Thekaijufilm is a mighty genre that has been thrilling audiences around the world since the 1950s. The giant monster movie genre is steeped in deep metaphors of nuclear war, environmental protection, and society’s tendency to overlook true threats.
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The most well-knownkaijumonster is without a doubtGodzilla.The king of the monsters was created by genre pioneer, Toho Studios, in 1954 and has since spawned numerous spin-offs featuring Godzilla duking it out against scores of gigantic invaders. While Godzilla is the undisputed king, there are some notable underappreciatedkaijuthat deserve more love.
10Baragon
Baragon is an often overlooked kaiju recognized by its protruding horn and large floppy ears. The dinosaur-like creature is a master at burrowing underneath its opponents to attack from below and using a deadly heat ray that shoots out from its mouth.This colossal creaturefirst appeared in the 1965 film,Frankenstein vs. Baragonand later appeared in thekaijuessential,Destroy All Monsters.
9Ebirah
What could be scarier than a giant shrimp with huge claw pinchers? Nuclear waste has a way of mutating even the most unsuspecting wildlife and altering them togrow to gigantic sizes. Ebirah is the extremely aggressive villain of the film,Ebirah, Horror of the Deep,in which the colossal crustacean brutally fights with the king of monsters, Godzilla. Thiskaijuis memorable for breaking the reptilian mold of previous monsters infilms.
8Kamacuras
One of the coolest kaiju designs, this giant praying mantis can slice and dice its way through any sized city with relative ease. A master of camouflage and flight, this abnormal beast leaves nothing but carnage in its path. First appearing inSon of Godzilla,Kamacuras has since appeared in other classics,All Monsters Attack, Godzilla Island, Godzilla: Final Wars,and the anime,GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters.
7Destoroyah
With a name like Destoroyah, one has to assume this beast means business. A monster that takes on a number of different forms as it evolves, this merciless foe was once a group of microscopic crustaceans that were affected by chemical weapon testing, causing them to grow to a significantly larger size and eventually merge into a single entity. Godzilla dukes it out with this increasingly powerful nemesis in the 1995 film,Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.
6Gigan
Gigan may look like a cross between several different dinosaurkaijuand a giant cyborg chicken, but this monster is not to be underestimated. The claws on Gigan are explosive on the tips and sometimes replaced with powerful giant chainsaws. This mammoth alien is controlled byseveral different alien invadersin the film series, although the monster always seems to be at odds with Godzilla.
5Mechagodzilla
One of the coolest giant mechs in any film ever,this robotic monsterwas originally built by alien invaders as a means to defeat Godzilla and conquer Earth in thekaijuclassic,Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.Mechagodzilla was specifically designed to fight against the heroic king of the monsters, utilizing many of Godzilla’s same abilities.
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The tin giant has been a fan favorite since the 1970s, appearing in several additional movies before largely disappearing from the series, say for a few video game and manga appearances.
4Megalon
Megalon is a super cool insect kaiju that resides in the underground kingdom of Seatopia, which he protects from outside threats. This beetle-like creature fights against a number of monsters, first appearing inGodzilla vs. Megalonwhere a series of giant monsters slug it out through explosion after explosion. Megalon hasn’t appeared in many movies, but the character is amainstay in the video game series.
3Gamera
One of the few non-Toho studiokaijuson this list, Gamera is a giant turtle mutated from nuclear radiation to massive size. Originally a chaotic behemoth that could destroy entire towns, the colossus eventually warmed up to mankind before turning into a protector of the people. The character made twelve films,numerous comics, and even a few video games. Gamera may look like a creature from the depths of the underworld, but deep down this titanic turtle is a big sweetheart.
2King Caesar
King Caesar is a mythical ancient guardian that teams up with Godzilla to fight Mechagodzilla in the film,Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.Caesar’s appearance is similar to a giant lion/dog hybrid with bright red eyes.
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Caesar can capture energy beams from other monsters and fire them back through his eye. This furrykaijuhas only appeared in a few movies, but never as the main character, despite being a serious ally for Godzilla.
1Varan
Varan is essentially Godzilla with wings, but that’s not to say this dinosaurkaijuisn’t extremely dangerous. Varan is a capable foe on land, in the air, and underwater, thanks to durable scales and fearsome fighting style. Varan appeared in their own Toho film in 1958 as well as the classic flick,Destroy All Monsters,but has yet to make many cameos since, although the character lives on through numerous video game appearances.
