Giant monster movies come with an inherent promise of spectacle on a massive scale. Killer monster designs, epic set pieces, destructive chaos, and a giant-sized sense of fun that has audiences returning to this subgenre. With Meg 2: The Trench releasing this week, which will see Jason Statham take on not one but multiple megalodon sharks and a slew of Mariana Trench creatures, this week’s streaming picks are dedicated to giant monster movies.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
Destroy All Monsters – Crackle, Criterion Channel, Fandor, freevee, Max, Pluto TV, Shout TV, Tubi
Toho’s kaiju mashup movie parties like it’s 1999. The Ishirō Honda-directed monster movie sees all the iconic Toho monsters gathered together to cohabitate in peace on Monster Island. Thanks to some pesky aliens that take control, the monsters split up to attack various cities, creating ultimate chaos. Destroy All Monsters assembles a rare all-star monster lineup, uniting Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, and many more into one packed feature. Silly kaiju hijinks combined with fun monster battles ensure maximum charm and entertainment.
The Host – Hoopla, Kanopy, Max, The Roku Channel
Bong Joon Ho (Snowpiercer, Parasite) is a master of blending genres and tone, and his epic creature feature offers a perfect example. Deftly wrapping up the family drama, dysfunctional humor, and political satire in one thrilling creature feature bow, the plot sees a monster from Seoul’s Han River wreak havoc. When the beast snatches up a young girl, the girl’s family bands together to get her back by any means necessary. This big-budget spectacle will make you laugh one minute and cry the next.
Monsters – Crackle, Hoopla, Pluto TV
Written and directed by Gareth Edwards, this giant creature feature is likely responsible for Edwards landing the gig directing the 2014 American reboot, Godzilla. His feature debut is set six years after extraterrestrials crash-landed in Central America and began to spread. The U.S. and Mexican military struggle to keep the giant creatures contained in a quarantined area, creating a danger zone that a cynical journalist must navigate as he escorts a shaken tourist to the safety of the U.S. border. Gareth transcends the shackles of low-budget constraints with impressive visual effects and a story focused on the human condition. It’s innovative and ambitious.
Planet of Dinosaurs – freevee, Prime Video, the Roku Channel, Tubi
This 1977 sci-fi horror feature is for those that want monster variety. A mechanical failure causes a spaceship to crash land on a strange planet with a similar atmosphere to Earth. They quickly discover it’s inhabited by creatures much larger and more predatory than they are, and it becomes a nonstop fight for survival against various monsters and hostile terrain. Stop-motion animated dinosaurs, giant spiders, and more attempt to thwart the survivors in this campy underseen monster movie that likely inspired the recent dino flick 65.
Trollhunter – Hoopla, Tubi, YouTube
In this mockumentary by André Øvredal (The Autopsy of Jane Doe), a group of students set out to make a documentary about a bear poacher. They soon learn he’s a troll hunter tasked with eliminating dangerous trolls that have escaped their territory. One of the most unique entries in the found footage subgenre, Trollhunter infuses Norwegian folklore into a thrilling tale with massive creatures and dry wit. It’s highly entertaining and hilarious and fully uses scenic Norway as a breathtaking backdrop for the adventure. It’s a breezy genre adventure that offers easily digestible escapism but also contains poignant layers. Now is the perfect time to watch, with Øvredal’s The Last Voyage of the Demeter right around the corner.