Top 10 Giant Movie Monsters

As scary monsters go, worms are not usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, these large carnivorous fellas have made memorable appearances in “Dune” and “Beetlejuice”, before “Tremors” showcased the vicious subterranean worms in all their glory. Popping up in the deserts of Nevada through sinkholes, they attack anything they sense from above, devouring animals, people and even trucks. They’re basically relentless desert sharks.

Before the women’s liberation movement, woman were hardly noticed. However, one marginalized woman changed all that by standing tall – really, really tall. Yup that’s right, this giant movie monster, or giantess is troubled alcoholic heiress Nancy Archer, a woman who literally grows up after encountering a space alien. With her newfound stature, she finally gets to teach her cheating, inheritance-seeking husband a lesson. That’s right, hell has no fury like a enormous woman scorned.

Jabba the Hutt may a disgusting space slug and heartless gangster, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a soft spot for pets! Of course Jabba doesn’t need any old space dog. Rather, he keeps the company of this massive bipedal reptomammalian killing machine. Hungry all the times, it hunts and devours whatever scraps its master tosses him, space pork and unarmed Jedi included.

This monster of mysterious origins reveals itself in bits and pieces at first, while destroying New York buildings and beheading the Statue of Liberty in the process. It’s well into the film before we ever see the nearly invincible beast in its full 25-story height, complete with sharp claw-like appendages. Even more amazing: the creature that destroys Manhattan isn’t fully-grown. If he’s just a newborn baby, we don’t want to meet his mama.

What kind of creature requires the combined might of Godzilla, Rodan and Mothra to vanquish it? A humongous two-tailed, three-headed flying dragon with seriously destructive breath, that’s what kind. Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster crash-lands on Earth before wrecking havoc on it’s inhabitants. A beast with unparalleled strength, the monstrous trio just barely conquers him. Just think of what he could have accomplished if he’d been given arms too.

Advertising icons are everywhere nowadays, but it’s rare you see a 112 foot one with a sailor hat walking down the street. Mr. Stay Puft is seemingly cute and innocent, having been gleaned and chosen from Ray’s mind by Gozzer, a world-ending deity. Despite looking friendly, his smile and doughy exterior is just a façade. After all he’s been dubbed “The Destroyer” for a reason. Talk about a sticky situation!

Now for something completely different: a movie monster that could actually exist! In this timeless classic adapted from the work of Jules Verne, Captain Nemo’s Shanghai cruise on the Nautilus is rudely interrupted by an encounter with a formidable monster, a Giant Squid. The story is fictional, but giant squids measuring up to 46 feet do exist in real life...

Taking the calamari menace to the next level is the Kraken. This legendary and fearsome beast is the deadly offspring of two sea gods. You do not want to know how that works. Scaly, tentacled and sharp-toothed, it destroys the cities of Greece when it is unleashed from the underworld. Nigh undefeatable, the only thing that can stop it in its tracks is a gaze from Medusas’ severed head.

The “eighth wonder of the world,” this beast, with no relation to a popular Nintendo character, was perfectly happy on his native island, battling giant dinosaurs and enjoying the occasional virgin sacrifice. However, as a spectacle, he was brought to Manhattan, where he faced down a force scarier than himself, the paparazzi. Fleeing with his leading lady like any misunderstood star would, he climbed to the top of the empire state building before his tragic downfall.

Taking the top spot on our list is the king of the monsters himself. Gojira, as he’s known in his hometown, is a radioactive lizard, with a trademarked screech and atomic breath. Unstoppable and able to regenerate, he has appeared in some 30 films, far outpacing all these other big guys. He’s the champ – and if you don’t agree, he’ll gladly stomp on your hometown until you see things his way.

What do you think, agree with our list? Which giant sized monster has left a giant impression on you? For more entertaining top 10s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.