The giant monster films, or Kaiju films, have been incredibly popular since the 1950s, when Godzilla made his first appearance. This genre is special in the sense that many countries have taken a turn to add a new flair. It became a film style that united the world by giving audiences a common goal both in the films and in real life. While the King of the Monsters will always be a fan favorite, there are many other Kaiju films that have made an effort to compete.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
8 Deep Rising (1998)
Hollywood Pictures
The 1998 action horror film Deep Rising is the perfect definition of a cult classic. The story follows a group of heavily-armed hijackers as they board a luxury ocean liner. While they aim to loot the ship, they end up in a battle with large, man-eating sea monsters that have already taken the ship hostage. The film tanked at the box office, only making $11.2 million in total. It grew a cult following thanks to its performances and fun B-movie storyline.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Colossal (2016)
Neon
The 2016 black-comedy film Colossal uses the giant monsters in a very interesting way. The film follows an out-of-work writer that battles her alcoholism and an abusive colleague. Thanks to a freak accident as kids, both the heroine and villain are able to manifest giant creatures in Seoul, and make them move at will. As the relationship between the two becomes more and more volatile, the citizens of Seoul are put in jeopardy. The heroine must learn to take control of her life and fight back. The movie was well-praised for its performances and direction; however, the box office numbers were less than respectable. Ultimately, the movie was a flop, but it grew a cult following for its interesting take on the giant monster genre.
6 Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
DreamWorks Animation
The 2009 animated film Monsters vs. Aliens is a Kaiju film for the whole family. The movie follows a young woman as her life is turned upside down after being struck by a meteorite that turns her into a giant. She is promptly taken from her home and moved to a government facility that houses monsters. When an evil alien overlord comes to Earth, the monsters must work together to save the day. The film had a great cast and was incredibly fun. Not only did the movie have a giant woman, but it also had Insectosaurus, a 350ft tall mutated bug.
5 Gamera (1965)
Dainichi Eihai
The Japanese monster Gamera first debuted in 1965 in the film Gamera, the Giant Monster. The giant, fire-breathing turtle was meant to compete with the Godzilla franchise that started in 1954. In the first Gamera film, Gamera is shown to be a mutated pre-historic turtle that is woken by a nuclear explosion from a crashed American jet fighter. Gamera goes on a destructive spree, but is shown to have a soft side for a young boy that loves turtles. The film was released and became a bigger success than was ever expected. It paved the way for a fan-favorite, seven feature film franchise, with even more films in a rebooted era.
4 Reptilicus (1961)
American Internation Pictures
The 1961 film Reptilicus was dual produced in Denmark and the United States. The original Danish-language version was released in February 1961. The American version was in English with an almost identical cast. The American distribution company felt the film could not be released as it was, so it was re-worked and released in 1962. The original film follows the story of a giant reptilian tail that is found frozen by a miner. When the tale thaws, it regenerates into the giant monster, Reptilicus. The monster goes on a destructive rampage and a group of scientists must find a way to stop it. This film is Denmark’s only giant monster film and grew a cult following that remains to this day.
3 The Host (2006)
Showbox Entertainment
The Host is a 2006 monster film that became the highest-grossing South-Korean film of all time. It follows the story of a monster that kidnaps a man’s daughter. The monster is said to be the product of illegal dumping of chemicals into the Han River. When the young girl is taken by the creature, her father must find a way to rescue her from the sewers where she is trapped with the beast. The film had a great multinational release as well as an award-winning run in the top film festivals. It is one of the most popular Kaiju films made outside of Japan, and was directed by the Oscar-winning director, Bong Joon-ho.
2 Pacific Rim (2013)
Warner Bros. Pictures
The 2013 Guillermo del Toro film Pacific Rim is a great modern Kaiju film. Set in the future, Earth is at war with the ginormous Kaiju that emerged from an interdimensional portal that opened at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. To have a fighting chance, humanity creates giant humanoid mechs that use pilots that are mind-linked to each other. The film was nominated for multiple awards and won a couple as well. Audiences and critics alike love this film and its beautiful modern take on the classic Kaiju films.
1 Mothra (1961)
Toho Studios
The giant protector Mothra is one of the most popular Kaiju monsters in film history. She was first introduced in the 1961 self-titled film Mothra. An expedition to Infant Island finds life on the radiated landscape. They discover twin fairy priestesses that protect a sacred egg. When a greedy businessman kidnaps the twins, the egg hatches into the island’s deity. Mothra takes to the skies to rescue her priestesses from being exploited as a traveling freak show. Mothra is a part of the Toho Studios monster universe, became one of the most popular monsters, and was requested to be added to the Godzilla movies. She is different from the other monsters, as she is a protector of her island, culture, and the Earth.
