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The kaiju film is a mighty genre that has been thrilling audiences around the world since the 1950s. The giant monster movie genre is steeped in deep metaphors of nuclear war, environmental protection, and society's tendency to overlook true threats.

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The most well-known kaiju monster is without a doubt GodzillaThe king of the monsters was created by genre pioneer, Toho Studios, in 1954 and has since spawned numerous spin-offs featuring Godzilla duking it out against scores of gigantic invaders. While Godzilla is the undisputed king, there are some notable underappreciated kaiju that deserve more love.

10 Baragon

baragon kaiju

Baragon is an often overlooked kaiju recognized by its protruding horn and large floppy ears. The dinosaur-like creature is a master at burrowing underneath its opponents to attack from below and using a deadly heat ray that shoots out from its mouth. This colossal creature first appeared in the 1965 film, Frankenstein vs. Baragon and later appeared in the kaiju essential, Destroy All Monsters. 

9 Ebirah

godzilla and ebirah kaiju

What could be scarier than a giant shrimp with huge claw pinchers? Nuclear waste has a way of mutating even the most unsuspecting wildlife and altering them to grow to gigantic sizes. Ebirah is the extremely aggressive villain of the film, Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, in which the colossal crustacean brutally fights with the king of monsters, Godzilla.  This kaiju is memorable for breaking the reptilian mold of previous monsters in films.

8 Kamacuras

kamacuras kaiju

One of the coolest kaiju designs, this giant praying mantis can slice and dice its way through any sized city with relative ease. A master of camouflage and flight, this abnormal beast leaves nothing but carnage in its path. First appearing in Son of Godzilla, Kamacuras has since appeared in other classics, All Monsters Attack, Godzilla Island, Godzilla: Final Wars, and the anime, GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters.

7 Destoroyah

destoroyah kaiju

With a name like Destoroyah, one has to assume this beast means business. A monster that takes on a number of different forms as it evolves, this merciless foe was once a group of microscopic crustaceans that were affected by chemical weapon testing, causing them to grow to a significantly larger size and eventually merge into a single entity. Godzilla dukes it out with this increasingly powerful nemesis in the 1995 film, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. 

6 Gigan

gigan kaiju

Gigan may look like a cross between several different dinosaur kaiju and a giant cyborg chicken, but this monster is not to be underestimated. The claws on Gigan are explosive on the tips and sometimes replaced with powerful giant chainsaws. This mammoth alien is controlled by several different alien invaders in the film series, although the monster always seems to be at odds with Godzilla.

5 Mechagodzilla

mechagodzilla kaiju

One of the coolest giant mechs in any film ever, this robotic monster was originally built by alien invaders as a means to defeat Godzilla and conquer Earth in the kaiju classic, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. Mechagodzilla was specifically designed to fight against the heroic king of the monsters, utilizing many of Godzilla's same abilities.

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The tin giant has been a fan favorite since the 1970s, appearing in several additional movies before largely disappearing from the series, say for a few video game and manga appearances.

4 Megalon

megalon and gigan kaiju

Megalon is a super cool insect kaiju that resides in the underground kingdom of Seatopia, which he protects from outside threats. This beetle-like creature fights against a number of monsters, first appearing in Godzilla vs. Megalon where a series of giant monsters slug it out through explosion after explosion. Megalon hasn't appeared in many movies, but the character is a mainstay in the video game series.

3 Gamera

gamera kaiju

One of the few non-Toho studio kaijus on this list, Gamera is a giant turtle mutated from nuclear radiation to massive size. Originally a chaotic behemoth that could destroy entire towns, the colossus eventually warmed up to mankind before turning into a protector of the people. The character made twelve films, numerous comics, and even a few video games. Gamera may look like a creature from the depths of the underworld, but deep down this titanic turtle is a big sweetheart.

2 King Caesar

king caesar kaiju

King Caesar is a mythical ancient guardian that teams up with Godzilla to fight Mechagodzilla in the film, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. Caesar's appearance is similar to a giant lion/dog hybrid with bright red eyes.

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Caesar can capture energy beams from other monsters and fire them back through his eye. This furry kaiju has only appeared in a few movies, but never as the main character, despite being a serious ally for Godzilla.

1 Varan

varan kaiju

Varan is essentially Godzilla with wings, but that's not to say this dinosaur kaiju isn't extremely dangerous. Varan is a capable foe on land, in the air, and underwater, thanks to durable scales and fearsome fighting style. Varan appeared in their own Toho film in 1958 as well as the classic flick, Destroy All Monsters, but has yet to make many cameos since, although the character lives on through numerous video game appearances.

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