Monster movie facts for kids

King Kong was one of the earliest and most well-known monster movies.

A monster movie is a type of movie where people face huge, scary monsters. These films often show humans trying to survive attacks from these giant creatures. Monster movies can be found in different movie styles, like horror, fantasy, or science fiction. In Japan, these large monsters are called kaiju.

Often, the monsters in these movies are created by human actions. This could be from a failed experiment, the effects of radiation, or even destroying the monster's habitat. For example, after the 1953 movie The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, many monster movies showed creatures created by nuclear warfare.

One of the most famous movie monsters, Godzilla, was imagined as being created by a nuclear weapon. Godzilla has starred in many movies, becoming a huge cultural icon in Japan.

Famous Monster Movies

Monster movies have been popular for a long time. Early films like King Kong (1933) showed giant apes. Later, movies like Godzilla (1954) introduced giant lizards. These films often explored fears about science or nature.

The Rise of Kaiju

In Japan, giant monster movies are called "kaiju" films. Godzilla is the most famous kaiju. These movies often feature huge monsters fighting each other or attacking cities. Kaiju films are a big part of Japanese culture.

Modern Monster Movies

Today, monster movies use amazing special effects. Films like Jurassic Park (1993) brought dinosaurs to life. Other movies, such as Pacific Rim (2013), show giant robots fighting kaiju. These films continue to thrill audiences with their massive creatures.

Images for kids

• 

  Theatrical release poster for Godzilla (1954).