7 of the best giant monster movies

Gigantic monsters have featured in myth and folklore for centuries, with stories such as the Greek titans or the Biblical behemoth passed down from generation to generation. But since the hulking mass of the radioactive, prehistoric reptile Godzilla first smashed its way onto our cinema screens in 1954, audiences have been gripped by the ‘kaiju’ film genre.

Meaning ‘strange beast’ in Japanese, kaiju movies have inspired all manner of the gargantuan creatures and giant robots that have lumbered their way across our theater screens, and while the Godzilla films remain the most iconic of the genre, there are a number of worthy contenders for the title of best giant monster movie.

Much to the relief of the citizens of Tokyo, you probably don’t need to be reminded that there aren’t any animals that would grow to Godzilla-like proportions (tainted by radioactive waste or not), and for good reasons. The square cube law, a mathematical principle that describes the relationship between an object's volume and surface area, means that as an object grows in size, its surface area and volume will grow at a faster rate. That puts a limit on how big an animal can get in real life before it simply crumples under its own weight.

However, let’s not let science get in the way of a good story, so here is our pick of the best giant monster movies to sink your massive teeth/fangs/claws into.