H5game8

8 Giant Monster Movies That Are 10/10 but You've Never Heard of Them

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe's monster turtle Gamera roaring.Image via Daiei Film

By Jiminna Shillingford Published Jan 28, 2026, 8:54 PM EST Jiminna Shillingford is an avid reader and a passionate storyteller. She is obsessed with all things TV, from anime and romantic fantasy to action-packed series. With that deep affection, Jiminna longs to share her excitement with all her readers through the Collider platform as a TV author. Through her writing she has created stories and blog posts of amazing book recommendations, showcasing her love of writing. Jiminna's goal is to inspire others to discover and embrace their love of stories in all of its forms. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Over the course of countless years, giant monster movies have been a thrill ride that has been thoroughly enjoyed by audiences. From countless big-name franchises to headlining creatures, the genre is rife with fantastic hits that everyone seems to know. But beyond those outstanding gems, there is a corner of the genre that goes consistently untouched, harboring brilliant jewels that most have never even heard of. These films may lack proper marketing or billion-dollar investors, but they do deliver a masterful story and iconic monsters just like the rest.

Two epic highlights that have gone unnoticed in the giant monster genre are the razor-sharp and enticingly smart found-footage film, Trollhunter, and the gloriously outrageous, genre-bending parody, The Attack of the Giant Moussaka. Both films, like the rest on this list, are unheard-of monster masterpieces that deserve a high 10/10 rating for their epic brilliance and giant-creature fun.

8 'The Attack of the Giant Moussaka' (1999)

The Attack of the Giant Moussaka's cast of woman in various stages of shock.Image via Panos H. Koutras

Few monster movies are as unforgettable—or as completely bizarre —as this odd Greek masterpiece. The Attack of the Giant Moussaka is a sci-fi parody that hilariously follows the people of the city of Athens as they suffer from a household serving of moussaka, the Greek eggplant dish, that is irradiated by an alien ray and turns into a rampaging monster.

The Attack of the Giant Moussaka is a fun bout of cheesy special effects with a mesh of LGBTQ camp humor. With the outrageousness of the film and its release being only in Greece with very minimal subtitles, almost no one knows that it even exists. However, The Attack of the Giant Moussaka has grown into a cult classic at LGBTQ and genre festivals. It’s an over-the-top, nonsensical giant monster film that is definitely a good time for those who can appreciate a fun parody. The Attack of the Giant Moussaka may be an unknown monster flick, but it is a wildly inventive hidden gem that should be looked into.

7 'Monsters' (2010)

The main characters of the 2010 UK film Monsters on the film's poster.Image via Vertigo Films

This microbudget indie film is an underrated sci-fi gem by Gareth Edwards, made long before he tackled blockbuster kaijus. Monsters, set several years after alien life-forms cover a quarantine zone in Mexico, follows Andrew Kaulder (Scoot McNairy), an American photojournalist who is tasked with escorting his employer’s daughter, Samantha Wynden (Whitney Able), on a perilous road trip through the “Infected Zone.”

Monsters may wield a minimal budget, but the film not only reimagines its genre but also deftly proves that a true monster hit doesn’t need destruction to make it epically unforgettable. Despite the film’s acclaim, it remains mostly outside of indie circles, largely due to its release by a small studio and its tiny budget. Despite its unfortunately small viewership, Monsters has obtained its status as an incredibly well-crafted film. Audiences have given the film top marks for ingenuity and atmosphere, praising Monsters as a 10/10 viewing experience that many still haven’t realized they’ve missed.

6 'Sector 7' (2011)

The cast of the 2011 film Sector 7.Image via CJ Entertainment

Sector 7 is a Korean monster flick that delivers classic monster chaos with a mix of industrial horror. The high-budget film unfolds on an offshore oil rig, centering on the workers who have discovered a mysterious new life-form in the deep sea, and intend to use it as super-fuel—only for the organism to become a bigger, more deadly threat that turns the rig into its hunting grounds.

Sector 7 may wield a big budget, but it's relatively unknown internationally, hindered by a lack of global marketing and continuously overshadowed by The Host. The film did receive mixed reviews in its home country; however, its scarcity on streaming platforms has kept it largely away from global giant-monster movie lists. The minor international fans who have seen Sector 7 have dubbed the creature feature a hidden gem that stands as a great time. Despite its hidden status, the film has become somewhat of a cult favorite and is deemed as a 10/10 fun experience, one that may have its flaws but deserves far more recognition than it ever received in the monster genre.

5 'Gamera: Guardian of the Universe' (1995)

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe's monster turtle Gamera roaring.Image via Daiei Film

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe stands as a true triumph in the monster genre, but unfortunately, the Japanese film has too often been overshadowed by the cherished hit Godzilla. As the first of Kaneko’s acclaimed Gamera trilogy, the movie reboots the fire-breathing giant turtle Gamera, who is found as a hatchling by ornithologist Mayumi Nagamine (Shinobu Nakayama) and Captain Yonemori (Tsuyoshi Ihara). With Japan suffering from mysterious bird-monster attacks, Gamera grows to defend Japan, psychically linked to a young girl through a magical talisman.

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe never received much attention from Western audiences during its debut, mainly flying harmlessly under the radar for most. Its theatrical release was only in Japan, with a few festivals under its belt, so fans of the similar icon Godzilla sadly never got word of it. Gamera: Guardian of the Universe stands as one of the most absurd and stunningly brilliant monster movies and is a 10/10 must-see for fans of building-crushing kaijus.

4 'Shin Ultraman' (2022)

Shin Ultraman deflecting laser rays coming at him.Image via Toho

This sleek reimagining of an age-old classic is one of the finest films to come out of Japan. Shin Ultraman follows Sora (Takumi Saitô) and Officer Mizorogi (Hidetoshi Nishijima), who are both investigating giant monster attacks in Tokyo. As the threat of giant unidentified lifeforms worsens in Japan, a silver 50-meter giant appears from beyond Earth's atmosphere.

The 2022 film skillfully balances political drama with monster battles, giving audiences quite the entertaining watch. Director Shinji Higuchi and writer Hideaki Anno give Shin Ultraman mountains of depth beyond the original’s camp. Shin Ultraman is lauded as one of the best in the genre for its original Ultraman footage, its critique of capitalism, consumerism, bureaucracy, and modern life, all the while still delivering classic monster action. Though it never really reached an international audience due to its limited release, Shin Ultraman is a modern, underrated gem that masterfully revives a legend.

3 'Colossal' (2016)

Anne Hathawy as Gloria waving and smiling in ColossalImage via Neon

Colossal is a surprisingly fantastic genre-bending indie film that puts an appreciated twist on the giant monster genre. The creature feature focuses on out-of-luck writer Gloria (Anne Hathaway), whose return to her New Hampshire hometown brings on the discovery of a bizarre link to a giant reptilian monster attacking Seoul—one that’s triggered every time she walks through a local playground at a precise time.

Colossal, although a fantastically great watch, never got the mainstream attention it deserved, missing many monster fans entirely. This is likely because the 2016 film was marketed as an arthouse dramedy, and with only a limited release in the U.S. The movie quietly slipped through the cracks, sliding past audiences who would have otherwise welcomed such an iconic film. Fortunately, the little audience Colossal has garnered has hailed the film as a 10/10 modern classic for its direction, acting, screenplay, and themes. It may be an obscure giant monster beauty, but it's one that stands as a masterpiece that can definitely defy expectations.

2 'Trollhunter' (2010)

A large troll standing in front of an upcoming car in the 2010 film Trollhunter.Image via Filmkameratene

This Norwegian jewel mixes massive mythological creatures with found-footage realism. Trollhunter follows documentary students who stumble upon a secret government troll-hunting operation. The students take it upon themselves to film a one-man “Troll Security Service”, Hans (Otto Jespersen), as he hunts real-life trolls on dark forest treks—only for things to go south and plunge fully into monster-movie territory when an especially large troll suddenly crashes through the trees.

Subscribe for more overlooked giant-monster movie gems

Get even deeper: subscribing to the newsletter connects you with curated deep dives, rare recommendations, and context on underrated giant-monster films and other cinematic oddities—perfect for discovering hidden classics you won't find elsewhere. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Trollhunter is a found-footage thriller that is sadly way too obscure for its own good. Its low budget and Norwegian language likely hindered the film's mainstream appeal, leading it to go mostly unknown beyond certain film festivals. The little attention Trollhunter has gained has garnered the monster film nothing but praise. Critics have dubbed the movie an inventive mesh of scares, humor, and fun creature effects that make it feel like the perfect 10/10 masterpiece. No one might have ever heard of Trollhunters, but it's definitely one of the smartest giant monster films ever made.

1 'Primeval' (2007)

The giant crocodile with a bloody mouth in the 2007 film Primeval.Image via Spyglass Entertainment

The 2007 film Primeval has to be one of the most entertaining and unsettling films ever created, largely because it's loosely based on true events, featuring a very real “monster” that actually existed. The gritty fact-inspired film centers on a team of soldiers and American journalists who travel to war-torn Burundi to investigate a legendary Nile crocodile believed to have killed hundreds of people.

Primeval blends all the best parts of giant monster movies, gifting audiences survival horror, absolute chaos, and heavy monster-movie thrills. Despite its terrifying real-world inspiration, the film received a limited theatrical rollout and struggled terribly against bigger-budgeted films with flashier CGI-heavy creatures. While Primeval has gained much more appreciation since its debut, the film is still mostly unknown. It stands as a grim, overlooked giant animal thriller that definitely deserves its place on this list of giant monster movies that are 10/10 but have never been heard of.

Like Primeval R Action Adventure Horror Release Date January 12, 2007 Runtime 93 minutes Director Michael Katleman Writers John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris