored safely. Since then, monsters have taken on many forms in cinema, and how they manifest visually will determine how the characters and audience interpret them. Whether they’re giant creatures, grotesque, or can pass as humans, they all serve as methods for the filmmakers to communicate the central discussions of the story. Many monster projects end up being character-driven, as the people in the narrative must band together to stop the beasts.
10 The Host (2006)
Directed by Bong Joon-ho
The Host (2006) RDramaHorrorSci-Fi
The Host is a South Korean monster film directed by Bong Joon-ho. Released in 2006, the film centers on a family’s quest to rescue their daughter from a creature that emerges from the Han River. Notable for its blend of horror, drama, and dark humor, the movie stars Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona, and Go Ah-sung.
Director Bong Joon-ho Release Date July 27, 2006 Writers Bong Joon-ho , Ha Joon-won , Baek Chul-hyun Cast Song Kang-ho , Byun Hee-bong , Park Hae-il , Bae Doona , Go Ah-sung Runtime 119 Minutes
Though Bong Joon-ho’s most famous movie, Parasite, is about the metaphorical monsters inside humanity, some of his best early work revolves around very real creatures. In his 2006 film, The Host, a young girl is taken by a monster that emerges from the Han River in Seoul, and her family must work to get her back by entering the quarantined zone the creature has taken over. Largely considered one of the best monster movies of the 21st century, The Host does much more than frighten the audience.
The Host
is a nuanced project that uses the monster as a stand-in for the results of colonialism and globalization.
Though the mutated organism in The Host is terrifying, the larger themes of The Host revolve around the impacts of environmental devastation and offer a scathing critique of governmental practices that perpetuate ecological discrimination. It’s the lower class that’s most heavily impacted by the creature in The Host, and the intervention of foreign governments, namely the U.S., only hurt the character’s efforts to stop the leviathan and find their loved ones. The Host is a nuanced project that uses the monster as a stand-in for the results of colonialism and globalization.
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The Host (2006) |
93% |
72% |
9 Jaws (1975)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
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9.2/10 Jaws PG-13AdventureHorrorThriller
Steven Spielberg’s legendary tale of one man’s desperate battle with a killer Great White shark on his small seaside community. Faced with a mounting list of victims and a local authority dead-set against causing panic or destroying the tourist economy, he assembles a team to tackle the shark head-on.
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*Availability in US Director Steven Spielberg Release Date June 18, 1975 Writers Peter Benchley , Carl Gottlieb , John Milius , Howard Sackler , Robert Shaw Cast Roy Scheider , Robert Shaw , Richard Dreyfuss , Lorraine Gary , Murray Hamilton , Carl Gottlieb Runtime 124 minutes
One of the best monster movies of the 1970s and all time, Jaws did a lot for the creature genre and was instrumental in establishing the summer blockbuster. The director, Steven Spielberg, is behind many iconic creatures, from the giant great white shark in Jaws to the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. However, the amount of time that the shark is in view throughout Jaws is relatively low, and it’s not until quite late in the movie that the audience first gets a clear view of the maneater.
Part of this was due to the constraints around the development of the animatronic and the idea that the tension would be better built if the viewer was left to speculate about what the shark looked like. However, it’s also because the film’s central conflict revolves around Chief Brody’s difficulties going against the grain of the social rules of the town. The parallels between Jaws and classic works of literature like Moby Dick are undeniable, and this sheds light on the additional facet of Jaws‘ story, which touches upon humanity’s fear of nature.
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Jaws (1975) |
97% |
90% |
8 Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
Directed by George A. Romero
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5/10 Night of the Living Dead xHorror
George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead did more than just invent the modern zombie, it revolutionized the horror genre. Following a small group of humans who hide in a secluded farmhouse when the dead begin to rise and crave human flesh, Night of the Living Dead examines the relationship between humanity and paranoia in times of crisis.
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*Availability in US Director George A. Romero Release Date October 4, 1968 Writers George A. Romero , John A. Russo Cast Judith O’Dea , Kyra Schon , Duane Jones , Marilyn Eastman , Karl Hardman Runtime 96 minutes Franchise(s) Living Dead Expand
It’s no coincidence that Night of the Living Dead came out at the end of the 1960s. It was a decade that saw increasing domestic tensions in the U.S. about racial and gender inequality, mass protests against U.S. intervention in the war in Vietnam, and the rising anxieties surrounding the Cold War. All of this created the social and political context that resulted in Night of the Living Dead, a movie that delves into the realities of the fear of the other.
The zombies were merely the ideal monsters that could spark paranoia and mistrust in the humans trying to fight their way out of the apocalyptic situation.
Night of the Living Dead is one of the most influential zombie movies of all time, as the way the undead are portrayed in the film is the defacto characterization of zombies in most horror projects. However, the zombies were merely the ideal monsters that could spark paranoia and mistrust in the humans trying to fight their way out of the apocalyptic situation. As the characters turn on each other throughout the film, the bleak ending drives home the point that terror will spark extreme reactions in humanity.
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Night of the Living Dead (1968) |
95% |
87% |
7 Godzilla (2014)
Directed by Gareth Edwards
Godzilla (2014) PG-13
Godzilla is a 2014 American reboot of the popular kaiju property and the first film in Legendary’s Monsterverse franchise. The film centers around Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who travels to Japan after his father Joe (Bryan Cranston) is detained for trying to uncover the truth about his wife’s death 15 years prior. Together they fight to survive as Joe’s conspiracy theory becomes true and giant monsters begin attacking the world.
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*Availability in US Director Gareth Edwards Release Date May 16, 2014 Studio(s) Legendary Pictures Writers Max Borenstein , David Callaham Cast Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Bryan Cranston , Elizabeth Olsen , Ken Watanabe , Sally Hawkins , Vera Farmiga , David Strathairn Runtime 123 Minutes Expand
There have been many adaptations of the stories of Godzilla, and the 2014 remake successfully brought the narrative to the modern era, incorporating contemporary themes and discussions. Godzilla was the first film in the Monsterverse franchise, which has taken off in popularity since its inception. Though it’s set in the present day, Godzilla is still intertwined with the legacy of the nuclear age and the devastation of atomic weapons. As always, the monster Godzilla is a metaphor for how humanity creates its own monsters through technology.
However, as time has progressed, Godzilla has also come to represent hope for the future, as the monster stands with humanity against invading creatures throughout the franchise. The movie features some of the coolest monster designs in Godzilla movies, which is a vital piece of why the movies are popular. Overall, Godzilla was considered a more worthy successor than the 1998 failure, as it focused deeply on the human drama and the current impact of the way war is waged in modern times.
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Godzilla (2014) |
76% |
66% |
Related 10 Best Godzilla Movies To Watch First: Where To Start
Godzilla’s movie career dates back to 1954, and for those who have never seen a Godzilla movie, there are a number of perfect entry points.
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6 Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)
Directed by Philip Kaufman
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10/10 Invasion of the Body Snatchers PG Sci-FiHorror
1978’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers was directed by Philip Kaufman and is an adaptation of the popular 1955 Sci-Fi novel, The Body Snatchers. The Horror and Sci-Fi release features a race of mysterious alien creatures that travel to Earth and begin taking over the bodies of unsuspecting humans.
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*Availability in US Director Philip Kaufman Release Date December 22, 1978 Studio(s) United Artists Writers W.D. Richter Cast Jeff Goldblum , Donald Sutherland , Art Hindle , Veronica Cartwright , Brooke Adams , Leonard Nimoy Runtime 115 minutes Expand
Despite being a remake of the original 1956 film, the 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers is considered the definitive version thanks to its incredible performances and relevant themes. Starring Donald Sutherland as Matthew, the protagonist of the film, the story follows him and his allies. Throughout the narrative, they realize emotionless alien replicants are replacing the human race. It’s a terrifying premise that holds up well today, considering the fact that the monsters look exactly like people.
Since the film was released in the wake of the Watergate Scandal in the U.S., this ties into the motif of distrust in organizations.
The experience of watching loved ones become unrecognizable and the paranoia of believing that no one around you is who they say they are sets the tone for Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Since the film was released in the wake of the Watergate Scandal in the U.S., this ties into the motif of distrust in organizations. Being replaced by the pod people in Invasion of the Body Snatchers is characterized as a failure of the political and social systems of the U.S. and the growing push toward conformity.
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Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) |
93% |
82% |
5 The Fly (1986)
Directed by David Cronenberg
The Fly RHorror Sci-FiDrama
From legendary director David Cronenberg, The Fly tells the story of Seth Brundle, a scientist who, in attempting to create a device that facilitates teleportation, accidentally merges his DNA with that of a fly, and begins to mutate into a human-fly hybrid. The film stars Jeff Goldblum as Brundle, with Geena Davis as Ronnie Quaife, Seth’s partner and love interest.
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*Availability in US Director David Cronenberg Release Date August 15, 1986 Studio(s) 20th Century Writers Charles Edward Pogue , David Cronenberg Cast Jeff Goldblum , John Getz , Geena Davis Runtime 96 minutes Franchise(s) The Fly Expand
As with most films by director David Cronenberg, there’s no shortage of grotesque body horror in The Fly. However, the slow transformation of Seth (Jeff Goldblum) into the titular fly is also the physical manifestation of the deterioration of his relationship with Ronnie (Geena Davis). Though Cronenberg has stated that the film isn’t a direct allegory for the AIDs epidemic of the 1980s, it’s easy to connect the movie with the devastation of the disease. The performances by Goldblum and Davis highlight the humanity at the heart of The Fly.
Though there are plenty of frightening elements in The Fly, and the final physicality of the creature is disgusting, the movie is more of a tragedy than a horror film. Watching Seth lose his humanity and be ravaged by an entity he can’t control is devastating, as is the inevitable loss of his connection with Ronnie and any future he might have had. By the end of the film, Seth has transformed into a monster, but in his final moments, The Fly communicates that there is a piece of him left inside the fly creature.
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The Fly (1986) |
93% |
83% |
4 Cloverfield (2008)
Directed by Matt Reeves
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6.6/10 Cloverfield PG-13MysteryHorrorThrillerAdventureActionSci-Fi
Directed by Matt Reeves, Cloverfield is a found-footage disaster movie that follows a group of people seeking safety during a state of emergency. When New York City is attacked by an unknown monstrous entity, chaos ensues. A group of friends document their attempts to flee the city and find sanctuary from an onslaught of monsters on a handheld camcorder – footage which is designated as an account of the “Cloverfield” incident.
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*Availability in US Director Matt Reeves Release Date January 15, 2008 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Drew Goddard Cast Lizzy Caplan , Jessica Lucas , T.J. Miller , Michael Stahl-David , Mike Vogel , Odette Annable Runtime 85 minutes Expand
One of the best found footage movies within the genre, Cloverfield exemplifies how best to incorporate monsters into modern horror films. The project lends itself to a character-driven narrative because the story unfolds from the perspective of the people filming the invasion of the Clover monster. Action-packed and well-paced, the most compelling parts of Cloverfield are the character’s journeys to rescue the people they hold dear. The fact that the world is being destroyed by a monster is ancillary to the character’s experiences of the events.
The creature remains a remote and all-encompassing threat that serves as the vehicle for the characters to band together and remember the important parts of life in the wake of extreme upheaval.
Set in New York City, Cloverfield captures the destruction of iconic landmarks and the crumbling of societal order. This led many critics and audiences to draw parallels between the descent of the monster and the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. The creature remains a remote and all-encompassing threat that serves as the vehicle for the characters to band together and remember the important parts of life in the wake of extreme upheaval.
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Cloverfield (2008) |
78% |
68% |
3 Nope (2022)
Directed by Jordan Peele
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8.5/10 Nope rHorror Sci-Fi
Written and directed by Jordan Peele, Nope follows the owners of a family-run Hollywood horse ranch whose lives are changed by extraterrestrial phenomena. Siblings Otis (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer) scramble to understand events that seem to defy all explanation, even as their neighbor (Steven Yeun) tries to turn the strange occurrences into a alien tourist attraction.
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*Availability in US Director Jordan Peele Release Date July 22, 2022 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Writers Jordan Peele Cast Steven Yeun , Michael Wincott , Daniel Kaluuya , Brandon Perea , Keke Palmer , Barbie Ferreira Runtime 131 minutes Expand
Jordan Peele’s most recent directorial project, Nope, is an innovative take on the concept of the alien invasion. The film is in conversation with the exploitation of animals in filmmaking and the way Hollywood has othered performers based on race, gender, and other socially discriminatory factors. Spectacles are one of the biggest themes in the movie, as well as the motivating factors that drive people to capture spectacles and use them as a means of capitalist gain. However, in Nope, many of the characters make the mistake of thinking they can tame or control nature.
However, Nope is also deeply critical of the role of the viewer and the demand for entertainment that fuels the cyclical nature of exploitation and abuse. Jean Jacket, the alien, might be a large-scale creature, but ultimately follows the same rules and has the same boundaries as the regular animals in the story. Of course, the characters are also vital to Nope. The sibling relationship between OJ and Emerald, played by Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer, is the emotional heart of the story and is elevated by the fantastic chemistry between Kaluuya and Palmer.
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Nope (2022) |
83% |
69% |
2 Colossal (2016)
Directed by Nacho Vigalondo
Colossal RActionComedyDocumentaryFantasySci-FiThriller
After leaving her boyfriend in New York City, Gloria moves back home and tries to live a quieter life. But when a giant monster starts destroying soul, she slowly realizes that she may be connected to the creature’s actions. Anne Hathaway stars as Gloria alongside Jason Sudeikis, Austin Stowell, and Tim Blake Nelson.
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*Availability in US Director Nacho Vigalondo Release Date April 6, 2017 Writers Nacho Vigalondo Cast Jason Sudeikis , Hannah Cheramy , Dan Stevens , Rukiya Bernard , Tim Blake Nelson , Agam Darshi , Sarah Surh , Anne Hathaway , Austin Stowell Runtime 110minutes
Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis star in Colossal, a monster movie that unpacks the devastation caused by a life-long abusive relationship. Gloria (Hathaway) struggles with alcoholism and returns to her hometown to discover that she controls a reptilian monster in Seoul. However, her friend Oscar (Sudeikis), who enables her addiction and manipulates her into succumbing to it and staying with him, manifests as a giant robot and threatens to destroy Seoul to control Gloria’s actions.
Colossal
is a unique blend of genres, but the fantasy and sci-fi elements all exist to further Gloria’s development and open her eyes to Oscar’s behavior.
The metaphor of the two monsters existing because of the childhood rivalry and animosity between the two friends is clear throughout the story, but that doesn’t make it less impactful. Colossal is a unique blend of genres, but the fantasy and sci-fi elements all exist to further Gloria’s development and open her eyes to Oscar’s behavior. By the end of the film, Gloria has taken control of her life and her actions, shouldering the responsibility for her own internal monsters.
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Colossal (2016) |
82% |
58% |
Related 10 Giant Monster Movies Where The Creature Was The Good Guy
Most monster movies revolve around people saving humanity from evil creatures, but sometimes, it’s the monsters who turn out to be the good guys.
1 It Follows (2014)
Directed by David Robert Mitchell
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9/10 It Follows RHorror
It Follows is a horror-thriller film released in 2014 and follows a college student named Jay who is terrorized by a specter of a woman that follows her everywhere she goes. When Jay has sex with her new boyfriend, he ties her up and reveals that this mysterious woman will now haunt her until she passes it on to another or is killed by her. Now haunted by a woman that only she and those once afflicted by her can see, Jay will attempt to survive and find away to break the curse.
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*Availability in US Director David Robert Mitchell Release Date March 27, 2015 Studio(s) The Weinstein Company Writers David Robert Mitchell Cast Olivia Luccardi , Jake Weary , Keir Gilchrist , Daniel Zovatto , Maika Monroe , Lili Sepe Runtime 100minutes Expand
Maika Monroe recently starred in the horror film Longlegs, but her earlier foray into the genre features one of the actress’ best performances. It helps that It Follows is considered one of the most innovative scary movies of the 2010s. The monster in It Follows is terrifying, and one of the key features of the creature is that no matter how far along the monster is passed, it can always come back to earlier victims.
The motif of the monster continuously following its victims is a clear metaphor for sexually transmitted infections. Fear of teen sexuality is a recurring theme in horror movies, and It Follows capitalizes on this anxiety, as well as the trauma that can accompany the loss of innocence from adolescence to adulthood. In It Follows, the characters grapple with the moral implications of saving themselves versus condemning others to a terrible fate.
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It Follows (2014) |
95% |
66% |