List of films featuring giant monsters

This is an alphabetical list of films featuring giant monsters, known in Japan as kaiju. One of the first films involving giant monsters was the 1933 classic King Kong, as developments in cinema and animation enabled the creation of realistic giant creatures. The film influenced many giant-monster films in its wake, including many produced in Japan, starting with the adaptation Wasei Kingu Kongu in 1933, which is now considered to be a lost film.[1] The visual effects in King Kong, created by Willis O'Brien, inspired future monster film effects artists such as Ray Harryhausen and Dennis Muren.[2] Early giant-monster films often had themes of adventure and exploration of unknown regions, and incorporated fights with giant monsters as a climactic element.

The development of atomic weaponry in the 1940s gave rise to its involvement in popular themes. The 1953 American film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms featured a giant dinosaur that awakens due to nuclear tests in the Arctic.[3]:42 The 1954 film Them! involved giant irradiated ants. Later in 1954, the Japanese film Godzilla was released. This was followed by an ongoing trend of giant reptiles created by nuclear radiation. Japan continued with a giant moth in Mothra, a turtle in Gamera, and many more that followed. Other countries have their own giant monster movies such as the United Kingdom with Gorgo in 1961.

Films featuring Godzilla and Gamera were made into the 1970s, and a King Kong remake was released in 1976. Awareness of toxic waste in the 1970s inspired the release of various horror films, and the giant monster subgenre saw the release of 1971's Godzilla vs. Hedorah.[4] Godzilla received a 1998 remake by TriStar Pictures, and King Kong received a 2005 remake by Universal Pictures. 2008 saw the release of the successful Cloverfield, which some critics have claimed inspiration from the September 11 attacks.[5][6][7] Pacific Rim, a film featuring giant mecha battling with kaiju, was released in 2013, and the following year Legendary reinterpreted Godzilla for a new generation of audiences in the series' 30th film. The latest entry in the Godzilla series, Shin Godzilla, premiered in Japan in July 2016.[8][9] A reboot of King Kong known as Kong: Skull Island is scheduled for release in March 2017.[10]

List of films

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Name Year Country Description Ref.
20 Million Miles to Earth 1957 United States extraterrestrial from Venus [11]
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad 1958 United States monsters from Greek mythology
All Monsters Attack 1969 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Always Zoku Sanchōme no Yūhi 2007 Japan Godzilla [8]
Anaconda 1997 United States, Brazil snakes
Anaconda 3: Offspring 2008 United States, Romania snakes
Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid 2004 United States snakes [12]
Anacondas: Trail of Blood 2009 United States, Romania snakes
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman 1958 United States human [13]:18[14]
Bambi Meets Godzilla 1969 United States Godzilla
Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, TheThe Beast From 20,000 Fathoms 1953 United States Rhedosaurus [15]:28–37[14]
Beast of Hollow Mountain, TheThe Beast of Hollow Mountain 1956 United States Allosaurus [15]:37–42
Beginning of the End 1957 United States radioactive grasshoppers [16][14]
Big Ass Spider! 2013 United States spider [17]
Boa vs. Python 2004 United States snakes
Clash of the Titans 1981 United Kingdom, United States monsters from Greek mythology
Clash of the Titans 2010 United States, United Kingdom monsters from Greek mythology [12]
Cloverfield 2008 United States Clover [13]
Destroy All Monsters 1968 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Eight Legged Freaks 2002 United States, Germany, Australia spiders [12]
Galaxy Quest 1999 United States Gorignak (rock monster) [18]
Gamera 1965 Japan Gamera [19][20]
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion 1996 Japan Gamera / daikaiju [11]
Gamera 3: The Revenge of Iris 1999 Japan Gamera / daikaiju
Gamera the Brave 2006 Japan Gamera / daikaiju
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe 1995 Japan Gamera / daikaiju
Gamera: Super Monster 1980 Japan Gamera / daikaiju
Gamera vs. Barugon 1966 Japan Gamera / daikaiju [20]
Gamera vs. Guiron 1969 Japan Gamera / daikaiju [20]
Gamera vs. Gyaos 1967 Japan Gamera / daikaiju [20]
Gamera vs. Jiger 1970 Japan Gamera / daikaiju [20]
Gamera vs. Viras 1968 Japan Gamera / daikaiju [20]
Gamera vs. Zigra 1971 Japan Gamera / daikaiju [20]
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster 1964 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Ghostbusters 1984 United States Stay Puft Marshmallow Man [21]
Giant Claw, TheThe Giant Claw 1957 United States extraterrestrial prehistoric bird [22]
Giant Gila Monster, TheThe Giant Gila Monster 1959 United States beaded lizard [23]
Godzilla 1954 Japan Godzilla [8][24]:Chapter 3[14]
Godzilla 1998 United States, Japan daikaiju [8]
Godzilla 2014 United States Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Godzilla 2000 1999 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla 2002 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8][24]:Chapter 32
Godzilla: Final Wars 2004 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack 2001 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8][11]
Godzilla Raids Again 1955 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. 2003 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Godzilla vs. Biollante 1989 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8][24]:Chapter 28
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah 1995 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8][24]:Chapter 33
Godzilla vs. Gigan 1972 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8][24]:Chapter 20
Godzilla vs. Hedorah 1971 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8][4]
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah 1991 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 1974 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II 1993 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus 2000 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Godzilla vs. Megalon 1973 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8][24]:Chapter 21
Godzilla vs. Mothra 1992 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster 1966 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8][24]:Chapter 14
Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla 1994 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Golden Voyage of Sinbad, TheThe Golden Voyage of Sinbad 1973 United Kingdom monsters from Greek mythology
Gorgo 1961 Ireland, United Kingdom, United States sea monster [13]
Grabbers 2012 Ireland, United Kingdom tentacled [11]
The Host 2006 South Koreal amphibious [11]
Invasion of Astro-Monster 1965 Japan, United States Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
It Came from Beneath the Sea 1955 United States radioactive octopus [25]
Jack the Giant Slayer 2013 United States giants [12]
Jason and the Argonauts 1963 United States, United Kingdom monsters from Greek mythology
Journey to the Beginning of Time 1955 Czechoslovakia dinosaurs [26]
Jurassic World 2015 United States dinosaurs [12]
King Kong 1933 United States King Kong [13]
King Kong 1976 United States, Italy King Kong
King Kong 2005 New Zealand, Italy King Kong
King Kong Escapes 1967 Japan, United States King Kong / daikaiju
King Kong Lives 1986 United States King Kong
King Kong vs. Godzilla 1962 Japan, United States King Kong / Godzilla [8][24]:Chapter 42
Kong: Skull Island 2017 United States King Kong [10]
Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus 2010 United States shark and crocodile [27]
Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus 2009 United States shark and octopus [28]
Mega Shark Versus Mecha Shark 2014 United States shark [29]
Mighty Joe Young 1949 United States gorilla [30]
Mighty Joe Young 1998 United States gorilla [31]
The Mist 2007 United States various [12]
Monsters 2010 United Kingdom six-legged, tentacled beast [11]
Monsters vs. Aliens 2009 United States various [12]
Mothra 1961 Japan daikaiju [32][33]
Mothra vs. Godzilla 1964 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8]
Mysterious Island 1961 United Kingdom, United States mutated animals
New Alcatraz 2001 United States snake
Night of the Lepus 1972 United States mutated rabbits [22]
On the Comet 1970 Czechoslovakia dinosaurs, Giant Serpent
Outlander 2008 United States Moorwen [12]
Pacific Rim 2013 United States, Mexico daikaiju [11]
Primeval 2007 United States crocodile [12]
Princ Bajaja 1971 Czechoslovakia Dragon [34]
Pulgasari 1985 North Korea Pulgasari
Python 2000 United States snake
Pythons II 2002 United States snake
Reign of Fire 2002 United Kingdom, Ireland, United States dragons [12]
Reptilicus 1961 Denmark, United States prehistoric reptile [35]
Return of Godzilla, TheThe Return of Godzilla 1984 Japan Godzilla [8]
Rock Monster 2008 United States rock monster [18]
Rodan 1956 Japan daikaiju [36]
Shin Godzilla 2016 Japan Godzilla [8][9]
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger 1977 United Kingdom monsters from Greek mythology
Son of Godzilla 1967 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8][24]:Chapter 92
Space Amoeba 1970 Japan daikaiju [37]:75–76
Super 8 2011 United States alien [12]
Tarantula 1955 United States spider [38][14]
Tentacles 1977 Italy, United States octopus [39]
Terror of Mechagodzilla 1975 Japan Godzilla / daikaiju [8][24]:Chapter 24
Them! 1954 United States radioactive ants [11][14]
Tremors 1990 United States Graboids [11]
Tremors 2: Aftershocks 1996 United States Graboids
Tremors 3: Back to Perfection 2001 United States Graboids
Tremors 4: The Legend Begins 2004 United States Graboids
Tremors 5: Bloodlines 2015 United States Graboids
Trollhunter 2010 Norway troll [11]
Varan the Unbelievable 1958 Japan daikaiju
War of the Gargantuas, TheThe War of the Gargantuas 1966 Japan, United States hairy humanoids
Wasei Kingu Kongu 1933 Japan King Kong
World Without End 1956 United States mutated spiders [14]
Wrath of the Titans 2012 United States, United Kingdom, Spain monsters from Greek mythology [12]
Yonggary 1967 South Korea daikaiju
Yonggary 1999 South Korea daikaiju
Zarkorr! The Invader 1996 United States daikaiju [40]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 高槻真樹 (Maki Takatsuki). 戦前日本ＳＦ映画創世記　ゴジラは何でできているか (Senzen Nihon SF Eiga Souseiki). 河出書房新社 (Kawadeshobo Shinsha publishing). 2014. Pgs.79-82.
  2. ↑ Gilles Penso (director) (2011). Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (Documentary film). France: Frenetic Arts, The Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation.
  3. ↑ Jones, Stephen (1993). The illustrated dinosaur movie guide (1st Titan ed.). London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-1852864873.
  4. 1 2 Newitz, Annalee (6 February 2008). "How Pollution Created the Creepiest Movie Mutants". io9. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. ↑ Roger Ebert (January 17, 2008). "Review: Cloverfield". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  6. ↑ Stephanie Zacharek (January 17, 2008). "Cloverfield". Salon.com. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  7. ↑ Newitz, Annalee (Jan 18, 2008). "Nevermind the Monster — Cloverfield Is All About 9/11". io9. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 "Godzilla Movie Listing". Toho Kingdom. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  9. 1 2 Alt, Matt (14 May 2016). "Godzilla Returns to Japan". The New Yorker. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Warner Bros. Pictures Brings Heroes, Magic and Myth to This Year's Comic-Con International: San Diego". 11 July 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Timpone, Tony (May 15, 2014). "13 Best Giant Monster Movies". Chiller. NBCUniversal. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Bellotto 2015
  13. 1 2 3 4 Landis 2011, p. 18
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Waldman, Katy (January 2013). "The Nuclear Monsters That Terrorized the 1950s". Slate. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  15. 1 2 Berry 2005
  16. ↑ Warren, Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties, 1997, p. 325-326.
  17. ↑ Taylor, Drew (16 October 2013). "Review: 'Big Ass Spider' Starring Greg Grunberg Is An Oddly Satisfying B-Movie Romp". IndieWire. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  18. 1 2 Foy, Scott (24 March 2008). "Rock Monster (2008)". Dread Central. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  19. ↑ "Gammera the Invincible (1965) - Noriyaki Yuasa - Synopsis". AllMovie. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mark, Jon (2016). "Is 2016 the Year that 'Godzilla Resurgence' and Gamera Battle it Out at the Box Office?". Inquisitr. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  21. ↑ Gallagher, Brian (March 2016). "Is Ghostbusters Bringing Back the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?". MovieWeb. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  22. 1 2 Eggertsen, Chris (4 March 2010). "Not So Scary... Top Ten Worst Movie Monsters!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "The Giant Gila Monster (1959) - Overview". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kalat, David (2007). A critical history and filmography of Toho's Godzilla® series (reprint ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., Inc., Publishers. ISBN 9780786430994.
  25. ↑ "It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955) - Overview". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  26. ↑ Ritch, Jim (3 March 1962). "Journey to the Beginning of Time!". Chicago Tribune: 3. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  27. ↑ Newitz, Annalee (4 November 2010). "The world isn't ready for Mega-Shark vs. Crocosaurus". io9. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  28. ↑ Mendelson, Scott (25 May 2011). "HuffPost Review — Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus (2009)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  29. ↑ Bishop, Bryan (7 December 2013). "Machine battles nature in this insane trailer for 'Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark'". The Verge. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  30. ↑ Cady, Brian. "Mighty Joe Young (1949)". Leonard Maltin classic movie guide. Turner Classic Movies by arrangement with Penguin Group. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  31. ↑ Ebert, Roger. "Mighty Joe Young". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  32. ↑ "Mothra (1961)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  33. ↑ Weiler, A. H. (12 July 1962). "Screen: 'Hatari!' Captures the Drama of Tanganyika Wildlife:Howard Hawks Film Opens at DeMille Neighborhood Houses Offer 2 Twin Bills". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  34. ↑ "Bajaja: v úterý v podvečer si pro princeznu přiletí drak |". iPrima. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  35. ↑ "Reptilicus (1962) - Overview". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  36. ↑ Galbraith IV, Stuart (2008). The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 1461673747.
  37. ↑ Barr, Jason (2016). The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema's Biggest Monsters. ISBN 9780786499632.
  38. ↑ "Review: 'Tarantula'". Variety. 31 December 1954. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  39. ↑ Gallman, Brett (19 August 2012). "Horror Reviews - Tentacles (1977)". Oh! The Horror. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  40. ↑ Ward, Mikey (7 March 2016). "Zarkorr! The Invader (1996)". Mondo Exploito. Retrieved 12 July 2016.

Further reading

  • Bellotto, Adam (July 24, 2015). "A new renaissance for giant monster movies is almost upon us". News. Film school rejects. Retrieved 14 April 2016. 
  • Berry, Mark F. (2005). The dinosaur filmography. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN 9780786424535. 
  • Farlow, James O.; Brett-Surman, M.K. (2000). "Dinosaurs and the media". In Farlow, James O.; Brett-Surman, M.K. The complete dinosaur. Bloomington, Ind. [u.a.]: Indiana Univ. Press. pp. 675–706. ISBN 9780253213136. 
  • Landis, John (2011). Monsters in the movies. Penguin. ISBN 9780756688462. 
  • Marrero, Robert (1994). Giant monster movies : an illustrated survey (1st American ed.). Key West, Fla.: Fantasma Books. ISBN 9780963498229. 


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