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The Best Monster Movies of the Modern Era

Updated May 14, 2021 8.7k votes 565 voters 12.4k views58 items

List RulesVote up the best monster movies that have been released since 1990. No zombies.

This list contains information on the best modern monster movies, ranked from best to worst by user votes. The best films about new monsters come in many forms. Some monster movies made after 1990 find characters fighting for their lives against alien invaders while other good monster movies feature flesh-eating zombies. Many of the best new giant monster movies are remakes of classic horror films.

What films will you find on this top modern monster movies list? Godzilla has to be near the top. Dinosaurs, werewolves, aliens, goblins, basilisks, and even a terrifying unicorn are among the monsters featured in the best new monster films - not to mention a whole host of brand new monsters.

Cloverfield used a found footage narrative to demonstrate the fear characters felt facing off against a horrifying monster. Other good films featured on this top modern monster movies list include Super 8, The Mist, War of the Worlds, and Kong: Skull Island.

How will we ever determine which modern monster movie is the best? Help us decide by giving your favorites a thumbs up and get in on the conversation in the comments section.

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Jurassic Park
Samuel L. Jackson, Jeff Goldblum
Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg.... more
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Kong: Skull Island
Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson
Kong: Skull Island is a 2017 American monster film directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. The film... more
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Godzilla
Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston
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Tremors
Kevin Bacon, Reba McEntire
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Pacific Rim
Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam
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Jurassic World
Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt
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Hellboy
John Hurt, Selma Blair
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The Mist
Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden
The Mist is a 2007 American science fiction horror film directed by Frank Darabont, and based... more
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Godzilla: King Of The Monsters (2019)
Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a 2019 American monster film directed by Michael Dougherty.... more
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Pan's Labyrinth
Sergi López, Maribel Verdú
Pan's Labyrinth is a 2006 Spanish-Mexican dark fantasy film directed by Guillermo del Toro. It... more
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The Cabin in the Woods
Chris Hemsworth, Sigourney Weaver
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The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Julianne Moore, Steven Spielberg
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Cloverfield
Odette Annable, Lizzy Caplan
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King Kong
Naomi Watts, Jack Black
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A Quiet Place
John Krasinski, Emily Blunt
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Reign of Fire
Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey
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The Descent
Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza
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Alien vs. Predator
Sanaa Lathan, Lance Henriksen
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Lake Placid
Betty White, Mariska Hargitay
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Independence Day
Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum
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Deep Blue Sea
Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J
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Alien 3
Sigourney Weaver, Charles Dance
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Jurassic Park III
Téa Leoni, William H. Macy
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Shin Godzilla
Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi
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Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard
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