According to the nerd bible, AKA Fandom Wiki, “Kaiju” is a Japanese word meaning “strange beast”. When we use the term in fandom, we are likely referring to the monsters of the giant variety who walk in the footsteps Godzilla created in 1954, and solidified by the Japanese “Tokusatu” style of cinema.

The criteria for kaiju monsters is relatively loose, but most of them are over 20 meters tall (larger than any naturally occurring animal), possess a certain immunity to human weaponry, and pose a threat to human life and society, which is commonly demonstrated by the destruction of cities and metropolitan areas.

“Monsters are tragic beings. They are born too tall, too strong, too heavy. They are not evil by choice. That is their tragedy. They do not attack people because they want to, but because of their size and strength, mankind has no other choice but to defend himself. After several stories such as this, people end up having a kind of affection for the monsters. They end up caring about them” -Ishiro Honda (Director, Godzilla 1954)

One of the best qualities of nerd fandom is its ability to form iterations through influence. Fans foreign to Japanese kaiju culture have adopted the kaiju style, and from that we’ve gotten a handful of worthy contenders; some stronger than others. Although many American renditions of Godzilla and other Toho properties have been licensed and watered down, there are some original kaiju- type concept movies that aren’t half bad! Consider this a list of eight American-born kaijus that won’t disappoint.

8 Kaiju Movies Fans of the Genre Should Watch

Cloverfield (2008)

Let’s start with the obvious here. Cloverfield, directed by Matt Reeves, might be as good as it gets when it comes to American-born kaiju monsters. With a found footage bonus, the story follows a group of friends in New York City as they try their hardest to survive the creatures and crumbling infrastructure aftermath of a giant alien invasion. If you haven’t seen this film yet, consider this your homework, due immediately. This film is bleak- and captures the true terror of survival in a kaiju attack. Japanese kaiju fans love it for a reason.

Pacific Rim (2013)

Guillermo Del Toro directing should be enough to get you interested, as the man has a seasoned history with monster movies (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy, Mimic). Pacific Rim is pretty classic in its influences, too. The movie is considered an ode to Japanese kaiju and mecha media. In this version of reality, a horde of kaiju monsters emerge from the ocean and threaten the safety of coastal cities. Humanity responds with the use of “jaegers” which are human operated mech suits with the power to fight back. Although a little on the cult appreciation side, the film is well loved and features some seriously polished and stunning CGI. 

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

King Kong may be a little too on the nose for this list, but I have no choice but to throw its sequel, Kong: Skull Island into the ring. As far as criteria goes, the movie doesn’t check all the boxes, as it doesn’t take place in a metropolitan area, but serving as the 11th movie in the King Kong IP, we already know good and well that the ape prince of destruction has earned his kaiju title. Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the film is set in 1973 and follows a team of Monarch (it’s like the CIA but for kaijus) experts carrying out a research mission on Skull Island to confirm any MUTO (massive unidentified terrestrial organisms) activity. Not only are they met with Kong, but through exploring his territory, the crew comes face to face with other kaiju level threats that never made it off the island.

Rampage (2018)

On the topic of giant apes, Rampage ain’t half bad either. Starring Dwayne Johnson, and directed by Brad Peyton, Rampage is a loose adaptation of the video game series first released in 1986 where players act as kaiju monsters working to destroy cities while surviving military attacks. In the movie, The Rock plays a primatologist with a close connection to an albino gorilla named George, who is the unfortunate subject of an experiment gone rogue, turning him into what we might call a “kaiju”. Is it the greatest kaiju movie you’ve ever seen? Far from it. Is it a fun, high-stakes adventure with cool monster fights? Absolutely.

 The Mist (2007)

Back in 2007, Frank Darabont directed a movie that has burned the brains of horror fans for the foreseeable future. If you haven’t crossed this one off your list- tread lightly! A single location banger based on the work of Stephen King, The Mist tells the story of ordinary people in a supermarket when an “unnatural fog” hiding a variety of terrifying creatures traps them inside. One creature in particular that fans have named “The Behemoth” is sure to shock you in true lovecraftian kaiju fashion. There are two versions of this film. If you can, watch it in black and gray for some extra unease.

Underwater (2020)

Speaking of lovecraftian, Underwater has got to be one of my favorite American- born kaiju films. Released in 2020, I fear that the COVID pandemic stunted its box office potential. William Eubank directs, and Kristen Stewart stars in a modern day Cthulhu story set miles beneath the surface on a deep sea drilling rig. It’s Alien, and The Abyss wrapped tightly in its Japanese monster and mecha media influences. Need I say more?

Super 8 (2011)

Another one that flopped in numbers but stays strong in the hearts of monster fans is Super 8, directed by JJ Abrams with a sneaky Steven Spielberg credit on top. One thing about Americans; we love our nostalgia. This movie is another ode to the 80s, but who’s really complaining? The story follows a group of youths passionate about filmmaking who witness a train collision, unleashing something extra large and extraterrestrial on their hometown. Again, the criteria for a traditional kaiju are not all met, but it’s too much fun, and too much catastrophe to leave off this list.

Q (The Winged Serpent) (1982)

I’ve got to close out this list with a deep cut. New York horror legend Larry Cohen wrote and produced this extraterrestrial crime thriller that is truly one of a kind. The monster in question is called Quetzalcoatl, or Q for short. It’s a winged beast that has found a home nesting on the rooftops of New York City. Oh, and there’s a serial killer running around too, just to make things more interesting. Classic uncle Larry…