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. Two of the earliest of these were The Great Buddha Arrival from 1934 and 1938's The King Kong That Appeared in Edo , both of which are now presumed to be lost films. [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, followed by Rodan in 1956. This was at a time when giant creatures created by nuclear radiation became popular. 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 and Denmark with Gorgo and Reptilicus , both released 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 and the growth of the environmental movement in the 1970s inspired the release of various horror films, and the giant monster subgenre saw the release of 1971's Godzilla vs. Hedorah , in which the themes of pollution and environmentalism were incorporated into the series. [4] Following a second series of films in the 1980s and 1990s, Godzilla received a 1998 remake by TriStar Pictures, while King Kong received a 2005 remake by Universal Pictures. 2008 saw the release of the successful Cloverfield , which some critics have claimed took 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 first Japanese film in the Godzilla series after a ten year long hiatus, Shin Godzilla , premiered in Japan in July 2016. [8] [9] A reboot of King Kong known as Kong: Skull Island was released in March 2017. [10] Two other Godzilla films were released subsequently, with Godzilla: King of the Monsters releasing in 2019 and Godzilla vs. Kong releasing in 2021. The latest Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus One , was premiered in Japan in 2023.
Name | Year | Country | Description | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad | 1958 | United States | Cyclops, dragon, roc | [11] |
20 Million Miles to Earth | 1957 | United States | extraterrestrial from Venus | [12] |
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock | 1959 | United States | Giantess | [13] |
47 Ronin | 2013 | United States | kirin, Mizuki (as a dragon) | [14] |
Alice in Wonderland | 2010 | United States | jabberwocky | [15] |
All Monsters Attack | 1969 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [16] |
Alligator | 1980 | United States | Giant alligator | [17] |
Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 | 2007 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] |
Anaconda | 1997 | United States | Giant anaconda | [18] |
Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid | 2004 | United States | giant anacondas | [19] [20] |
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters | 2007 | United States | Insanoflex / robot | [21] |
Aquaman | 2018 | United States | Karathen (giant sea creature) | [22] [23] [24] [25] |
The Arctic Giant | 1942 | United States | Dinosaur-esque monster | [26] [27] [28] |
Atragon | 1963 | Japan | Manda / daikaiju | [29] |
Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader | 2012 | United States | Giantess | [30] |
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman | 1958 | United States | Giantess | [31] : 18 [32] |
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman | 1993 | United States | Giantess | [33] |
Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold | 1995 | United States | Giantess | [34] |
Attack of the Crab Monsters | 1958 | United States | giant crabs | [35] |
Attack of the Giant Leeches | 1959 | United States | Giant leech | [36] |
Attack on Titan | 2015 | Japan | giants / Titans | [37] |
The Avengers | 2012 | United States | Chitauri Leviathans | [38] |
Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | United States | Chitauri Leviathans | [38] |
Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | United States | Chitauri Leviathans | [39] |
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms | 1953 | United States | Rhedosaurus | [40] : 28–37 [32] |
The Beast of Hollow Mountain | 1956 | United States | Allosaurus | [40] : 37–42 |
Beginning of the End | 1957 | United States | radioactive grasshoppers | [41] [32] |
Beyond Skyline | 2017 | United States | tanker alien, hive mind tanker alien | [42] |
The BFG | 2016 | United States | Giants | [43] |
Big Ass Spider! | 2013 | United States | giant spider | [44] |
Big Man Japan | 2008 | Japan | daikaiju | [45] |
The Black Scorpion | 1957 | United States | giant scorpion | [46] |
The Blob | 1958 | United States | Blob | [47] |
The Blob | 1988 | United States | Blob | [48] |
Bulgasari | 1962 | South Korea | Bulgasari / daikaiju | [49] |
Clash of the Titans | 1981 | United States | Kraken | [50] |
Clash of the Titans | 2010 | United States, United Kingdom | monsters from Greek mythology | [19] [51] [52] |
Cloverfield | 2008 | United States | Clover | [31] |
The Cloverfield Paradox | 2018 | United States | Clover | [31] |
Colossal | 2016 | Canada/Spain | unknown creature | [53] [54] [55] |
Conan the Barbarian | 1982 | United States | giant snake | [56] |
Crocodile | 2000 | United States | Giant crocodile | [57] [58] |
Daimajin | 1966 | Japan | Daimajin | [59] |
Daimajin Strikes Again | 1966 | Japan | Daimajin | [60] |
The Deadly Mantis | 1957 | United States | Praying mantis | [61] |
Deep Rising | 1998 | United States | giant octopus-like creature | [62] |
DeepStar Six | 1989 | United States | Giant undersea creature | [63] [64] [65] [66] |
Destroy All Monsters | 1968 | Japan | Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Rodan, Anguirus, Kumonga, Minilla, Baragon, Varan, Gorosaurus, Manda | [8] [67] [68] |
Detective Pikachu | 2019 | United States | Giant Torterras | [69] [70] |
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | 2022 | United States | Gargantos | [71] [72] [73] |
Dogora | 1964 | Japan | jellyfish-like amorphous alien lifeform | [74] [75] |
Dune | 1984 | United States | Sandworms (giant worms) | [76] [77] [78] [79] [80] |
Dune | 2021 | United States | Sandworms (giant worms) | [81] [82] [83] [84] |
Dune: Part Two | 2024 | United States | Sandworms (giant worms) | [85] [86] [87] |
D-War | 2007 | United States | Buraki, good imoogi | [88] [89] |
Earth vs. the Spider | 1958 | United States | giant spider | [90] |
Ebirah: Horror of the Deep | 1966 | Japan | Godzilla, Ebirah | [8] [91] : Chapter 14 |
The Empire Strikes Back | 1980 | United States | Exogorth (giant slug) | [92] [93] |
Eight Legged Freaks | 2002 | United States, Germany, Australia | giant spiders | [19] [94] |
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure | 1984 | United States | Gorax | [95] [96] [97] |
The Flash | 2023 | United States | Thanagarian Snare Beast | [98] |
The Food of the Gods | 1976 | United States | Giant Rats | [26] |
Galaxy Quest | 1999 | United States | Gorignak (rock monster) | [99] |
Gamera | 1965 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [100] [101] |
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion | 1996 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [12] |
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris | 1999 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [102] |
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe | 1995 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [103] |
Gamera: Super Monster | 1980 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [104] |
Gamera the Brave | 2006 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [105] |
Gamera vs. Barugon | 1966 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [101] |
Gamera vs. Guiron | 1969 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [101] |
Gamera vs. Gyaos | 1967 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [101] |
Gamera vs. Jiger | 1970 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [101] |
Gamera vs. Viras | 1968 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [101] |
Gamera vs. Zigra | 1971 | Japan | Gamera / daikaiju | [101] |
Gappa: The Triphibian Monster | 1967 | Japan | bird-lizards / daikaiju | [106] |
Gargantua | 1998 | United States | Prehistoric Creature | [107] |
Garuda | 2004 | Thailand | Garuda / giant bird creature | [108] |
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster | 1964 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [109] [110] |
Ghostbusters | 1984 | United States | Stay Puft Marshmallow Man | [111] |
The Giant Behemoth | 1959 | United Kingdom, United States | Paleosaurus | [112] [113] |
The Giant Claw | 1957 | United States | extraterrestrial prehistoric bird | [114] |
The Giant Gila Monster | 1959 | United States | beaded lizard | [115] |
The Giant Spider Invasion | 1975 | United States | giant spiders | [116] [117] |
Godzilla/Godzilla, King of the Monsters!/Godzilla | 1954/1956/1977 | Japan/Japan, United States/Japan, Italy | Godzilla | [8] [91] : Chapter 3 [32] |
Godzilla | 1998 | United States, Japan | Zilla | [8] |
Godzilla | 2014 | United States | Godzilla, MUTOs | [8] [118] [119] [120] [121] [122] |
Godzilla 2000: Millennium | 1999 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [123] [124] [125] [126] |
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla | 2002 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha | [8] [91] : Chapter 32 |
Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle | 2018 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha | [127] [128] |
Godzilla: Final Wars | 2004 | Japan, United States, China, Australia | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [129] [130] [131] |
Godzilla: King of the Monsters | 2019 | United States | Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah | [132] |
Godzilla Minus One | 2023 | Japan | Godzilla | [133] |
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack | 2001 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [12] |
Godzilla: The Planet Eater | 2018 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha | [134] |
Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters | 2017 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha | [135] |
Godzilla Raids Again | 1955 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [136] |
Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. | 2003 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha | [8] [137] [138] |
Godzilla vs. Biollante | 1989 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [91] : Chapter 28 |
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah | 1995 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [91] : Chapter 33 |
Godzilla vs. Gigan | 1972 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / cyborg | [8] [91] : Chapter 20 |
Godzilla vs. Hedorah | 1971 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [4] |
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah | 1991 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha | [8] [139] [140] |
Godzilla vs. Kong | 2021 | United States | Kong / Godzilla / Mechagodzilla | [141] |
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla | 1974 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha | [8] [142] |
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II | 1993 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha / cyborg | [8] [143] |
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus | 2000 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] |
Godzilla vs. Megalon | 1973 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha | [8] [91] : Chapter 21 |
Godzilla vs. Mothra | 1992 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [144] [145] |
Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla | 1994 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha | [8] [146] |
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire | 2024 | US | Godzilla, Kong, Scar King, Mothra | [147] [148] [149] [150] [151] |
Gogola | 1966 | India | sea monster | [152] |
Goosebumps | 2015 | United States | giant praying mantis | [153] |
Gorgo | 1961 | Ireland, United Kingdom, United States | sea monster | [31] |
Grabbers | 2012 | Ireland, United Kingdom | tentacled | [12] |
Graveyard Shift | 1990 | United States | Giant bat | [154] |
The Great Buddha Arrival | 1934 | Japan | Buddha statue | [155] |
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 | 2017 | United States | Abilisk | [156] [157] [158] |
Half Human | 1955 | Japan | Abominable Snowman | [159] [160] |
He's a Dragon | 2015 | Russia | Dragon | [161] |
Helluva Good Luck | 1999 | Czech Republic | Dragon | [162] |
Helluva Good Luck 2 | 2001 | Czech Republic | Dragon | [163] |
The Hobbit | 1977 | United States | Smaug (a dragon) | [164] |
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | 2012 | United States | Smaug (a dragon) | [165] |
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug | 2013 | United States | Smaug | [165] |
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies | 2014 | United States | Smaug | [165] |
The Host | 2006 | South Korea | amphibious | [12] |
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation | 2018 | United States | Kraken | [166] |
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs | 2009 | United States | Momma Dino (a tyrannosaurus), Rudy (a baryonyx) | [167] |
The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild | 2022 | United States | Momma Dino (a tyrannosaurus) | [168] |
Ilya Muromets | 1956 | Soviet Union | Dragon | [169] |
Invasion of Astro-Monster | 1965 | Japan, United States | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] |
It Came from Beneath the Sea | 1955 | United States | radioactive octopus | [170] |
Jack the Giant Slayer | 2013 | United States | giants | [19] [171] |
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island | 2012 | United States | giant lizard | [172] [173] |
Journey to the Beginning of Time | 1955 | Czechoslovakia | dinosaurs | [174] |
The Jungle Book | 2016 | United States | King Louie (gigantopithecus) | [175] |
Jurassic Park | 1993 | United States | numerous dinosaurs | [176] [177] [178] |
Jurassic Park III | 2001 | United States | numerous dinosaurs | [179] [180] |
Jurassic World | 2015 | United States | genetically-modified dinosaurs | [19] [181] [182] |
Jurassic World Dominion | 2022 | United States | numerous dinosaurs | [183] |
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | 2018 | United States | numerous dinosaurs | [184] [185] [186] |
Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations | 2021 | Japan | kaiju | [187] [ verification needed ] |
King Kong | 1933 | United States | King Kong | [31] |
King Kong | 1976 | United States | King Kong | [188] |
King Kong | 2005 | United States, New Zealand | King Kong | [189] |
King Kong Appears in Edo | 1938 | Japan | King Kong | [190] |
King Kong Lives | 1986 | United States | King Kong | [191] [192] [193] |
King of the Lost World | 2005 | United States | Giant ape | [194] |
King Kong vs. Godzilla | 1962 | Japan, United States | King Kong / Godzilla | [8] [91] : Chapter 42 |
Konga | 1961 | United Kingdom | giant gorilla | [195] |
Konga TNT | 2022 | Canada | giant gorilla | [196] [197] [198] |
Kong: Skull Island | 2017 | United States | Kong, Skullcrawlers | [10] [199] [200] |
Lake Placid | 1999 | United States | Giant crocodile | [201] [202] |
Lake Placid 2 | 2007 | United States | Giant crocodile | [203] |
Lake Placid 3 | 2007 | United States | Giant crocodiles | [204] |
Lake Placid: The Final Chapter | 2012 | United States | Giant crocodiles | [205] |
Lake Placid: Legacy | 2018 | United States | Giant crocodile | [206] |
Lake Placid vs. Anaconda | 2015 | United States | Crocodile and anaconda | [207] |
Land of the Lost | 2009 | United States | Grumpy (a tyrannosaurus), Big Alice (an allosaurus) | [208] |
The Loch Ness Horror | 1981 | United States | Loch Ness Monster | [209] |
The Lego Batman Movie | 2017 | United States | King Kong | [210] [211] |
The Lost World | 1925 | United States | numerous dinosaurs | [212] |
The Lost World: Jurassic Park | 1997 | United States | numerous dinosaurs | [213] |
Love and Monsters | 2020 | United States | numerous monsters | [214] |
Maleficent | 2014 | United States | Diaval (as a dragon) | [215] |
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil | 2019 | United States | Maleficent (as a phoenix) | [216] |
Mammoth | 2006 | United States | alien/woolly mammoth | [217] |
The Meg | 2018 | United States/China | megalodon | [218] [219] |
Meg 2: The Trench | 2023 | United States/China | megalodons, Giant Octopus, Kronosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex, | [220] [221] |
Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus | 2010 | United States | shark and crocodile | [222] |
Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus | 2009 | United States | giant shark and giant octopus | [223] |
Mega Shark Versus Mecha Shark | 2014 | United States | giant shark | [224] |
Mighty Joe Young | 1949 | United States | giant gorilla | [225] |
Mighty Joe Young | 1998 | United States | giant gorilla | [226] |
The Mighty Kong | 1998 | United States | King Kong | [227] |
The Mighty Peking Man | 1977 | Hong Kong | Peking Man / Yeti | [152] |
The Mist | 2007 | United States | various | [19] [228] [229] |
Monster | 2008 | United States | giant octopus | [230] |
A Monster Calls | 2016 | UK | giant anthropomorphic yew tree | [231] [232] [233] [234] [235] [236] [237] |
Monster Hunter | 2020 | United States | numerous monsters | [238] |
The Monster That Challenged the World | 1957 | United States | Giant molluscs | [239] |
Monsters | 2010 | United Kingdom | six-legged, tentacled beast | [12] |
Monsters: Dark Continent | 2014 | United Kingdom | six-legged, tentacled beast | [240] |
Monsters vs. Aliens | 2009 | United States | various | [19] [241] |
Mothra | 1961 | Japan | daikaiju / giant moth | [242] [243] |
Mothra vs. Godzilla | 1964 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [244] |
Night of the Lepus | 1972 | United States | giant mutated rabbits | [245] [246] [247] [248] |
Notzilla | 2020 | United States | daikaiju / Godzilla parody | [249] |
On the Comet | 1970 | Czechoslovakia | Dinosaurs, Sea monster | [250] |
Orochi, the Eight-Headed Dragon | 1994 | Japan | Yamata no Orochi / dragon | [251] |
Outlander | 2008 | United States | Moorwen | [19] [252] [253] |
Pacific Rim | 2013 | United States, Mexico | daikaiju / mecha | [12] [254] [255] [256] |
Pacific Rim: Uprising | 2018 | United States | daikaiju / mecha | [257] |
Primeval | 2007 | United States | crocodile | [19] [258] [259] [260] |
Princ Bajaja | 1971 | Czechoslovakia | dragon | [261] |
Princess Mononoke | 1997 | Japan | Forest spirits and gods | [262] |
Pulgasari | 1985 | North Korea | Pulgasari / daikaiju | [263] [264] |
Q | 1982 | United States | Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, depicted as a giant winged lizard | [265] |
Queen Kong | 1976 | UK | giant gorilla | [266] |
Ralph Breaks the Internet | 2018 | United States | Giant Ralph Monster | [267] [268] |
Rampage | 2018 | United States | George the Gorilla, Lizzie the Alligator, Ralph the Wolf | [19] [269] |
Ready Player One | 2018 | United States | King Kong, Mechagodzilla, Tyrannosaurus | [270] |
Rebirth of Mothra | 1996 | Japan | daikaiju / giant moth | [272] |
Rebirth of Mothra II | 1997 | Japan | daikaiju / giant moth | [272] |
Rebirth of Mothra III | 1998 | Japan | daikaiju / giant moth | [272] |
Reign of Fire | 2002 | United Kingdom, Ireland, United States | dragons | [19] [273] [274] [275] |
Reptilicus | 1961 | Denmark, United States | prehistoric reptile | [276] |
Return of Daimajin | 1966 | Japan | Daimajin | [277] |
The Return of Godzilla /Godzilla 1985 | 1984/1985 | Japan/Japan, United States | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [278] [279] |
Return of the Jedi | 1983 | United States | Rancor and Sarlacc | [93] |
Rock Monster | 2008 | United States | rock monster | [99] |
Rodan | 1956 | Japan | flying daikaiju / irradiated pteranodon | [251] |
Rumble | 2021 | United States | Rayburn Jr., Tentacular, many other kaiju | [280] |
Scooby-Doo and the Loch Ness Monster | 2004 | United States | Loch Ness Monster | [281] |
Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf | 1988 | United States | Genghis Kong | [282] |
Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur | 2011 | United States | Phantosaur | [283] |
The Sea Beast | 2022 | United States | Red Bluster (giant sea creature) | [284] [285] [286] |
Shin Godzilla | 2016 | Japan | Godzilla | [8] [9] |
Shin Ultraman | 2022 | Japan | kaiju | [287] |
Skyline | 2010 | United States | tanker alien | [288] |
Skylines | 2020 | United States | tanker alien | [289] [290] |
Sleeping Beauty | 1959 | United States | Maleficent (as a dragon) | [291] |
Snakeman | 2005 | United States | Giant five-headed snake | [292] |
Snow Dragon | 2013 | Czech Republic | Dragon | [293] |
Son of Godzilla | 1967 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju | [8] [91] : Chapter 92 [16] |
Son of Kong | 1933 | United States | Giant ape | [294] |
Space Amoeba | 1970 | Japan | daikaiju | [295] : 75–76 |
Space Jam: A New Legacy | 2021 | United States | King Kong | [296] |
Space Monster, Wangmagwi | 1967 | South Korea | Extraterrestrial daikaiju | [297] |
Spider-Man | 1978 | Japan | swordfish | [298] |
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | 1999 | United States | Sando Aqua Monster | [93] |
The Story of Voyages | 1983 | Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Romania | Dragon | [299] |
The Suicide Squad | 2021 | United States | Starro / giant alien starfish | [300] [301] [302] [303] |
Super 8 | 2011 | United States | alien | [19] |
Tarantula | 1955 | United States | giant tarantula | [304] [32] |
Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans | 2019 | United States | The Unkindness, Hexagon | [305] |
Tentacles | 1977 | Italy, United States | octopus | [306] |
Terror of Mechagodzilla | 1975 | Japan | Godzilla / daikaiju / mecha | [8] [91] : Chapter 24 |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem | 2023 | United States | giant mutant Superfly | [307] [308] |
Them! | 1954 | United States | radioactive ants | [12] [32] |
This Is the End | 2013 | United States | Satan | [309] |
Thor | 2011 | United States | Frost Beast | [310] [158] |
Thor: The Dark World | 2013 | United States | Frost Beast | [310] [158] |
Thor: Ragnarok | 2017 | United States | Surtur, Fenris, dragon | [158] [311] [312] [313] [314] |
Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon | 2014 | United States | Puffy's mother (a dragon), Drizelda (as a dragon) | [315] |
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | 2009 | United States | Devastator, Demolishor | [316] |
Transformers: Age of Extinction | 2014 | United States | Grimlock (a giant robotic tyrannosaurus), Scorn (spinosaurus), Slug (triceratops), Strafe (pteranodon) | [317] [318] |
Transformers: The Last Knight | 2017 | United States | Grimlock, Dragonstorm | [319] [320] |
Tremors | 1990 | United States | Graboids | [12] |
Tremors 2: Aftershocks | 1996 | United States | Grabboids | [321] |
Tremors 3: Back to Perfection | 2001 | United States | Grabboids | [322] |
Tremors 4: The Legend Begins | 2004 | United States | Grabboids | [323] |
Tremors 5: Bloodlines | 2015 | United States | Grabboids | [324] |
Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell | 2018 | United States | Grabboids | [325] |
Tremors: Shrieker Island | 2020 | United States | Grabboids | [326] [327] [328] |
Troll | 2022 | Norway | troll | [329] |
Trollhunter | 2010 | Norway | troll (Tusseladd, Jotnar) | [12] |
Turning Red | 2022 | United States | Ming (as a red panda) | [330] |
Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad | 2022 | Japan | kaiju | [287] |
Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey to Beyond | 2023 | Japan | kaiju | [287] |
Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature | 1967 | Japan | kaiju | [287] |
Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z | 2022 | Japan | kaiju | [287] |
Underwater | 2020 | United States | Cthulhu | [331] |
The Valley of Gwangi | 1969 | United States | Allosaurus | [332] [333] |
Varan the Unbelievable | 1958 | Japan | Varan / Giant lizard | [334] |
The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep | 2007 | United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand | Crusoe (Loch Ness Monster) | [335] |
The War of the Gargantuas | 1966 | Japan | daikaiju | [8] |
What to Do with the Dead Kaiju? | 2022 | Japan | daikaiju | [336] |
World Without End | 1956 | United States | mutated spiders | [32] |
Wrath of the Titans | 2012 | United States, United Kingdom, Spain | monsters from Greek mythology | [19] [337] [338] |
The X from Outer Space | 1967 | Japan | Guilala / daikaiju | [339] |
Yonggary | 1999 | South Korea | Yonggary | [340] |
Yongary, Monster from the Deep | 1967 | South Korea | Yonggary | [341] |
Za humny je drak | 1982 | Czechoslovakia | Dragon | [342] |
Zarkorr! The Invader | 1996 | United States | daikaiju | [343] |
Godzilla is a fictional monster, or kaiju, that debuted in the eponymous 1954 film, directed and cowritten by Ishirō Honda. The character has since become an international pop culture icon, appearing in various media: 33 Japanese films produced by Toho Co., Ltd., five American films, and numerous video games, novels, comic books, and television shows. Godzilla has been dubbed the King of the Monsters, an epithet first used in Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956), the American localization of the 1954 film.
King Kong vs. Godzilla is a 1962 Japanese kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd, it is the third film in both the Godzilla and King Kong franchises, as well as the first Toho-produced film featuring King Kong. It is also the first time that each character appeared on film in color and widescreen. The film stars Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, Yū Fujiki, Ichirō Arishima, and Mie Hama, with Shoichi Hirose as King Kong and Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla. In the film, Godzilla is reawakened by an American submarine and a pharmaceutical company captures King Kong for promotional uses, culminating in a battle on Mount Fuji.
King Kong is a 1933 American pre-Code adventure horror monster film directed and produced by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, with special effects by Willis H. O'Brien. Produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, it is the first film in the King Kong franchise. The film stars Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot. In the film, a giant ape dubbed King Kong captured from Skull Island attempts to possess a beautiful young woman.
Kaiju is a Japanese term that is commonly associated with media involving giant monsters. A subgenre of science fiction, it was created by Eiji Tsuburaya and Ishirō Honda. The term can also refer to the giant monsters themselves, which are usually depicted attacking major cities and battling either the military or other monsters.
Gamera is a fictional monster, or kaiju, originating from a series of Japanese films. Debuting in the 1965 film Gamera, the Giant Monster, the character and the first film were intended to compete with the success of Toho's Godzilla film series. Since then, Gamera has become a Japanese icon in his own right, appearing in a total of 12 films produced by Daiei Film and later by Tokuma Shoten and Kadokawa Daiei Studio respectively, and various other media such as novelizations, manga, video games, and so on.
Godzilla vs. Hedorah is a 1971 Japanese kaiju film directed by Yoshimitsu Banno, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the 11th film in the Godzilla franchise, and features the fictional monster characters Godzilla and Hedorah. The film stars Akira Yamauchi, Toshie Kimura, and Hiroyuki Kawase, and features Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla and Kenpachiro Satsuma as Hedorah. Satsuma would go on to portray Godzilla in later Godzilla films.
Godzilla is a 1998 American monster film directed and co-written by Roland Emmerich. Produced by Centropolis Entertainment, Fried Films, and Independent Pictures, and distributed by TriStar Pictures, it is a reboot of Toho Co., Ltd.'s Godzilla franchise. It is also the 23rd film in the franchise and the first Godzilla film to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio. The film stars Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, Hank Azaria, Kevin Dunn, Michael Lerner, and Harry Shearer. The film is dedicated to Tomoyuki Tanaka, the co-creator and producer of various Godzilla films, who died in April 1997. In the film, authorities investigate and battle a giant monster who migrates to New York City to nest its young.
Godzilla is a Japanese monster, or kaiju, media franchise consisting of films, television series, novels, comic books, video games, and other merchandise. The franchise is centered on the fictional kaiju Godzilla, a prehistoric reptilian monster awakened and powered by nuclear radiation. The franchise is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "longest continuously running film franchise", having been in ongoing production since 1954, with several hiatuses of varying lengths. The film franchise consists of 38 films: 33 Japanese films produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd.; and five American films, the first of which was produced by TriStar Pictures and the remaining four by Legendary Pictures, with the latest being released in March 2024.
Godzilla is a 2014 American monster film directed by Gareth Edwards. Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a reboot of Toho Co., Ltd.'s Godzilla franchise, and the first film in the MonsterVerse. It is also the 30th film in the Godzilla franchise, and the second Godzilla film to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio. The film stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn, and Bryan Cranston. In the film, an American soldier attempts to return to his family while caught in the crossfire of an ancient rivalry between Godzilla and two parasitic monsters known as MUTOs.
The MUTOs are fictional monsters, or kaiju, in Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse media franchise. The characters first appeared as the antagonists in Godzilla (2014), directed by Gareth Edwards. While the term "MUTO" is mainly used to label the two parasitic monsters, it is intended to flag unidentified creatures. Edwards likened the term to UFO for monsters. Edwards noted that it took over a year to create a design intended to be new and different and credited a majority of the design to Matt Allsopp; inspiration was drawn from past American monster films.
Kong: Skull Island is a 2017 American monster film directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a reboot of the King Kong franchise and the second film in the MonsterVerse, serving as the 11th film in the King Kong franchise. The film stars Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Jing Tian, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Shea Whigham, Thomas Mann, Terry Notary, and John C. Reilly. Set in 1973, the film follows a team of scientists and Vietnam War soldiers travelling to the uncharted Skull Island and meeting Kong, a gigantic ape who is the last of his species, closely followed by other terrifying creatures.
Godzilla vs. Kong is a 2021 American monster film directed by Adam Wingard. Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a sequel to Kong: Skull Island (2017) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), and is the fourth film in the MonsterVerse. It is also the 36th film in the Godzilla franchise, the 12th film in the King Kong franchise, and the fourth Godzilla film to be completely produced by an American film studio. The film stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Julian Dennison, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler, and Demián Bichir. Brown and Chandler reprise their roles from the previous Godzilla film. In the film, Kong clashes with Godzilla after humans move the ape from Skull Island to the Hollow Earth, homeworld of the monsters known as "Titans", to retrieve a power source for a secret weapon intended to stop Godzilla's mysterious attacks.
The MonsterVerse is an American multimedia franchise and shared universe featuring Godzilla and other sister characters owned and created by Toho Co., Ltd, as well as King Kong. The franchise consists of five films and two television series that have been produced by Legendary Pictures, with Warner Bros. Pictures distributing the films and the series being released for streaming on Netflix and Apple TV+. The franchise has received a generally positive critical reception and has grossed $2.316 billion worldwide at the box office.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a 2019 American monster film directed and co-written by Michael Dougherty. Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a sequel to Godzilla (2014) and the third film in the MonsterVerse. It is also the 35th film in the Godzilla franchise, and the third Godzilla film to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio. The film stars Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, O'Shea Jackson Jr., David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe, and Zhang Ziyi. In the film, eco-terrorists release King Ghidorah, who awakens other monsters known as "Titans" across the world, forcing Godzilla and Mothra to surface and engage Ghidorah and Rodan in a decisive battle.
King Kong is an American monster media franchise that consists of thirteen films, as well as television, novels, comic books, video games, attractions, and other merchandise. The franchise is centered on King Kong, a giant ape living on a primordial island inhabited by prehistoric creatures. The original film King Kong was co-directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack and was released on March 2, 1933; it was a box office success, despite opening during the Great Depression. The film's stop motion effects by Willis H. O'Brien revolutionized special effects, leaving a lasting impact on the film industry worldwide.
Godzilla is a fictional monster, or kaiju, in Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse media franchise and based on Toho Co., Ltd.'s character of the same name. The character first appeared in Godzilla (2014), directed by Gareth Edwards. This incarnation of Godzilla is depicted as the sole survivor of a prehistoric superspecies, theorized by Ishirō Serizawa, acting as a force of nature that maintains balance. The character was initially designed by Matt Allsopp, modeled after the Toho version. It is the third incarnation of Godzilla to be created by an American studio, after Hanna-Barbera's 1978 animated series Godzilla and TriStar Pictures' 1998 film Godzilla, and overall the tenth onscreen incarnation of the iconic character.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is an American monster television series created by Chris Black and Matt Fraction and produced by Legendary Television. Based on Godzilla by Toho Co., Ltd, it is the sixth installment and the second television series in the MonsterVerse franchise. Following the events of Godzilla (2014), the ten-episode series follows members of the Monarch organization as they encounter Godzilla and other monsters called Titans, across a half century.
Godzilla vs. Kong is the soundtrack to the 2021 American monster film Godzilla vs. Kong. A sequel to Kong: Skull Island (2017) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), it is the fourth film in Legendary's MonsterVerse, the 36th film in the Godzilla franchise, the 12th film in the King Kong franchise, and the fourth Godzilla film to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio. Directed by Adam Wingard, the film features musical score written and composed by Tom Holkenborg, the fourth film composer to work on the MonsterVerse franchise. He was announced as a part of the film in June 2020, before a planned meeting with Wingard, two years, expressing his interest on working on the score due to his personal love for the Godzilla film series during his teen years. The recording of the score took place for nearly two years, and was bundled into a soundtrack album, released by WaterTower Music in digital and physical formats on March 31, 2021, coinciding with the film's United States theatrical release.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a 2024 American monster film directed by Adam Wingard, produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and the fifth film in the MonsterVerse franchise, also serving as the 38th film of the Godzilla franchise and 13th in the King Kong franchise. The film stars Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, and Fala Chen. Hall, Henry, and Hottle reprise their roles from the previous film. In the film, Kong encounters more of his species in the Hollow Earth and must unite again with Godzilla to stop their tyrannical leader and his powerful, frost-breathing Titan from destroying the surface.