Creature Features!
by samberdina | created - 26 Oct 2015 | updated - 22 Jan 2023 | PublicA well-done monster movie can be fun and campy, suspenseful, thrilling, dramatic, touching, scary or a mixture of a few of those features. In my opinion, each of this list's films are well-acted and produced. The movies are in no particular order.
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1. Jaws (1975)
PG | 124 min | Adventure, Mystery, Thriller
When a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Cape Cod, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary
Votes: 659,674 | Gross: $260.00M
This is a classic and worth all the praise it has received. Flawless.
2. Jaws 2 (1978)
PG | 116 min | Adventure, Horror, Thriller
Police chief Brody must protect the citizens of Amity after a second monstrous shark begins terrorizing the waters.
Director: Jeannot Szwarc | Stars: Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, Joseph Mascolo
Votes: 84,510 | Gross: $102.92M
This sequel does not disappoint. To the danger lurking below is added teenagers and mayhem above. Well done.
3. Pitch Black (2000)
R | 109 min | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
A transport ship crashes and leaves its crew stranded on a desert planet inhabited by bloodthirsty creatures that come out during an eclipse.
Director: David Twohy | Stars: Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Vin Diesel, Keith David
Votes: 253,032 | Gross: $39.24M
I bought this as part of the Chronicles of Riddick trilogy. Each movie is different, but important to the next story. Pitch Black is the only creature feature. You'll be looking over your shoulder along with everyone else. Unique direction and excellent cinematography. Acting is great.
4. The Birds (1963)
PG-13 | 119 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
A wealthy San Francisco socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock | Stars: Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette
Votes: 204,576 | Gross: $11.40M
When Hitchcock gives you the bird, it's serious. I love this movie. There are so many details and, of course, the birds, always the birds. They're not nice, either.
5. Alligator (1980)
R | 91 min | Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A pet baby alligator is flushed down a toilet and survives in the city sewers. Twelve years later, it grows to an enormous size thanks to a diet of discarded laboratory dogs injected with growth hormones. Now, humans have entered the menu.
Director: Lewis Teague | Stars: Robert Forster, Robin Riker, Michael V. Gazzo, Dean Jagger
Votes: 15,877
I saw this as a kid and it was unforgettable. True 80s essence can't be duplicated.
6. Tremors (1990)
PG-13 | 96 min | Comedy, Horror
Natives of a small isolated town defend themselves against strange underground creatures which are killing them one by one.
Director: Ron Underwood | Stars: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross
Votes: 150,592 | Gross: $16.67M
We dissected large worms in Biology. Nothing like this. I love this movie. Suspense, drama, comedy, Reba, and Kevin Bacon - it's great.
7. Bait (III) (2012)
R | 93 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror
A freak tsunami traps shoppers at a coastal Australian supermarket inside the building - along with 12-foot Great White Sharks.
Director: Kimble Rendall | Stars: Xavier Samuel, Sharni Vinson, Adrian Pang, Yuwu Qi
Votes: 19,455
Unusual setting for these strangers caught in a bad situation. I like the creative writing that went behind this storyline. Of course, there's danger in the water, but also a group dynamic such as one that might be expected of strangers - another danger. Thrilling film.
8. The Fly (1958)
Not Rated | 94 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
A scientist has a horrific accident when he tries to use his newly invented teleportation device.
Director: Kurt Neumann | Stars: David Hedison, Patricia Owens, Vincent Price, Herbert Marshall
Votes: 25,673 | Gross: $3.00M
The original is the best in my opinion.
9. Jurassic Park (1993)
PG-13 | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A pragmatic paleontologist touring an almost complete theme park on an island in Central America is tasked with protecting a couple of kids after a power failure causes the park's cloned dinosaurs to run loose.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough
Votes: 1,067,532 | Gross: $402.45M
Thrilling, mayhem and several beasts. Good movie.
10. Lake Placid (1999)
R | 82 min | Action, Comedy, Horror
Four people attempt to stop a gigantic crocodile, who is terrorizing residents in Black Lake, Maine.
Director: Steve Miner | Stars: Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, Oliver Platt, Brendan Gleeson
Votes: 65,562 | Gross: $31.77M
Cheesy, yes, but I have watched it quite a few times. I think of it as a 'Boggy Creek' sort of classic.
11. Lake Placid 2 (2007 TV Movie)
Unrated | 88 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Man-eating crocodiles return to the lake, as two males and one aggressive female crocodile protecting their nest wreak havoc on the locals.
Director: David Flores | Stars: John Schneider, Sarah Lafleur, Sam McMurray, Chad Michael Collins
Votes: 7,412
Of the sequels, I like this one best.
12. The Reef (2010)
R | 94 min | Adventure, Horror, Thriller
A great white shark hunts the crew of a capsized sailboat along the Great Barrier Reef.
Director: Andrew Traucki | Stars: Damian Walshe-Howling, Gyton Grantley, Adrienne Pickering, Zoe Naylor
Votes: 20,940
Thrilling, edge-of-your-seat trouble. I didn't know what to expect at first, but I'm glad I watched. Well-done movie. No cheese.
13. The Mist (2007)
R | 126 min | Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.
Director: Frank Darabont | Stars: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher
Votes: 340,564 | Gross: $25.59M
Wow. So many organized elements. Impressive direction, acting and production.
14. The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
R | 110 min | Adventure, Drama, Thriller
A bridge engineer and an experienced old hunter begin a hunt for two lions after they start attacking local construction workers.
Director: Stephen Hopkins | Stars: Michael Douglas, Val Kilmer, Tom Wilkinson, John Kani
Votes: 65,984 | Gross: $38.62M
Excellent movie. The story is true and the film's portrayal doesn't take a lot of liberties with the facts. Michael Douglas was my favorite addition to the cast.
15. Them! (1954)
Not Rated | 94 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
The earliest atomic tests in New Mexico cause common ants to mutate into giant man-eating monsters that threaten civilization.
Director: Gordon Douglas | Stars: James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, James Arness
Votes: 24,196
Never underestimate an early film. This one is super! Definitely a must-see!
16. Cloverfield (2008)
PG-13 | 85 min | Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A group of friends venture deep into the streets of New York on a rescue mission during a rampaging monster attack.
Director: Matt Reeves | Stars: Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, T.J. Miller
Votes: 420,805 | Gross: $80.05M
My favorite found-footage movie. I love the action and the group dynamic. Excellent film.
17. Piranha (1978)
R | 94 min | Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
When flesh-eating piranhas are accidentally released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal.
Director: Joe Dante | Stars: Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies-Urich, Kevin McCarthy, Keenan Wynn
Votes: 24,721 | Gross: $6.00M
Completely different from Piranha 3D and 3DD. It's more dramatic and takes place far from Spring Breakers. Quality creature feature with an environmental twist.
18. Piranha 3D (2010)
R | 88 min | Comedy, Horror
After a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating fish, an unlikely group of strangers must band together to stop themselves from becoming fish food for the area's new razor-toothed residents.
Director: Alexandre Aja | Stars: Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O'Connell, Richard Dreyfuss, Ving Rhames
Votes: 96,717 | Gross: $25.00M
Definitely one of those "keep out of the water" movies. And try to warn Spring Breakers. Mayhem. I like this one. Well done.
19. Piranha 3DD (2012)
R | 83 min | Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi
After the events at Lake Victoria, the pre-historic school of blood-thirsty piranhas make their way into a newly opened waterpark.
Director: John Gulager | Stars: Danielle Panabaker, Ving Rhames, David Hasselhoff, Matt Bush
Votes: 45,396 | Gross: $0.38M
I was surprised that this one takes another turn with the storyline. Props for an interesting sequel. I enjoyed this one, too.
20. The Thing (1982)
R | 109 min | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
Director: John Carpenter | Stars: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Votes: 466,850 | Gross: $13.78M
Impressive for the early 80s. Excellent film with plenty of scares. NOT a comedy.
21. Willard (2003)
PG-13 | 100 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A young man with an unusual connection to rats uses them at his own sociopathic will.
Director: Glen Morgan | Stars: Crispin Glover, R. Lee Ermey, Laura Harring, Jackie Burroughs
Votes: 20,406 | Gross: $6.89M
Rats. Need I say more? Crispin Glover plays weird so well.
22. Sharknado (2013 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 86 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
When a freak hurricane swamps Los Angeles, nature's deadliest killer rules sea, land, and air as thousands of sharks terrorize the waterlogged populace.
Director: Anthony C. Ferrante | Stars: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, John Heard, Cassandra Scerbo
Votes: 52,913
Surely campy. Surely fun.
23. Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 95 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Fin and April are on their way to New York City, until a category seven hurricane spawns heavy rain, storm surges, and deadly Sharknadoes.
Director: Anthony C. Ferrante | Stars: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Vivica A. Fox, Mark McGrath
Votes: 20,539
Still campy. Still fun.
24. Orca (1977)
PG | 92 min | Adventure, Drama, Horror
A hunter squares off against a killer whale seeking vengeance for the death of its mate.
Director: Michael Anderson | Stars: Richard Harris, Charlotte Rampling, Will Sampson, Bo Derek
Votes: 13,292 | Gross: $14.72M
An angry killer whale. But there's a cerebral cloud throughout. Awesome story.
25. Shark Night (2011)
PG-13 | 90 min | Horror, Thriller
A weekend at a lake house in the Louisiana Gulf turns into a nightmare for seven vacationers as they are subjected to shark attacks.
Director: David R. Ellis | Stars: Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Chris Carmack, Katharine McPhee
Votes: 27,200 | Gross: $18.87M
Not the tension of Jaws, but not the silliness of Sharknado. However, each movie should be judged by its own merits, so I'll just say I like this one. Well-put-together film.
26. The Cave (2005)
PG-13 | 97 min | Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi
Blood-thirsty creatures await a pack of divers who become trapped in an underwater cave network.
Director: Bruce Hunt | Stars: Piper Perabo, Morris Chestnut, Cole Hauser, Eddie Cibrian
Votes: 41,452 | Gross: $15.01M
There are a few creatures and other obstacles in The Cave. Plus, no natural light leaves challenge after challenge for everyone. Not a comedy.
27. Bite (I) (2015)
Not Rated | 88 min | Horror
While on her bachelorette party getaway, Casey, the bride to be, gets a seemingly harmless bite from an unknown insect. After the trip, Casey discovers that everything can change with a single bite.
Director: Chad Archibald | Stars: Elma Begovic, Annette Wozniak, Denise Yuen, Jordan Gray
Votes: 5,573
Very well done. Someone did their homework.
28. Backcountry (I) (2014)
R | 92 min | Adventure, Drama, Horror
An urban couple goes camping in the woods and find themselves lost in the territory of a predatory black bear.
Director: Adam MacDonald | Stars: Jeff Roop, Missy Peregrym, Nicholas Campbell, Eric Balfour
Votes: 24,206
It's based on true events and gives you a workout.
29. Jurassic World (2015)
PG-13 | 124 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A new theme park, built on the original site of Jurassic Park, creates a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, the Indominus Rex, which escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.
Director: Colin Trevorrow | Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Judy Greer
Votes: 679,598 | Gross: $652.27M
Fresh step back into Jurassic fear
30. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
PG-13 | 128 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
When the island's dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen and Claire mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event.
Director: J.A. Bayona | Stars: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall, Justice Smith
Votes: 344,017 | Gross: $417.72M
Interesting sequel to Jurassic World with a fresh storyline and plot and Bryce Dallas Howard running in heels.
31. Dark Was the Night (2014)
Not Rated | 99 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
An evil is unleashed in a small town when a logging company sets up shop in the neighboring woods.
Director: Jack Heller | Stars: Kevin Durand, Lukas Haas, Bianca Kajlich, Nick Damici
Votes: 11,128
A sort of "who dunnit" of the forest. A great watch for an overcast day or movie night. Organic, but full of action and mystery. Cool film.
32. The Bay (II) (2012)
R | 85 min | Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Chaos breaks out in a small Maryland town after an ecological disaster occurs.
Director: Barry Levinson | Stars: Will Rogers, Kristen Connolly, Kether Donohue, Frank Deal
Votes: 29,630 | Gross: $0.03M
33. A Quiet Place (2018)
PG-13 | 90 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
A family struggles for survival in a world where most humans have been killed by blind but noise-sensitive creatures. They are forced to communicate in sign language to keep the creatures at bay.
Director: John Krasinski | Stars: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe
Votes: 583,793 | Gross: $188.02M
34. A Quiet Place Part II (2020)
PG-13 | 97 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path.
Director: John Krasinski | Stars: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy, John Krasinski
Votes: 273,077 | Gross: $160.07M
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