The Most Popular Kaiju Movie: Ranking the Ultimate Creature Feature

Voting rules: Choose the Film you think is the most popular!

Updated on Nov 27, 2023 08:21

Step into the colossal world of Kaiju movies, where behemoth creatures reign supreme and humanity stands at the brink of oblivion! StrawPoll proudly presents a thrilling, earth-shattering ranking of the most popular Kaiju movies of all time, and we want YOU to be the judge! Cast your vote for your all-time favorite or rally support for a lesser-known gem that deserves recognition. Is it the iconic Godzilla who leaves you in awe, or perhaps the legendary King Kong who rules your heart? Whichever monstrous masterpiece has captivated you, it's time to let your voice be heard. Join thousands of fellow Kaiju enthusiasts and shape the ultimate cinematic showdown by participating in our epic poll. Unleash the power of your vote and let the battle for the most popular Kaiju movie begin!

What Is the Most Popular Kaiju Movie?

1

54
votes
Godzilla (1954)

This is widely considered the first and most iconic Kaiju movie, introducing the world to the giant, radioactive monster known as Godzilla.
Description

Godzilla (1954) is a Japanese monster film that is considered the original and most iconic installment in the Godzilla franchise. It is a black and white film directed by Ishirō Honda and produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka. The film tells the story of a prehistoric sea monster called Godzilla, awakened and irradiated by atomic bomb testing in the Pacific Ocean. The creature goes on a path of destruction, wreaking havoc in Tokyo. The film explores the themes of nuclear weapons, humanity's destructive nature, and the fear of the unknown.

Title: Godzilla

Year: 1954

Country: Japan

Language: Japanese

Runtime: 96 minutes
2

29
votes
King Kong (1933)

While not strictly a Kaiju movie, King Kong is often considered a precursor to the genre due to its depiction of a giant, destructive monster.
Description

King Kong (1933) is a classic American monster film that tells the story of a gigantic gorilla named Kong who lives on a secluded island. When a filmmaking crew discovers Kong and takes him back to New York City, chaos ensues as the creature escapes and wreaks havoc upon the city.

Release Date: March 2, 1933

Running Time: 104 minutes

Director: Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack

Producer: Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack

Production Company: RKO Radio Pictures
King Kong (1933) in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular King Kong movie
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular monster movie
3

13
votes
Pacific Rim (2013)

Guillermo del Toro

This modern take on Kaiju movies features giant robots, known as Jaegers, battling massive monsters known as Kaiju.
Description

Pacific Rim (2013) is a science fiction action film directed by Guillermo del Toro. Set in a future where Earth is under attack by colossal monsters known as Kaiju, the movie follows the story of humanity's last hope - gigantic humanoid mechs called Jaegers controlled by two pilots mentally linked through a neural bridge.

Release Date: July 12, 2013

Genre: Action, Science Fiction

Runtime: 131 minutes

Production Companies: Legendary Pictures, Warner Bros.

Budget: $190 million
4

18
votes
Mothra (1961)

This classic Kaiju movie features a giant moth-like creature that wreaks havoc on Japan.
Description

Mothra (1961) is a Japanese monster movie from Toho Studios. It revolves around the story of a giant moth-like creature called Mothra, who defends her island home and the indigenous people from outside threats. Mothra is known for her beautiful appearance, peaceful nature, and the ability to emit silk projectiles and create powerful wind gusts. The film showcases thrilling battles between Mothra and the human characters who seek to exploit her power. Overall, Mothra (1961) is a classic kaiju film with memorable creature design and exciting monster action.

Original Release Date: July 30, 1961

Running Time: 101 minutes

Language: Japanese

Budget: Approximately $150,000

Box Office: Approximately $1 million
5

19
votes
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995)

Shusuke Kaneko

This reboot of the Gamera franchise features the giant turtle battling other Kaiju to protect humanity.
Description

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995) is a Japanese kaiju film directed by Shusuke Kaneko. It is the seventh installment in the Gamera film series and serves as a reboot of the franchise. The movie follows the story of Gamera, a giant flying turtle-like creature, who emerges to protect the Earth from other monstrous creatures known as Gyaos.

Release Date: March 11, 1995

Running Time: 96 minutes

Language: Japanese

Country: Japan

Budget: Approximately $8 million
6

13
votes
Cloverfield (2008)

This found footage-style movie follows a group of friends as they try to survive a Kaiju attack on New York City.
Description

Cloverfield (2008) is a found-footage style monster movie that follows a group of young New Yorkers as they try to survive and escape the city during a devastating attack by a colossal monster of unknown origin.

Release Date: January 18, 2008

Genre: Kaiju, Science Fiction, Thriller

Director: Matt Reeves

Running Time: 85 minutes

Production Company: Bad Robot Productions
7

10
votes
Rampage (2018)

Based on the video game of the same name, this movie features giant animals, including a gorilla, wolf, and crocodile, wreaking havoc on a city.
Description

Rampage (2018) is a popular Kaiju movie that combines action, adventure, and science fiction genres. It is based on the classic arcade game of the same name. The film follows the story of a primatologist, Davis Okoye, who teams up with a genetically altered albino gorilla, George, to stop three other mutated animals - a wolf, a crocodile, and a flying lizard - from wreaking havoc across the United States.

Release Date: April 13, 2018

Running Time: 107 minutes

Budget: $120 million

Box Office: $428 million

Production Companies: New Line Cinema, Flynn Picture Company, Wrigley Pictures, ASAP Entertainment, 7 Bucks Entertainment
8

10
votes
The Host (2006)

Bong Joon-ho

This South Korean film follows a family's attempts to rescue their daughter from a monster that emerges from the Han River.
Description

The Host (2006) is a South Korean monster movie directed by Bong Joon-ho. It follows the story of a dysfunctional family who must rescue their young daughter from a terrifying creature that emerges from the Han River in Seoul.

Genre: Monster movie

Country of origin: South Korea

Language: Korean

Release date: 2006

Runtime: 120 minutes
The Host (2006) in other rankings
- Position 8 of 10 in Most popular Korean movie
9

7
votes
Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Ishirō Honda

This film features a massive ensemble of Kaiju, including Godzilla, Mothra, and Rodan, teaming up to battle an alien threat.
Description

Destroy All Monsters is a 1968 Japanese kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda. The movie features an ensemble cast of kaiju, including Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, and many others. In the film, Earth in the future has established a giant monster island called Monsterland, where all the kaiju are living peacefully. However, aliens from the planet Kilaak take control of the monsters and unleash them on major cities around the world, wreaking havoc and destruction. It's up to the human race to devise a plan and regain control of the kaiju to save humanity from annihilation.

Release Year: 1968

Runtime: 88 minutes

Language: Japanese

Country of Origin: Japan

Production Company: Toho Studios
10

2
votes
Shin Godzilla (2016)

A reboot of the Godzilla franchise, this film features a new version of the monster terrorizing Japan.
Description

Shin Godzilla (2016) is a film version of Godzilla that features a unique and distinctive design. It is known for its terrifying appearance, which represents the ultimate form of Godzilla's evolutionary growth.

Height: 118.5 meters

Weight: 92,000 metric tons

Color: Dark gray with red-glowing dorsal fins

Eyes: Yellow and reptilian

Dorsal Fins: Several rows that progressively get larger
Shin Godzilla (2016) in other rankings
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular Godzilla design
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular Godzilla movie

Missing your favorite Film?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for popular movie

Box Office Success

Analyze the overall box office revenue of the movie, as well as the revenue generated during the opening weekend. This can give an indication of the popularity of the movie among audiences.
Critical Acclaim

Evaluate the movie's ratings and reviews by critics and review aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Positive reviews from the critics can indicate a popular and well-received film.
Audience Reception

Look at audience reviews and ratings on platforms like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. This will give you an insight into how much the general public enjoyed the movie.
Cultural Impact

Assess the cultural significance of the movie in terms of its influence on pop culture, merchandise sales, and the extent to which it shaped or changed the Kaiju genre.
Legacy and Longevity

Determine how long the movie has been relevant in popular culture and whether it spawned sequels, prequels, spinoffs, or other adaptations.
Awards and Nominations

Consider any prestigious awards or nominations the movie may have received, such as from the Oscars, Golden Globes, or other major film festivals.
Visual Effects and Creature Design

Analyze the quality and creativity of the visual effects and Kaiju creature design in the movie, as these are critical elements of the genre.
Storyline and Characters

Evaluate the movie's plot, character development, and pacing, as these can contribute significantly to a film's overall success.
Direction and Cinematography

Assess the quality of the direction and cinematography of the film, as these can have a tremendous impact on the final product.
Production Budget

Consider the production budget of the film and how it was used to create the final product. A higher budget movie with impressive visuals and effects may have a better chance of being popular among the Kaiju fan base.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Kaiju movie. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Film is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1766 views
175 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Film once every 24 hours. The rank of each Film is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular kaiju movie

Kaiju movies have been a popular genre of Japanese cinema for decades. Kaiju, which translates to "strange creature" in English, refers to giant monsters that wreak havoc on cities and towns. These movies often feature epic battles between these creatures and human-made machines or other Kaiju. One of the most popular Kaiju movies of all time is the 1954 classic, "Godzilla." The film spawned a franchise that includes over 30 movies and has become a cultural icon in Japan and around the world. Other popular Kaiju movies include "Mothra," "King Kong vs. Godzilla," and "Pacific Rim." Fans of Kaiju movies are drawn to the thrilling action and special effects, as well as the deeper themes of nuclear war, environmental destruction, and humanity's relationship with nature. With so many Kaiju movies to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which is the most popular. That's why we've conducted a poll to settle the debate once and for all.

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