15 of the most ridiculous movie monsters

Sharktopus (Screencap via Syfy)

Sharknado 5 premieres August 6. To celebrate, this slider runs down the 15 of the most ridiculous movie monsters we can think of.

Some movie monsters are so terrifying and well-designed that you can’t help but take them seriously. Think the xenomorphs from the Alien franchise, for example. No matter how silly the film series got, those titular aliens were so vicious, so sleek, so determined that viewers couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear as the xenomorphs stalked across the screen.

Other filmmakers go for sympathy. Monsters, especially those that were once human or who strive for a kind of humanity, can be strikingly tragic. Swamp Thing, as gross as he is, was once a man and is painfully aware of his changed state. Werewolves, one of the classic beasts from film and myth, are another great example of this category.

But I’m not here to inspire fear or sympathy in your heart. With Sharknado 5 looming around the corner, it’s difficult to pretend that all movie monsters have, well, dignity. I mean, use whatever words you want to describe the Sharknado series and its ilk, but “dignified” probably isn’t one of them. So, instead, we’re looking at some of the mst ridiculous movie monsters to grace the screen.

What’s a ridiculous movie monster?

What exactly do I mean by “ridiculous”? It’s honestly a little hard to pin down. On a certain level, the ridiculous movie monster is strange for strangeness’ sake. Why else would you make a movie featuring a killer doll (Chucky) or a lecherous, similarly evil turkey (ThanksKilling)?

There’s also a certain kind of freewheeling joy inherent in the ridiculous movie monster. You don’t have to ponder questions of humanity or empathy when you’re watching Leprechaun. All you have to do is be a willing audience member, even as Warwick Davis cackles out a one-liner or while the Ghoulies go to college. These monsters are so silly that they become, in their way, utterly joyous.

So, if you’re gearing up to enjoy the utterly ludicrous farce that will be Sharknado 5 on August 5, start here. What follows are 15 of the strangest, most surprising movie monsters in all of horror cinema. Be aware that there are some spoilers throughout, along with mentions of gore here and there. Still, even if you spoil an ending or plot twist, don’t worry too much. All of these monsters must be seen to be truly enjoyed.