Top 20 Greatest Giant Movie Monsters

“Trollhunter” (2010)
Our list begins with a group entry, because we just couldn’t pick which of the monsters from this found-footage favorite we liked best. Pulled directly from Norwegian folk myths, the trolls encountered in the film walk an amazing line between fanciful and terrifying. Maybe it’s the big giant noses? They’re oddly adorable... even when they’re eating people. From the triple-headed Tusseladd, to the squat and burly Raglefan, all the way up to the gigantic Jötunn, these are some of the most interesting and unique movie monsters in recent memory, making this lesser-known film a must-watch for monster fans.

"The Mist" (2007)
It should say a ton about this monster that it managed to make our list despite having so little screen time in the movie. But it’s just that awesome! This monster is one of many that emerge from an otherworldly fog that descends on a New England town. Glimpsed briefly by the heroes of the film, this monster is absolutely gigantic, and boasts a body covered in writhing tentacles that give us serious Cthulhu vibes. It’s the presentation that helps this one stand out. Half-obscured through the titular mist, the creature is equal parts majestic and horrifying, so massive and otherworldly that it doesn’t even spare our heroes a second glance. It’s a brief, but chilling sight.

"The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" (1953)
The impact of special effects legend Ray Harryhausen on genre films cannot be understated, and his massive legacy began right here with this humble, but fearsome, dinosaur. Awakened by nuclear tests, the creature descends upon New York to wreak havoc and mayhem. As if its titanic size and strength aren’t enough, the creature also spreads a deadly disease wherever it goes, further hampering efforts to kill it. While the effects may look antiquated by today’s standards, this monster gains huge cred for helping to kick start the career of one of cinema’s finest creative minds, and inspiring certain other monsters that you’ll see later on in our list.

"Tarantula!" (1955)
You just can’t get more classic than a good old fashioned giant spider. This particular arachnid is the byproduct of a secret laboratory that used radioactive elements to create a “super-nutrient” intended to help solve world hunger. But when you start messing with super-science, things like giant tarantulas are bound to happen, right? The spider descends on the town of Desert Rock, spreading mayhem and probably scarring local arachnophobes for life. Unlike most monsters on our list, this one was actually created using a real tarantula for many of its scenes, made to look gigantic via some special effects wizardry, making for a surprisingly convincing effect given the film’s vintage.

“Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983)
Giant monsters are even a problem in a galaxy far far away, as Luke Skywalker learns during his mission to Jabba’s palace. A massive creature native to the planet Dathomir, some were domesticated and used as mounts by the feared Nightsisters. One member of the species was acquired by, indeed, the ruthless crime lord Jabba the Hutt to serve as his pet/garbage disposal, devouring anyone unfortunate enough to get thrown into its pit beneath Jabba’s throne room. Unfortunately for Jabba and his pet, Jedi tend to put up more of a fight than most meals, and the poor beast meets its end at the hands of Luke Skywalker.

“Attack of the 50 Foot Woman” (1958)
You don’t need scales, claws or even atomic breath to make a splash as a giant monster, and this entry proves you can go far with just height and determination. Hey, just ask the “Big Ass Spider.” After a chance encounter with an alien spacecraft, Nancy Archer begins to grow to a colossal size, which allows her to take revenge on her unfaithful husband. This is the only fully human creature on our list, and by far one of the most sympathetic. Don’t worry Nancy, the people around you may see you as a menace, and we understand why, but we also see you for the powerful, independent boss you are.

"The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy (2001-03)
One of the most feared creatures in all of Middle Earth, this ancient terror is scary enough to give even a wizard like Gandalf serious cause for alarm. Described by Gandalf as a demonic denizen of the ancient world, this hulking beast is composed of shadow and flame, and wields a flaming sword and whip that it, frankly, barely even needs. When you’re hugely tall and made out of fire, weapons just seem like overkill. But hey, that evil whip did come in handy. Awoken by the Dwarves of Moria when they dug too deep, the beast is a serious threat to the Fellowship, one that Gandalf seemingly makes the ultimate sacrifice to overcome.

"Jason and the Argonauts" (1963)
Another creature brought to life by the great Ray Harryhausen, this living statue crosses paths with Jason and the Argonauts in the classic 1963 film. Placed on the island of Crete by the gods, the statue serves as a ward and guardian of the island’s treasure. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem for Jason and his friends, but the statue mistakes them for pirates after Hercules takes a brooch during their stop on the island. Beautifully realized by Harryhausen, this is one of the most incredible monsters in a film packed with incredible monsters, and his size and strength presents a challenge even for the film’s powerful heroes.

"Godzilla" franchise (1954-)
Giant, radioactive lizard? Pretty cool. Giant, radioactive robot lizard? Now we’re talking. Godzilla’s robotic doppelganger has taken several forms over the years, first appearing in 1974 as the creation of a race of aliens bent on conquering Earth. Later films reimagined it as an anti-Godzilla defence system created by humans in an attempt to fight off the legendary monster. Is it the most practical weapon to fight Godzilla? Probably not, but it sure is rad. Armed with a wide array of lasers, missiles and even a powerful freezing cannon, Godzilla’s mechanical counterpart always gives him a run for his money.

"The War of the Gargantuas" (1966)
Another two-for-one! The subjects of this entry take sibling rivalry to a pretty destructive level. The creatures are actually the offspring of Frankenstein, who appeared as a monster with regenerative powers in 1965’s “Frankenstein Conquers the World.” Papa Frank was defeated, but his remains regenerated into two wholly new creatures. While the friendly Sanda is an ally to us humans, the villainous Gaira hates our collective guts, and the two clash in spectacular fashion when Gaira attacks Japan. The titanic struggle between these two is honestly one of the best fight scenes in all of classic kaiju cinema, and easily earns them a place on our list.

“Godzilla” franchise (1954-)

The King of the Monsters has had some incredible enemies over the years, a few of which are, of course, also on this list. But without a doubt, his greatest nemesis is this appropriately fearsome bad boy. Sporting three heads, two tails, wings, and the power to fire lightning-like gravity beams, this space kaiju has returned time and time again to battle Godzilla, and he’s given the big guy a tough fight every time. In most incarnations, he’s a space-borne monster that comes to Earth to cause trouble, and is often such a titanic threat that multiple monsters need to team up just to stand a chance. Looking at him, it’s not hard to see why.

“Them!” (1954)
There are few sights more iconic among atomic-age horror films than the giant ants of this 1954 classic. These colossal critters helped kick off an entire sub-genre back in the day, being some of the first of many movie monsters to grow to massive size thanks to that pesky atomic energy. While vulnerable to human weapons, the ants are numerous and fearsome enough to cause plenty of trouble, and the military needs to be called in to fight them. But you know how it is with ants, you just can’t get rid of them until you find the nest. How hard do you think it would be to get a giant can of bug spray?

"The Blob" (1958; 1988)
An amorphous mass of living slime brought to Earth on a meteorite, this is another classic from American horror films of the ‘50s. Unlike other monsters, who tend to be more on the smashy side, this one spreads mayhem by enveloping and dissolving anything it comes across, growing bigger as it devours more unlucky victims. As these affairs often go, the military are unable to combat the extra-terrestrial menace, and the day is only saved by the revelation of the monster’s weakness. In a rare occurrence, the ‘80s remake of this sci-fi/horror classic is also worth a watch, especially for the fantastic special effects.

“Tremors” franchise (1990-)
Most giant monsters do their wrecking above ground, but not these ones. A race of giant, armored worms, these monsters appear to shake the town of Perfection, Nevada to its foundations - and we mean that quite literally. The creatures are heavily armored and able to move underground at terrifying speeds, allowing them to burst out of the ground and devour unsuspecting victims whole. They also have an array of grasping tentacles, from which their name is derived. They’re not impossible to take down if you have a bunker full of firepower on hand, but bear in mind that not everyone is as well-armed as the Gummer family.

"Ghostbusters" (1984)
By far the strangest entry on our list, this entry nonetheless has us terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought. While it looks on the surface like a giant marshmallow mascot, this monster is even stranger when you dig beneath the surface. In truth, he’s the chosen form of Gozer the Destructor, an ancient trans-dimensional entity summoned to our plane of existence by a sinister cult, with a New York City apartment building serving as the gateway. Its form upon arriving in our world is chosen by Ghostbuster Ray Stantz’s thoughts, which is why New York ends up nearly falling to the softest looking giant monster we can think of.

"Godzilla" & "Mothra" franchises (1954-)
This divine monster is easily one of the most beloved and iconic kaiju to come out of Toho Studios, and also one of the friendliest….so long as you don’t get on her bad side. Introduced in a 1961 solo film, the Queen of the Monsters is a seemingly magical being worshipped as a god by the natives of Infant Island, and even has a duo of tiny priestesses who can communicate with her via song. Shortly after this, she was teamed up with Godzilla and Rodan and a partnership for the ages was born. One of the more powerful kaiju, she has a range of abilities, including creating silk to restrain her foes, and even energy beams.

"Gamera" franchise (1965-)
While Godzilla was undoubtedly the king of the kaiju boom of the ‘60s and ‘70s, he had a rival in the form of this entry. Able to breath fire, fly and even travel through space, this giant turtle began as an ancient creature mutated by radiation, before transitioning to a more benevolent role, a path Godzilla himself would also take. Like his main rival, his franchise has also been revived several times, to particularly great effect with the trilogy of films released in the ‘90s. Standing in the shadow of the King of the Monsters isn’t easy, but the Guardian of Earth and Friend of all Children stands tall and proud.

"The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" (1958)
We’ve gushed over Ray Harryhausen quite a bit on this list already, and we’re not quite done yet. While not the maestro’s first creation, it was this mythic monster that cemented his place in cinema history. Emerging from a cave to menace Sinbad and his crew, the creature instantly became one of the most iconic and enduring images of Harryhausen’s legacy, inspiring numerous filmmakers who came after, and sparking the imagination of countless audience members. Other monsters may be bigger, tougher and able to fire more (which is to say any) laser beams, but this one lands high on our list for being an unsung icon.

“King Kong” franchise (1933-)
The number 2 spot on our list goes to the one that started it all, the Eighth Wonder of the World himself. A colossal ape native to the remote Skull Island, he captured the hearts of cinemagoers way back in 1933. Brought to life by effects artist Willis O’Brien, the creature was unlike anything audiences had seen before, a spectacle previously unimaginable to moviegoers. As if being an icon of cinema weren’t enough, he’s also one of the toughest monsters around, brutally strong, and deceptively cunning. He’s gone toe to toe with Godzilla, his own robotic doppelganger and the fearsome Skull Crawlers and beaten them all.



Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Kraken
"Clash of the Titans" (1981; 2010)


Gorgo
"Gorgo" (1961)


Slattern
"Pacific Rim" (2013)

“Godzilla” franchise (1954-)
The King of the Monsters — yep, him again! — has spent over half a century earning his title, and who are we to argue? Of course the top spot goes to cinema’s most iconic giant monster, the radioactive titan who is the benchmark against which all other kaiju are measured. From his 1954 debut and subsequent revivals throughout the decades, it’s nearly impossible to keep the big guy away from movie screens; he has by far the biggest filmography of any giant monster on our list. He’s also the toughest, sporting a near-impenetrable hide, vicious claws and teeth, and of course his iconic fiery atomic breath. So sure, go ahead and tell him he shouldn’t be number one. See what happens.