From terrifying creatures lurking in the shadows to colossal beasts wreaking havoc on cities, the monster movie genre continues to evolve and frighten us in new ways. Join us as we count down our picks for the finest creature features released since 2000! Our list includes terrifying tales from around the globe that will have you checking under your bed tonight. Which monstrous masterpiece tops your list?
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00:00We continue now with our breaking news story in lower Manhattan. We are getting some truly
00:04extraordinary live images here in the studio.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the finest monster movies
00:12released in 2000 or later. Pulling from a wide range of genres, we're welcoming monsters of
00:18all shapes and sizes, from aliens to scientific experiments gone wrong to supernatural creatures,
00:25with zombies being the only exclusion. Spoiler alert!
00:3830. Alien Romulus
00:41With this, Fede Alvarez honors the Alien franchise while giving it a fresh twist.
00:46Set between the 1979 classic and the 1986 sequel, Alien Romulus blends the mystery of Prometheus
00:54with the terror of the originals.
01:04A group of young workers stumble upon an abandoned ship,
01:07only to find it's anything but empty. You know the drill. Monsters. And this one delivers.
01:19Wayne, are you sure about this?
01:22Only one way to find out.
01:23Nailing that claustrophobic, space horror feel with well-timed jump scares,
01:28it slowly descends from a suspenseful nail-biter to a full-blown nightmare.
01:33The eerie score amps up the tension, while the xenomorph remains as grotesque as ever,
01:39with that chilling, icky grin.
01:41That alien birth scene? It's easily one of the most disturbing scenes in recent horror cinema.
01:4729. Spring
01:50Justin Benson and Erin Moorhead challenge the standards of conventional love stories
01:55with this creepy, body horror twist. A young man falls hard for a stunning woman who happens to be
02:01a 2,000-year-old mutant. The story is about a young woman who is forced to be a mutant,
02:06but it's also deeply unsettling. Just watching Louise's graphic mutation is enough to weird
02:11you out. The chilling uncertainty of Evan's fate will keep you uneasy until you no longer feel so.
02:18Are you a vampire, werewolf, zombie, witch, or alien?
02:22Are you a mutant? Are you a mutant?
02:24Are you a mutant? Are you a mutant?
02:26Are you a mutant? Are you a mutant?
02:28Are you a mutant? Are you a mutant?
02:30Are you a mutant? Are you a mutant?
02:32Are you a vampire, werewolf, zombie, witch, or alien?
02:36I'm human. Are you scared of me?
02:44Yet Lou Taylor Pucci and Nadia Hilker sell their surreal romance so well that you can't help but
02:50root for them. Honestly, it's impressive how this unusual horror manages to be both touching
02:55and frightening, building to a powerful ending. You never got lonely?
03:03Not since I met you.
03:05Isn't it scary losing that?
03:07Even with its satisfying conclusion, one question lingers. What exactly is Louise?
03:1428. Terrifier 2
03:16This blood-soaked carnival may lack the polish of classic monster flicks,
03:20but for those who crave relentless terror, it delivers pure chaos. This time,
03:26Art the Clown sets his sights on a teenage girl and her crew as they gear up for Halloween.
03:32Sir.
03:40With his cheeky grin, seamless switch from funny to murderous rage, and an uncanny knack for messy
03:47kills, Art remains a top-tier horror maniac. The special effects are seriously gnarly,
03:53easily outdoing what we've seen before.
03:56Terrifier 2 was so gruesome that some moviegoers literally walked out of the theaters,
04:01but that's one reason it's become a cult classic. With Sienna's final girl energy as the cherry on
04:07top, it's safe to say Damian Leone's hard work paid off.
04:11He used to draw this character for me when I was a little girl,
04:14and he used to tell me I was going to grow up to be like her one day,
04:18and I really believed him.
04:21Well, look at you now! You are her!
04:27Number 27. Eight-Legged Freaks
04:31Those spiders are dangerous, and besides, they give you nightmares. Your nightmares
04:35keep me up all night, and you know what happens when I don't get enough sleep, right? Bad mood?
04:41If arachnophobia made you jump and gave you nightmares, this one definitely will. In this
04:47horror comedy, a rural town is overrun by colossal predators after toxic waste mutates
04:53tiny spiders into giant killers. It's up to mining engineer Chris and Sheriff Parker
04:58to rally townsfolk against these lethal eight-legged monsters.
05:03Perfume?
05:04Well, spiders, they have a highly developed sense of smell. The perfume could confuse them.
05:08Oh, great. You know, if we die, we die smelling nice.
05:11These spiders don't just lurk. They devour in gloriously absurd fashions.
05:16With their high-pitched squeals and chillingly convincing design,
05:20these oversized arachnids make some scenes genuinely terrifying.
05:30Packed with adorable references to 50s and 60s monsters,
05:34Eight-Legged Freaks is hilariously over-the-top, making you laugh and squirm at the same time.
05:40But it will seriously have you checking corners for any tarantula surprise.
05:45Number 26.
05:46Prey.
05:47Anyone who loves Predator movies will feel right at home with this one.
05:51Instead of the Yauja facing off against gun-toting soldiers or drug cartels,
05:56this Hulu hit takes us 300 years back to Comanche territory.
06:00At its heart is Naru, a fierce hunter determined to take down this otherworldly menace.
06:06As she outwits and battles this infamous alien,
06:09the line between prey and Predator blurs in the most thrilling way.
06:14We have him.
06:15Prey truly elevates its franchise with spot-on casting,
06:19practical effects that blend well with CGI,
06:21and a perfect balance of horror and tension.
06:24For those of you who don't know,
06:25Prey is the first film in the franchise to feature a female lead.
06:29It's the first time in a long time that a female lead has been featured in a movie.
06:33It's also the first time in a long time that a female lead has been featured in a movie.
06:37It's also the first time in a long time that a female lead has been featured in a movie.
06:41and a perfect balance of horror and tension.
06:44From the brutal fights between the Invisible Killer and Earth's deadliest creatures,
06:48to the native warrior's raw ferocity,
06:51the action is gripping and the cinematography is simply breathtaking.
07:00Number 25. Nosferatu
07:03With this chilling, gothic fest,
07:05Robert Eggers masterfully reimagines the original vampire tale with unsettling beauty.
07:11Nosferatu centers on a young girl tormented by a malevolent vampire,
07:15their connection intensifying when her husband is tasked with managing Count Orlok's estate.
07:28From there, you get a plot that's equal parts horror and mystery.
07:32Bill Skarsgård is downright scary as Count Orlok,
07:35cementing himself as one of the coldest Dracula-type vampires ever seen.
07:46Meanwhile, Lily Rosedepp stuns with a performance that's both terrifying and deeply moving.
07:51The film's haunting visuals and eerie atmosphere transport viewers into a twisted,
07:56never-ending torment.
07:58It may not be for everyone,
07:59but Eggers' remake captures the original's suffocating dread like few ever could.
08:10Number 24. Slither
08:13James Gunn's sci-fi horror comedy may have been a box office flop,
08:17but it's one creepy, chaotic blast.
08:20Paying homage to 80s horror comedies, Slither unfolds in the town of Wheelsy,
08:33where a slithering alien crash lands and takes over.
08:37It all starts when this parasitic monster invades Grant's body,
08:41turning him into a hungry host eager to infect others.
08:50As the town falls to this alien menace, things get really nasty.
08:56We're talking about gross-out body horror, plenty of gore,
08:59and a freaky alien mutation that will give you bad dreams.
09:02Between the gory moments, there's also heart-pounding action
09:06and some bizarrely hilarious scenes that sci-fi and horror fans will eat up.
09:15Candid advice? Do not watch while eating.
09:18Number 23. Annihilation
09:20Loosely based on the 2014 novel of the same name,
09:23this baffling flick follows a group of scientists who enter a mysterious zone,
09:28a place few return from. Once inside, things get weird pretty quick.
09:33Communication with the outside is gone, and their sense of time is scrambled.
09:37So we've got no compass, no comms, no coordinates, and no landmarks.
09:43As they venture deeper, they encounter strange animals and plants that make one thing clear.
09:49This is the last place they want to be. Sure, Annihilation has its plot holes,
09:53but it successfully pulls viewers right into the shimmer alongside Lena and her crew.
10:06With its slow build and unsettling imagery, it becomes thought-provoking and deeply disturbing.
10:12And the monsters? They're expertly crafted to evoke a great deal of creepiness.
10:31The mutant bear still remains unforgettably terrifying.
10:34Number 22. Super 8
10:37Before Stranger Things, there was Super 8. Set in the late 70s, this J.J. Abrams love letter
10:43to Steven Spielberg follows a group of teenage heroes who discover that a mysterious entity
10:48has been unleashed on their small town. From the start, an eerie tension lingers,
11:00as if something powerful and dangerous could strike at any moment.
11:03Then come the monster's guttural growls, mysterious presence,
11:07and sudden attacks turning nearly every scene into a nerve-wracking experience.
11:21Beyond the terror, the teen cast shines with convincing portrayals that bring a lot of heart
11:26and personality to this tale. Flaws aside, Super 8 is an awesome throwback to old family adventures,
11:33packed with nostalgia and suspense.
11:41Number 21. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
11:45Hypnotic and brooding, Anna Lily Amirpour's debut feature is as unconventional as it is haunting.
11:52She delivers a stylish Iranian vampire thriller that feels like a fusion of spaghetti western
11:58and graphic novels, all while making a bold statement about women.
12:12Unfolding in the unsettling ghost town, Bad City, it revolves around a Persian vampire who prowls
12:18the street, weeding out bad men. If you're not a good guy, you surely don't want to be caught by
12:23this lone feminine vigilante. Sheila Vland is mesmerizing in the role, her facial expression
12:35revealing all that is to her strange malevolent nature. Sparse dialogue, the atmospheric style,
12:41and masterful use of sound add to the film's gripping impact.
12:54Number 20. A Quiet Place
12:58This excellent and inventive horror movie established the already beloved John Krasinski
13:04as a horror filmmaker to watch. It's set in a post-apocalyptic world that has been overrun
13:09with deadly, sightless creatures that hunt using hypersensitive hearing.
13:13The Abbott family, who are at the center of the film, survive by leading a life of relative silence.
13:19A single loud noise could mean the difference between life and death.
13:23Fast and ferocious, the monsters are undeniably terrifying, but it's Krasinski's alternating use
13:28of sound and silence throughout the film that really makes A Quiet Place such a remarkable
13:33and effective creature feature. With solid character development and excellent visual
13:38performances all around, this is a horror movie with a ton of heart.
13:42If we can't protect them, who are we?
13:48Number 19. Trick-or-Treat
13:50A modern cult classic, Trick-or-Treat tells four different stories that play out in Warren Valley,
13:55Ohio on Halloween, all connected by the appearance of a mysterious trick-or-treater named Sam.
14:01He might be modest in stature compared to other characters, but he's not the kind of
14:05He might be modest in stature compared to other creatures on our list today,
14:09but with his dirty orange footie pajamas and burlap sack mask, he's rightfully become a minor
14:14icon of the horror genre. As for the face, well, we won't spoil the big reveal. The film was
14:20directed by Michael Dougherty, who would go on to make one of the most ambitious monster movies
14:25ever made, 2019's Godzilla, King of the Monsters. While the latter film divided fans and critics,
14:31Trick-or-Treat was met with near-universal critical acclaim.
14:34For all we know, it's still down there. And so are those kids.
14:40Number 18. King Kong
14:42We are accustomed to look upon the shackled form of a conquered monster.
14:49But there, there you can look at a thing monstrous and free.
14:56Director Peter Jackson clearly likes to challenge himself. After doing the seemingly impossible by
15:01adapting The Lord of the Rings, he chose to follow it up by remaking one of the most iconic
15:06movies in cinematic history, 1933's King Kong. At three hours, it does feel a bit long, but the
15:13movie is otherwise difficult to fault. It's an old-school epic that benefits from modern special
15:18effects that feel years ahead of their time. The cast as a whole is awesome, but Andy Serkis is
15:23astonishing. His motion-capture performance imbues Kong with the sort of nuance rarely seen in big
15:30screen monsters. Of course, if you can't get enough giant gorilla action, Kong Skull Island
15:41is a lot of fun. Number 17. Colossal
15:53When you think of monster movies, it's typically horror, epic adventures, and kaiju action that
15:58come to mind. In this unconventional sci-fi black comedy, however, filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo
16:04uses a giant, city-destroying creature to tell a surprisingly small and intimate story about
16:09addiction, toxic relationships, and personal responsibility.
16:18Oscar winner Anne Hathaway plays Gloria, an alcoholic, out-of-work writer.
16:23After moving to her hometown and getting a job at the bar of her childhood friend,
16:27played by Jason Sudeikis, she discovers that she can control a giant monster in Seoul, South Korea.
16:33It's not without its flaws, but Colossal stands tall regardless thanks to its powerful themes
16:38and Vigalondo's willingness to blend seemingly incompatible genres.
16:47Number 16. Pacific Rim
16:57While monster films are often fertile ground for exploring larger themes,
17:02sometimes you just want to see huge robots throw down against giant monsters.
17:07Pacific Rim centers around mankind's desperate fight for survival against
17:11interdimensional creatures rising up from a portal in the ocean floor.
17:15Their last line of defense are the Jaegers, towering, weaponized robots.
17:20The film isn't nearly as thoughtful as filmmaker Guillermo del Toro's other monster movies,
17:30but it is undeniably epic, boasting titanic big-screen battles on a scale
17:34that felt unprecedented at the time of release. Pacific Rim is just a really, really fun time.
17:41Make sure you're watching the right movie, though. A mockbuster called
17:44Atlantic Rim was released around the same time, and it is all kinds of terrible.
17:49Number 15. A Monster Calls
17:55Growing up is hard enough even under the best circumstances. Navigating the complex emotions
18:00of having a terminally ill parent, however, that can feel downright insurmountable.
18:05In this beautiful dark fantasy film, adapted from a Patrick Ness book by the same name,
18:1113-year-old Connor O'Malley struggles to cope with his mother's cancer.
18:15One night, a giant tree-like monster approaches his room and offers to tell him three stories,
18:20in exchange for Connor telling him a fourth in return.
18:24Let me tell you of the end of a wicked queen, and how I made sure she was never seen again.
18:30The monster's tales ultimately overlap with Connor's real life, and come together to make
18:36for an emotionally charged and poignant coming-of-age story about anger and grief.
18:42Liam Neeson voices the unnamed monster, imbuing it with a charming gravitas like only he can.
18:48It is time for the third tale.
18:51Number 14. Trollhunter
18:57A found footage mockumentary, Trollhunter packs a whole lot of fun into its modest runtime.
19:03Shot on a relatively modest budget of just about 3.5 million dollars,
19:07which is nothing for a modern monster movie,
19:10this Norwegian film follows a group of students as they tag along with a, wait for it, trollhunter.
19:22They're all naturally skeptical of his job title, but they soon learn, like the audience,
19:26that trolls are all too real. Irreverent, delightfully over-the-top and boasting strong
19:31performances from its cast, Trollhunter sometimes feels similar to Taika Waititi's later
19:36What We Do in the Shadows. But given the film's unique troll-centric mythology,
19:41unforgettable monsters and dark humor, no comparison can really do it justice.
19:55Number 13. The Shape of Water
19:57As touched on already, no one knows how to tell monster stories quite like Guillermo del Toro.
20:08Not only are his creatures instantly recognizable as a result of his unique visual style,
20:12but he also has a real knack for finding humanity in these strange and bizarre creatures.
20:17Many of his films, including Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy 2 The Golden Army,
20:22should be considered mandatory viewing for anyone with an interest in creature features.
20:26Ultimately, however, we have to give this spot on our list to The Shape of Water.
20:30If you know something about what transpired here, it's your obligation
20:36to report any detail, no matter how small or trivial it may seem.
20:40It might not have the same variety of monsters as the aforementioned films,
20:43but in terms of storytelling and themes, it is without a doubt del Toro's most effective
20:48movie to date, and the monster is at the very heart of the narrative.
20:52Number 12. The Mist
21:06Stephen King is widely accepted as the modern master of horror fiction.
21:10As such, many of his works have been adapted to the big screen, with mixed results. The Mist,
21:15however, is without a doubt among the more successful King adaptations to date,
21:19even with the ending having been changed from that of King's novella.
21:34Set in the small town of Bridgeton, Maine, the film centers on a group of people who
21:39seek refuge in a supermarket. Outside, a mysterious mist covers the town,
21:44concealing all manner of terrifying, deadly monsters within.
21:47The creatures are indeed terrifying, especially since you can't see them coming through that mist,
21:52but the real terror is how quickly people turn on one another in times of crisis.
22:02Number 11. Monsters
22:07Before being entrusted with another major monster movie that we'll be talking about later,
22:11Gareth Edwards proved himself with this remarkable little film.
22:15Monsters was Edwards' directorial debut, but you'd never guess it from watching it.
22:30It's tightly crafted and bears all the marks of a director with a clear vision.
22:34Even more surprising, however, is the fact that it was made on a budget of just $500,000.
22:38The movie follows a photojournalist as he escorts his boss's daughter through an area of land
22:44infected by extraterrestrial creatures. Embracing a less-is-more filmmaking philosophy, Edwards
22:50largely keeps the titular creatures off-camera and in the distance. They define the world of
22:55the film while still leaving enough space to tell a character-driven story.
23:09Number 10. Attack the Block
23:15Another directorial debut, this British sci-fi comedy horror is hard to put in a box.
23:20Attack the Block pulls from a number of genres, sure, but as you watch the film,
23:25what's most striking is that it feels out of place in 2011. It's got the sort of freewheeling
23:30spirit of adventure and a youthful ensemble cast that was far more common in the 80s and 90s,
23:36just with a modern aesthetic. And while director Joe Cornish clearly has a penchant
23:43for looking backwards for inspiration, much of this film feels totally fresh,
23:47from the characterization of our unlikely young heroes to the wholly original design of the
23:52extraterrestrials they encounter. An alien invasion story unlike any other,
23:57Attack the Block is a blast from start to finish.
24:00Number 9. The Cabin in the Woods
24:08Planning a monster movie marathon with a focus on fun? Then consider pairing Attack the Block
24:13with this riot of a film. Directed by Drew Goddard and produced by Joss Whedon,
24:18The Cabin in the Woods is a supernatural horror comedy, but it's so much more.
24:29In the off chance that you haven't seen it and have managed to avoid spoilers,
24:40we're not going into detail. All you need to know is that the plot is far more elaborate than the
24:45initial setup would have you believe. By the time the credits roll, you'll have a whole new
24:49appreciation for horror tropes, you'll be drenched in figurative blood, and you will have met one of
24:56the wildest collections of monsters to ever grace the screen. Number 8. The Descent
25:04Here's a crash course in how not to plan a trip with your friends. A year after losing her husband
25:09and daughter in a car accident, Sarah meets her friends to go spelunking in the Appalachian
25:13Mountains. Unfortunately, Juno, who organized the trip, thinks it would be a good idea to
25:19lead them into an unmapped cave system. Soon enough, they not only find themselves trapped,
25:28but fighting for their lives against the monstrous creatures who call the caves home.
25:33The Descent makes for an extremely claustrophobic viewing experience that will keep you on the edge
25:37of your seat from the moment they enter the caves. After seeing the lethal crawlers in action,
25:42however, you may never want to set foot near a cave again.
25:50Number 7. It
25:57The Mist is a great film, but when it comes to monster movies adapted from the works of Stephen
26:02King, It doesn't get much better than this. With the first film in this two-part adaptation,
26:07director Andy Muschietti absolutely nailed it. The young cast delivers great performances all
26:13around, giving the film an emotional core, while Pennywise delivers one great scare after another.
26:19Bill Skarsgård deserves much of the credit for making It such a colossal success.
26:31His performances Pennywise the Dancing Clown is both terrifying and terrifyingly good. He
26:37wholly inhabits the role, and in doing so, manages to instill audiences with a pervasive sense of
26:42dread that is hard to shake, even long after the credits have rolled. Number 6. The Babadook
27:02It sounds like a load of nonsense, right? But for anyone who's seen The Babadook,
27:06this little rhyme is enough to send shivers down your spine. Each year,
27:10horror fans are given dozens of movie monsters and killers to fear.
27:14After audiences get over the initial jump scare, however, most are quickly forgotten.
27:19But every now and then, a monster comes along and instantly becomes an icon. The Babadook is one of
27:25them. In this tense psychological thriller, trauma, anxiety, grief, loss, depression,
27:31denial, and repressed anger all come together to give life to the titular creature.
27:36Do not let the outfit fool you. He's a monster through and through.
27:48Number 5. Under the Skin
27:54Hauntingly beautiful, desolate, deeply effective, and often challenging to watch,
27:59Under the Skin is a film that will, in fact, get under your skin.
28:03The plot can easily be summarized as follows. A mysterious extraterrestrial in the form of a
28:08human woman preys upon unsuspecting men. But that doesn't begin to scratch the surface of what's
28:13going on here. Countless critics, film theorists, and writers have attempted to unpack the movie's
28:19meaning, and have come up with countless different readings. The human condition, violence, race,
28:25gender, immigration, the nature of sexual desire, the film can be viewed through many lenses.
28:30There's no one interpretation. What we can say for certain is that Scarlett Johansson delivers
28:36a transformative performance as the central monster. Number 4. It Follows
29:01If you're trying to scare your teenage kids away from sex, just show them this movie. It Follows
29:06is far more effective than a stack of pamphlets about STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Starring
29:12Micah Monroe, now considered a contemporary scream queen, It Follows was released to rave reviews,
29:18and is frequently labeled as one of the best horror films of the 2010s.
29:31The story is about a killer supernatural force that is passed from one victim to the next
29:36via sexual intercourse. It's a well-crafted story built on a compelling premise,
29:40but what really sets it apart is filmmaker David Robert Mitchell's keen directorial eye.
29:46As for the unnamed monster, its slow, shambling pace and shape-shifting abilities
29:51will have you looking over your shoulder for weeks.
29:54Number 3. Godzilla Minus One
30:03Just when Japan is at its lowest, Godzilla emerges to make things even worse. As this
30:08kaiju's presence becomes overwhelming, a fighter pilot joins in the fight to defend Tokyo.
30:14This Takashi Yamazaki epic brings Godzilla back to its villainous roots,
30:25pitting it against determined heroes. It echoes the brilliance of the 2014 installment,
30:30which set a high bar for the franchise. With its menacing design, atomic breath,
30:35and zero sympathy for humanity, the titular monster is an unstoppable force.
30:43Beneath its mass destruction, relatable characters remind us of World War II's
30:55lasting scars. So well-received, this movie became one of Japan's top films of 2023.
31:02Let's not forget it was Shin Godzilla's success that helped reignite interest in this Toho film.
31:14Number 2. Cloverfield
31:27The Blair Witch Project popularized the found footage genre, but Cloverfield
31:32redefined it, proving just how far this distinct approach to filmmaking can be pushed.
31:44On paper, Cloverfield is a fairly straightforward story about a monster attack, but in execution,
31:49it is so much more. It simultaneously harkens back to monster movies of old, while tying in
31:55post-9-11 anxieties and embracing then-modern technology to tell the story with astonishing
32:01tension. Matt Reeves, who would go on to helm two of the rebooted Planet of the Apes films,
32:06was widely praised for his direction. Mark Savlov, writing for the Austin Chronicle,
32:11went so far as to call it the most intense and original creature feature he'd seen in his adult
32:17life. Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
32:31about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
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32:421. The Host With the success of Parasite,
32:45South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho cemented his place in movie history, but it was by no means
32:51his first major contribution to the medium. His third feature film, 2006's The Host,
32:57is a monster movie masterpiece. After an attack by a terrifying river creature, Park Gang-do
33:03attempts to save his daughter while navigating the ensuing chaos and military action.
33:12The CGI can feel a bit dodgy at times, but that's easy to forgive considering everything
33:18the film does right. The guemmo, thanks to its thoughtful creature design, makes a big impression.
33:29In keeping with the filmmaker's now-trademark style, The Host sees Bong expertly blending
33:35genres to deliver a monster movie that is equal parts humorous, horrifying, and heartfelt.
33:41What is the scariest monster you've ever seen in a movie? Let us know in the comments.
34:11Transcribed by https://otter.ai