Happy Tuesday, dear readers! Each week, we’ll rank the top 10 films in a specific category. While we aim to tie these lists to big releases, that won’t always be the case. Our goal? For you to enjoy, share your own lists, and join in on a lively, friendly debate. This is an interactive space to build community here at The Contending.
No fancy intros, no long essays – just a category and a list. Sound good?
The big release this weekend is Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man, starring Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott. The film is the latest reboot of the 1941 Lon Chaney Jr. classic, The Wolf Man, one of the iconic Universal Monster movies from the 1930s and ’40s. Universal’s reboots of their golden age properties are collectively known as Dark Universe, and include the Tom Cruise-led The Mummy (2017) and the Elisabeth Moss-starring The Invisible Man (2020), the latter of which was also directed by Whannell.
For the purposes of this week’s list, a “monster movie” is defined as any film where a creature or monster plays a prominent role. Whether supernatural or extraterrestrial beings, mutants, or other creatures from folklore, it counts. Monster movies often explore the theme of humans struggling to survive against one or more monsters. These creatures are frequently the result of a failed experiment or visitors from outer space. While the monster is often the antagonist, that’s not always the case.
Let’s dive in!
10. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
9. Godzilla (1954)
8. Dracula (1931)
7. Jurassic Park (1993)
6. Frankenstein (1931)
5. The Thing (1982)
4. Aliens (1986)
3. King Kong (1933)
2. Alien (1979)
1. Jaws (1975)
