Buzz
Monster movies are all about pure enjoyment, even though they rarely collect awards and typically fall behind in "best movies of all time" rankings. The genre's roots can be traced back to the iconic 1933 film King Kong, which is considered the first giant monster movie, while the 1915 silent film The Golem is recognized as the first to feature a creature.
Frankenstein first appeared on the big screen in a brief 13-minute film directed by J. Searle Dawley in 1910, starring Charles Ogle. Later, in 1941, Lon Chaney Jr. brought to life The Wolf Man, and in 1954, The Creature from the Black Lagoon introduced the world to an eerie aquatic humanoid monster.
This list continues with even more fun facts about some of the most adored monster films and their legendary creatures that have invaded our screens throughout the years.
10. Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)
David Carradine and Richard Roundtree lead the chaotic 1982 monster flick, Q: The Winged Serpent. Expect decapitations, flayings, and much more, all courtesy of a monstrous Aztec creature that takes refuge in the Chrysler Building’s spire.
Producer and director Larry Cohen arrived in New York to direct another project, having written the screenplay, only to be fired after just one week of filming. Instead of leaving, he stayed in the city for a few days, worked on pre-production, and then began shooting Q.
David Carradine, who received a telegram from Cohen, arrived in New York unaware that he was about to star as a detective in a monster movie. Michael Moriarty, who plays a crook in the film, was hired simply because Cohen liked him, having bumped into him in a New York café.
Cohen had to try six times to convince the authorities of the Chrysler Building to let him shoot there, offering more money each time. Despite the spire being unstable and unsafe, Cohen insisted the budget didn’t allow for a safer model, and the filming proceeded.
9. Leviathan (1989)
Upon its 1989 release, the science fiction horror film Leviathan was criticized for its striking similarities to Alien and The Thing. The story follows the crew of an underwater geological station who are relentlessly hunted and killed by a mutant creature—Leviathan.
The eerie monster was inspired by a collection of marine life images and medical reference books. The filmmakers combined human body parts with features of marine animals to create a grotesque creature with a fish-like head and menacing teeth.
Tom Woodruff was responsible for bringing the creature suit to life, while custom deep-dive suits were made for each lead actor. These suits, crafted from white fiberglass shells, featured bellows at the feet that released air with each step, creating a “poof” effect on the ground to enhance the realism of the underwater scenes.
8. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
In 1969, director John Landis, as a teenager, witnessed a man being buried feet-first and wrapped in garlic due to fear that he would rise from the dead. This eerie experience inspired him to pen the script for the horror-comedy An American Werewolf in London. However, the film didn’t attract interest from producers until 1981, by which time five other werewolf films had already been released.
David Naughton landed the lead role after a brief 10-minute conversation with Landis, but the transformation into a werewolf was no quick task. He had to remain perfectly still for 10 hours each day while special makeup effects artist Rick Baker worked his magic. Michael Jackson, a huge admirer of Baker’s talent, later hired him to direct the iconic “Thriller” music video and handle the makeup effects.
Landis also faced the challenge of bribing police officers to allow filming in Piccadilly Circus, as filming had been banned there for nearly 15 years prior to Werewolf.
7. King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
In 1962, King Kong vs. Godzilla offered fans their first look at the two colossal creatures in vibrant color and widescreen. To this day, this film holds the record as the most attended Godzilla movie in Japan.
Haruo Nakajima, who donned the Godzilla suit, combined the original Godzilla’s movements with professional wrestling moves for the epic battle against Kong, portrayed by Shoichi Hirose. The film also features a giant octopus, which was primarily represented by a real cephalopod moving on a miniature set. For the 2006 film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, the computer animation director used the octopus scenes as a reference to create the realistic Kraken in the film.
6. Frankenstein (1931)
At just 20 years old, Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, was published anonymously in London in January of 1818. The tale of Victor Frankenstein and his creation of a monster from parts of corpses went on to inspire countless films, TV shows, and theatrical productions.
For the 1931 adaptation, Bela Lugosi was initially offered the role of the monster, but he declined, which also caused director Robert Florey to step down. Ultimately, Boris Karloff secured the role, though Lugosi later portrayed the monster in the 1943 film Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. James Whale took over directing just two weeks before production began.
The film introduced the iconic Castle Thunder sound effect, and the monster’s makeup design remains under copyright until 2026.
5. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Guillermo del Toro’s cinematic gem, Pan’s Labyrinth, features monsters of a unique nature. The film presents creatures meant to invade your nightmares, including the Mandrake Root, the Giant Toad, and, of course, the haunting Pale Man.
Originally, the movie was meant to complement del Toro’s 2001 film, The Devil’s Backbone, thematically. However, the events of 9/11 shifted his perspective on portraying themes of brutality and innocence. Del Toro also recounted a moment when he was seated next to horror legend Stephen King during a screening of Pan’s Labyrinth in New England, where King visibly recoiled during the Pale Man scene. Del Toro later called it the best moment of his life.
He also confirmed that the infamous bottle attack scene was inspired by a real-life incident where del Toro and a friend got into a fight, resulting in the friend being struck in the face with a bottle.
4. The Thing (1982)
Despite its status as a horror classic, The Thing initially underperformed at the box office and received mostly negative reviews. Over time, however, its reputation has grown, and the film is now hailed as one of John Carpenter’s finest works. Tobe Hooper was originally slated to direct, but after Universal saw his rough draft, they were unimpressed and handed the reins to Carpenter instead.
At just 21 years old, special effects wizard Rob Bottin was entrusted with overseeing the groundbreaking special effects for The Thing. He was fully committed to his craft, working tirelessly for a whole year without taking any time off. Unfortunately, his intense dedication took a toll on his health, resulting in double pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer. As a token of appreciation for his efforts, the film team included a special thank you in the end credits.
Kurt Russell, who played R.J. MacReady, had a memorable moment during a scene where he throws a stick of dynamite. His stunned reaction after being knocked off his feet was entirely real, as he had miscalculated the force of the blast during filming.
3. Alien (1979)
It’s almost impossible to picture the 1979 sci-fi horror masterpiece, Alien, being known by any other name. However, the film’s script was initially titled Star Beast. Upon further consideration, the creators decided that it wasn’t quite fitting, so they opted for the title Alien instead.
Alien went on to achieve legendary status, earning a spot in the United States National Film Registry for preservation. The film helped launch Sigourney Weaver’s career and inspired a series of sequels. Both Weaver and Meryl Streep were initially considered for the lead role, but due to Streep mourning the loss of her boyfriend at the time, the producers offered the part to Weaver.
One of the most unforgettable moments in the film is when a grotesque creature erupts from Kane’s chest. The actors surrounding Kane (John Hurt) were kept in the dark about how much blood and gore would be involved in the scene, as the director aimed to capture genuine reactions. And that’s exactly what he achieved, particularly from Veronica Cartwright, whose expression is one of sheer terror.
Both this scene, along with the face-hugger encounter and the moment when Ash’s head is severed, were met with strong negative reactions from test audiences. People fled from theaters, some rushing to nearby restrooms to vomit, while one man even broke his arm in an attempt to escape the cinema.
2. Pacific Rim (2013)
Pacific Rim was a bit of a risk for Legendary Pictures, as it didn’t have an established franchise to lean on. While it didn’t perform well in the United States, it proved to be a massive success in other regions, where it became a worldwide sensation.
In 2007, while strolling along the Santa Monica pier, screenwriter Travis Beacham had an idea: a massive sea monster looming over the pier. This image soon led to the vision of a gigantic robot emerging to battle the creature. The final screenplay for Pacific Rim, which blends colossal robots with monstrous sea creatures, was co-written by Beacham and Guillermo del Toro.
In the film, the Jaeger Gipsy Danger’s movement was inspired by the iconic hip sway of John Wayne, and its design was influenced by the architectural grandeur of the Chrysler and Empire State buildings.
1. Tremors (1990)
This fan-favorite monster horror-comedy, released in 1990, was met with praise for its diverse cast and sharp humor. The film quickly gained a massive cult following once it was released on home video and TV, becoming one of the most rented films of that year.
Co-writer S.S. Wilson, who had worked as an editor at a Naval air station in the Mojave Desert, found inspiration during his days off when he went hiking. As he climbed over large boulders, a thought crossed his mind: 'What if something was beneath the ground, and I couldn’t escape this rock?' This eerie thought eventually gave birth to the giant worm monsters featured in the film.
The Alabama Hills in California’s desert landscape were used as the setting for Tremors, and would later appear in other iconic films like Gladiator, Iron Man, and Man of Steel.
Kevin Bacon, one of the film's stars, later admitted that being part of *Tremors* felt like a career low point and caused him to experience sleepwalking and nightmares. On one occasion, he even sleepwalked his pregnant wife out into the street without realizing it.
