Although the 21st century is still young, there is already an excellent selection of monster movies that have debuted. As one of the oldest sub-genres of horror movies, there’s a long history of legendary monster movies, with villains like <em>Dracula</em> or the Wolfman setting the bar high. However, thanks to ingenious directors, writers, and performers, countless future classics are available to stream.

Although some monsters are gentle giants, the ones featured today are anything but friendly. From skyscraper-sized monstrosities to evils that can take any shape, these are the scariest monster movies of the 21st century. Ranked by scare-factor, originality, and creature design, the following monster movies are ones no horror fan should miss.

10

‘The Mist’ (2007)

A small town is inexplicably consumed by a Mist that hides ravenous abominations in The Mist. Based on the Stephen King novella of the same name, The Mist follows a group of survivors as they hide from the creatures in a grocery store. With no clear sign of help or a way to escape, hysteria consumed the scared humans into making irrational decisions they will regret for the remainder of their lives.

One look at the monsters in The Mist implies that any contact with them will lead to a horrifying, brutal death, but the nightmarish creatures are only one half of the problem. The “safe haven” of the grocery store is already a flimsy shelter from the creatures, but the humans inside are just as dangerous. Whether braving the monsters on the outside or inside, the situation in The Mist seems utterly hopeless.

9

‘The Host’ (2006)

Before director Bong Joon Ho reached international acclaim with his movie Parasite, he was already gaining attention for his unique monster movie The Host. Irresponsible toxic disposal leads to a large amphibious monster wreaking havoc in Seoul, South Korea. When the monster abducts the daughter of snack bar merchant Park (Song Kang-ho), he and his family mount a daring rescue mission to save her.

The Host is loaded with smart social commentary about bureaucratic carelessness and government corruption, which is scary enough on its own without a monster wrecking shop. Some of the scariest monsters are based on what we know to be familiar, and the fishlike monster in The Host looks like the result of an accelerated man-made evolution. The beast is fast, unstoppable, and the only chance of survival is the monster choosing someone else instead.

8

‘Nope’ (2022)

A UFO poses an opportunity for financial salvation and a grisly death in Nope. Daniel Kaluuya stars as Otis “OJ” Haywood Jr., a horse trainer struggling to keep his family business afloat with sporadic help from his free-spirited sister Em (Keke Palmer). After a flying saucer-type object appears in the sky above their ranch, OJ and Em attempt to understand it and profit from documenting it, although not necessarily in that order.

Director Jordan Peele captured the awe of early Steven Spielberg films by focusing on the journey of discovery that the characters have with the flying object. Is it a friend or foe? Does it suck people inside it and devour them alive while making a noise that’s impossible to forget? All questions will eventually be answered. The unknown aspects and the recurring theme of humanity’s disastrous attempts to control nature lead to tense, armrest-gripping scenes that make Nope a future classic.

7

‘Cloverfield’ (2008)

In found footage monster movieCloverfield,a going-away party in New York City is interrupted by a gigantic creature with bad intentions. Told over course single night , viewers get street-level view chaos , horror , heartbreak attack normal civilians have no chance defending themselves against. Through crumbling buildings monstrous threats , those harm’s way can only hope run free monster’s path while recording impossible situation unfolds.