Summary

• Colossal offers a unique twist on monster movies, adding emotional depth to the genre with a focus on personal turmoil over typical destruction.
• Pacific Rim succeeds as a love letter to kaiju films, balancing silliness with heartfelt storytelling and epic battles between mechanical behemoths.
• Them! and Attack of the 50 Foot Woman showcase classic B-movie charm, delivering thrills and entertainment through straightforward monster mayhem.

multiple versions of Godzilla loom largest in the public imagination, the world of kaiju cinema extends far beyond these oversized beasts. Since the 1950s, scores of fantastical creature features have unleashed their own gargantuan monsters upon unsuspecting cities and rural countryside alike. These mega-scaled giants have arrived from the ethers of space, rose from the depths of the sea, or spawned from humanity's own reckless tinkering.

However, for all their disparate origins, each colossal monster exists for one glorious purpose: to flatten cities, smash landmarks, and dramatize humanity's insignificance through infrastructure destruction. From the humble B-movies of the Atomic Age to modern international blockbusters, giant monster movies channel viewers' deepest anxieties into primal spectacles of chaos. While Godzilla may rule the monster kingdom, dozens of challengers have stormed the screen to test his throne. Whether seeking earnest science fiction, outrageous camp, or mass-scale cinematic mayhem, giant creature features overflow with options beyond Godzilla's substantial shadow.

10 Colossal (2017)

Directed by Nacho Vigalondo

Colossal offers a unique perspective on the typical giant monster movie. This Anne Hathaway movie shows an unemployed writer battling alcoholism returning to her hometown, only to discover she can manifest as a Godzilla-esque monster wreaking havoc in Seoul whenever she enters a local playground. Rather than focusing solely on the typical monster mayhem, Colossal explores weighty interpersonal drama between the leads, using the unpredictable, destructive creature as a metaphor for Hathaway's inner turmoil. The monster scenes deliver impressive thrills, but the complex central relationship gives this indie film an emotional core often absent from the giant monster genre.

9 Pacific Rim (2013)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro

Though absurd on paper, the Pacific Rim series triumphs as an earnest love letter to kaiju films. Guillermo del Toro leans into the genre's inherent silliness but captures its magical spirit. The vivid worldbuilding, stellar effects, and clear reverence for all things kaiju are evident in every frame. What could be perceived as juvenile or derivative instead feels affectionate and thrilling. Pacific Rim delivers stories of sacrifice and canceled apocalypses while relishing the childlike joy of watching mechanical behemoths and reptilian monsters trade earth-shaking blows.

8 Them! (1954)

Directed by Gordon Douglas

Despite being overshadowed by the iconic movie Godzilla, Them! endures as a classic sci-fi B-movie in its own right. The premise is quite simple: radioactive testing mutates ants to colossal proportions, transforming the insects into lethal predators. Lacking any high-minded subtext, Them! instead opts for straightforward thrills as brave heroes defeat the swarming menace. For a 1950s creature feature, the visual effects and tension hold up well. While the ants lack Godzilla's enduring cultural impact, Them!'s influence on the era's wave of giant monsters can't be overstated. 70 years later, Them! remains a tightly crafted movie that delivers.

Them! is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video.

7 Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman (1958)

Directed by Nathan Juran

A cult classic example of a 1950s sci-fi B-movie, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman delivers exactly what its title s. When an encounter with a giant alien endows depressed socialite Nancy Archer with massive size and strength, she uses her newfound gifts to seek revenge on her cheating husband. Lacking the sophisticated effects or layered commentary of other films like Them!, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman instead employs fun charm. With its outrageous premise, cheap visuals, and Allison Hayes selling the preposterous concept through committed acting, this giant monster movie earns its status as a wildly entertaining watch.

Attack of the 50 Foot Woman is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video.

6 Gorgo (1961)

Directed by Eugène Lourié

With The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms and Gorgo, Eugène Lourié cemented his reputation as a master of monster movies. The latter, released in 1961, brings kaiju chaos to London as a colossal prehistoric creature rampages in search of its captive offspring. Interestingly, the film shifts sympathies towards the towering Gorgo, highlighting the humans' vulnerability. While the British military responds, the film's concise 78-minute runtime focuses on breathtaking destruction, showcasing iconic London landmarks. The story, while not overly complex, builds towards a surprisingly heartwarming conclusion for the monsters, adding a rare sentimental touch to the genre.

5 Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995)

Directed by Shusuke Kaneko

Though launched as a Godzilla competitor, it took 30 years for the rocket-powered turtle Gamera to receive a suitably grand treatment. Helmed by Shusuke Kaneko of Godzilla: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack fame, Guardian of the Universe modernizes Gamera with slick effects while tapping into classic Kaiju film exhilaration. As Gamera shields humanity from the Gyaos, the film strikes an ideal balance between popcorn action and mythic grandeur. Full of imaginative battles across land, sea, and sky, Gamera soars to new B-movie heights while staying true to its low-budget roots.

4 Big Man Japan (2007)

Directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto

Comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto offers a fresh take on giant monster movies with his witty mockumentary, Big Man Japan. The film follows a disillusioned middle-aged man who transforms into a towering titan to defend against attacking creatures, all while navigating personal struggles. Big Man Japan is a film that strikes the perfect balance between parody and homage. It cleverly blends reality TV elements with Tokusatsu traditions, resulting in a uniquely eccentric premise. Matsumoto's deadpan performance grounds the film, delivering both humor and touching drama. With inventive man-in-suit fights adding to the spectacle, Big Man Japan is a refreshing and entertaining watch.

Big Man Japan is not currently available for streaming.

3 Cloverfield (2008)

Directed by Matt Reeves

Cloverfield is the perfect modern giant monster movie for those looking to step outside the Godzilla realm. Shot found-footage style, the film thrusts viewers onto terrorized Manhattan streets as an immense alien beast strikes. Visceral sequences evoke both monster films and traumatic disaster footage, adding something new to the genre. However, Cloverfield entertains more than disturbs, transcending genre limitations through sharp execution. With producer J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves delivering startling creature visuals and captivating human drama on an indie budget, Cloverfield engages emotions while delivering unrelenting spectacle.

2 The Host (2006)

Directed by Bong Joon-ho

Director Bong Joon-ho broke genre norms with the eccentric monster movie, The Host. When an unclassifiable amphibian emerges from Seoul’s Han River, chaos ensues as it snatches a young girl. However, instead of focusing solely on the disaster of the story, the film shifts to the girl's devastated family's dangerous retrieval efforts. Bong's direction skillfully blends satire, family drama, comedy, and horror into a cohesive narrative. Just like the creature itself, which oscillates between silly and scary, the film's emotional core resonates while incorporating quirky digressions. The Host stands out as it delivers a poignant, hilarious, and wholly unique film.

1 The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

Directed by Eugène Lourié

The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms epitomizes the giant monster genre, bringing fears to vivid life. Featuring Ray Harryhausen's pioneering stop-motion animation, the film follows an Arctic nuclear test that awakens a colossal Rhedosaurus. Symbolizing post-war anxieties, the creature's rampage along the southern coast incites widespread panic until experts confront it at Coney Island. Despite dated effects, Harryhausen's animation impresses with its detail and emotion. Pitting military forces against a primordial behemoth, the film's matinee-style thrills set the standard for Creature Feature atomic horrors, far suring its 2016 CGI-heavy remake in both empathy and impact.