Whether you call them monster movies or creature features, the plot of these films typically revolves around an animalistic villain that cannot be reasoned with as it hunts down human prey. Often the creature will be an iconic monster from folklore, such as a vampire or werewolf, while extraterrestrials and creatures created in labs also feature. Other times the killer creature will be a real animal that has been given a taste for blood or one that has been experimented on by foolish humans.
The German silent film The Golem, released in 1915, is often referred to as one of the earliest monster films. Despite the genre being over 100 years old, it shows no signs of slowing down as filmmakers from all over the world bring their own monsters to life. While monster movies are often associated with the horror genre, the best creature features come from a wide range of genres, with action and science-fiction well represented.
20 'Tremors' (1990)
Best buds Valentine (Kevin Bacon) and Earl (Fred Ward) spend their days working as handymen in the dull town of Perfection, Nevada. Wishing to leave for more excitement, they soon get their wish when the town becomes plagued by worm-like creatures that live underground, feasting on anyone who walks above.
One of the best horror comedies of the '90s, Tremors succeeds by never taking its ridiculous premise seriously. With the creatures hidden underground for most of the movie, Tremors relies on a fun cast of characters to carry its story, with survivalist Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) proving so popular that he has starred in all seven movies.
19 'Frankenstein' (1931)
Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) is obsessed with creating life and spends his nights digging up corpses for body parts to assemble his grotesque creation. He finds success when he brings the assembled parts to life, but Frankenstein's Monster (Boris Karloff) is not so easily controlled, and soon tragedy befalls the creator and creation.
Everyone has heard the tale of Frankenstein, as it is based on the legendary novel by Mary Shelley. While there have been many attempts to adapt the story in all forms of media over the years, the 1931 film remains the best version of Frankenstein and one of the best explorations of the folly of man.
18 'The Mist' (2007)
When a thick mist falls upon a small town, it brings with it an army of strange creatures that kill anyone caught in the fog. As the townspeople take shelter in the local supermarket, they soon discover that their friends and neighbors may prove more dangerous once fear and paranoia take hold.
Stacked with a great cast, The Mist uses its claustrophobic setting to spend time with its characters. It makes their hopeless situation more harrowing as every step outside brings death. It all leads to one of the most disturbing endings of all time and one that will stick with you for a long time.
17 'A Quiet Place' (2018)
A Quiet Place begins after blind aliens have landed on Earth, with the creatures hunting using sound and killing anyone that dares utter a noise in their presence. The Abbott family, consisting of mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt), father Lee (John Krasinski), and their children, attempt to survive together in this dangerous new world.
With sound being such a significant focus of its premise, A Quiet Place uses sound (or the lack thereof) brilliantly to create tension as the creatures constantly stalk within earshot. It makes for one of the best monster movies of the 21st century and one of the better horror films in recent years.
16 'The Descent' (2005)
After experiencing the tragic loss of her husband and daughter, grieving Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) is convinced by her friends to embark on a cave-spelunking expedition. As the six women become trapped underground, they discover countless strange creatures living within the cave system, and they are thirsty for blood.
The Descent is a nightmare for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia and uses its cramped setting to create an unshakable sense of tension. Its focus on an all-female cast makes for a breath of fresh air, and its characters feel like real people rather than stereotypes just waiting to die, making their eventual deaths even more impactful.
15 'The Host' (2006)
When a monster emerges from the Han River in Seoul and kidnaps young Hyun-seo (Go Ah-sung), her dysfunctional family is forced to spring into action to rescue her. With the American government attempting to cover up their involvement in the monster's creation, the Park family must navigate both the conspiracy and the deadly creature.
Directed by Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho, The Host is another classic from the Parasite filmmaker. While the monster is a big focus of the plot, the film is more concerned with exploring the dynamics of the central family, with each character compelling in their own way. The end result is one of South Korea's best movies.Watch on Max
14 'Nosferatu' (1922)
Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) is sent to the castle of Count Orlok (Max Schreck), who is looking to buy a new estate. As Hutter gets to know his new client, he soon learns that he is a vampire and that his eyes are set on claiming Hutter's wife as his new bride.
Nosferatu is an unauthorized adaptation of Dracula, telling the classic story in a German setting. A masterpiece of the silent era, Nosferatu is one of the most influential movies of all time. Despite not being an official take on the source material, it remains the best portrayal of the famous bloodsucker on the big screen.
13 'Gremlins' (1984)
When Billy (Zach Galligan) is gifted a strange creature for his birthday, he names his new friend Gizmo. After an accident results in Gizmo spawning more creatures, they begin running amok and killing people. It falls to Billy and Gizmo to stop the crazed Gremlins and save their town from destruction.
Gremlins straddles the line between a horror and family movie, featuring quite dark material for a film that is often referred to as kid-friendly. Its signature creatures are some of the most recognizable monsters in movie history, and the film itself remains one of the best horror movies from the '80s.
12 'Aliens' (1986)
Picking up after the events of the original film, Aliens sees Sigourney Weaver reprising her role as Ellen Ripley. When a terraforming colony goes dark, Ripley is paired with a squad of colonial marines and sent to investigate. There she comes face to face with the xenomorph threat once again.
One of the greatest sequels of all time, Aliens swaps the creepy horror story of the original for sci-fi action as the marine and xenomorphs do battle. It helped establish Ripley as an icon of cinema, and Weaver provides a great performance alongside a terrific cast that includes awesome supporting turns from Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen.
11 'Predator' (1987)
When a paramilitary team is sent into the jungles of South America to rescue hostages, they soon encounter a deadly alien that begins hunting them for sport. Led by Vietnam War veteran Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), the experienced soldiers find themselves outgunned as their stalker picks them off one by one.
Combining elements of the action and slasher genres, Predator is a brutal yet highly-entertaining sci-fi classic. The manliest movie of all time, Schwazenegger is joined by the likes of Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura, as they trade barbs, fire guns, and spill blood while their invisible hunter is never too far away.
10 'Let the Right One In' (2008)
12-year-old Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) lives with his mother in the suburbs of Sweden, enduring a lonely existence as he is regularly bullied at school. When Eli (Lina Leandersson) moves in next door the two children begin to bond, before Oskar discovers some dark secrets about his new friend.
Regularly hailed as a masterpiece, Let the Right One In uses its horror story to showcase a genuine romance that makes for one of the best couples in horror. Oddly touching despite the twisted events it contains, Let the Right One In is a fantastic portrayal of both the innocence and terrors of growing up.
9 'The Fly' (1986)
Eccentric scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is obsessed with creating a device that will allow the user to teleport themselves from one point to another. Testing the machine on himself, it appears to be a success, until Brundle learns a stray fly was also present, resulting in his DNA being merged with the insect.
Directed by body horror master David Cronenberg, The Fly is the pinnacle of that genre. Featuring disgusting yet brilliant practical effects, The Fly is one of the best showcases of make-up design on film, while Goldblum delivers the greatest performance of his career as the scientist who is slowly turning into a fly-like creature.
8 'Pan's Labyrinth' (2006)
After her mother marries a sadistic captain during the Spanish Civil War, ten-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is forced to move to his estate. Surrounded by violence, Ofelia takes comfort in the magical realm that exists around her, where she is a princess capable of talking to a range of Fantasy creatures.
Pan's Labyrinth is Guillermo del Toro's magnum opus and the best example of his trademark take on magical realism. It is a dark fairytale that features some confronting imagery but is still a beautiful film that showcases gorgeous set and creature design.
7 'Godzilla' (1954)
When the titular giant monster emerges from the sea and begins marching toward Japan, authorities scramble to find a way to quell its path of destruction. While other Godzilla movies feature a heroic version of the character, the 1954 original focuses on the human characters as they try to survive its rampage.
Recognized as the longest-running film franchise of all time with 38 entries, Godzilla is almost a genre in itself. The character has become synonymous with Japan and has become a cultural icon far beyond the world of film. Despite being best known as a monster that smashes things, this original movie also serves as a commentary on the fallacy of war.
6 'Bride of Frankenstein' (1935)
The sequel to the original Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein picks up immediately where that film ends. Vowing to leave his twisted experiments behind, Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) is forced into creating life once again, this time a bride for his original creation.
The rare sequel that improves upon the original, Bride of Frankenstein has proven to be just as influential as Frankenstein. The "bride" concept has been homaged and parodied in countless projects across all forms of media, while the film itself still holds up remarkably well even after 80 years.
5 'King Kong' (1933)
When a struggling filmmaker learns of an uncharted island that is said to contain creatures far beyond anything humankind has seen before, he organizes an expedition there for his next project. Soon after arriving, they discover the island is home to King Kong, a giant gorilla-like creature that is worshiped by the local tribes.
One of the most famous monster movies of all time, King Kong influenced everything that came after it. The sight of Kong on top of the Empire State Building is an iconic image in cinema and is one of the earliest examples of how practical special effects can bring unbelievable sights to life.
4 'Alien' (1979)
When the crew of the cargo ship Nostromo receives a distress signal from a nearby planet, they set out to investigate. Finding nothing but a strange egg, they take it with them when they leave. This proves to be a fatal decision, as the alien that hatches begins tearing the crew members apart throughout the halls of the spacecraft.
Considered by many to be among the greatest science-fiction movies of all time, Alien takes terror to all-new heights in space. It introduced one of cinema's most recognizable monsters in the classic Xenomorph, with the ferocious creature haunting the nightmares of viewers ever since.
3 'The Thing' (1982)
The workers at a remote research facility in Antarctica find their monotonous days interrupted by the arrival of a strange alien creature that is intent on murdering them all. With the creature capable of taking on the appearance of anyone it kills, fear and paranoia grip the base as the survivors realize they can not even trust each other.
No movie captures that gripping sense of paranoia as well as John Carpenter's superior remake The Thing, with every character a potential carrier for the titular monster. Despite being over forty years old, The Thing features some of the best practical effects in film with several of the monster's appearances burned into the minds of fans forever.
2 'Jaws' (1975)
After their peaceful town is plunged into chaos due to the arrival of a great white shark that has a taste for human flesh, the authorities scramble to protect the residents. Not content to sit by as his people are killed, police chief Brody (Roy Scheider) sets out on a boat with marine biologist Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) to destroy the creature.
The highest-grossing film of all time at release, Jaws set the template for the summer blockbuster that Hollywood still follows today. Featuring plenty of iconic lines and the most recognizable movie soundtrack of all time, Jaws remains just as terrifyingly effective today.
1 'Jurassic Park' (1993)
Having discovered the secret to cloning dinosaurs, entrepreneur John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) creates a dinosaur-themed park and invites a group of specialists to preview it before it opens to the public. Soon after arriving, however, the dinosaurs break free of their enclosures and begin hunting down their human prey.
Arguably the greatest monster movie of all time, Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park brings the dinosaurs to life courtesy of groundbreaking special effects that still look fantastic today. While dinosaurs may be relics of the past, Jurassic Park ensures the extinct creatures will live on forever.