10 Monster Movies That Made Us Root For The Creature

These 10 movies flip the script, making us cheer for creatures we were supposed to fear, and leaving us unexpectedly heartbroken when they roar, rampage, or just want to be loved.

Hollywood loves making monsters the bad guys, but sometimes a movie comes along that flips everything upside down. These flicks mess with our heads by getting us to cheer for the very creatures we’re supposed to fear. Maybe it’s the way they’re mistreated by humans, or how they show unexpected emotion when cornered. Whatever the magic ingredient, these ten films somehow tricked us into feeling genuine sympathy for beings that would probably eat our faces given half the chance.

The Host (2006)

Nobody expected a mutated river monster to break hearts, yet Bong Joon-ho pulled it off in this Korean gem. The slimy beast snatches a young girl, triggering her dysfunctional family’s rescue mission throughout Seoul. Between government cover-ups and American military intrusion, viewers gradually realize the creature itself isn’t exactly evil – just another victim of toxic waste dumping and human arrogance. There’s something weirdly satisfying about watching this awkward, fish-like abomination struggle against its own existence while trying to survive, making that final riverside confrontation hit with unexpected emotional weight.

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Guillermo Del Toro’s twisted fairy tale throws a young girl into a world where fauns, giant toads, and eyeball-palmed monsters might actually be her salvation. While the child-eating Pale Man still haunts nightmares, he’s practically cuddly compared to the film’s actual villain – the sadistic Captain Vidal. Each mythical creature serves as a bizarre guide through war-torn Spain, their grotesque appearances masking wisdom and ancient purpose. Something magical happens when that freaky-looking faun offers Ofelia her final choice – suddenly, these fantasy nightmares feel like better company than most of the humans she’s stuck with.

Cloverfield (2008)

Watching Manhattan get stomped through shaky handheld footage should make anyone hate the enormous thing doing the stomping. Yet somehow, this monster’s rampage starts feeling less malicious and more confused as the night progresses. Nobody explains where this beast came from or why military strikes only seem to piss it off more. Those brief glimpses through falling debris reveal something almost childlike – a disoriented creature potentially ripped from its environment and dropped into ours. Hard not to feel a twinge of sympathy by the time those fighter jets close in for the final assault.

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

Viking culture built around dragon-slaying gets completely upended when scrawny Hiccup befriends the most dangerous dragon of all. Watching Toothless transform from feared Night Fury into what’s basically an oversized, fire-breathing cat ranks among animation’s most perfect character developments. The dragon’s injured wing creates instant vulnerability, while those expressive eyes communicate volumes without dialogue. Before long, we’re totally team dragon, hoping these misunderstood creatures finally get fair treatment from their thick-headed human neighbors who spent generations demonizing them.

Warm Bodies (2013)

Zombies eating brains should never be adorable, yet this apocalyptic rom-com somehow pulls it off. R shuffles around an abandoned airport, narrating his existential crisis between brain-munching sessions. After consuming a victim’s memories, he develops feelings for the guy’s girlfriend, kickstarting an unlikely healing process. Watching this undead dude struggle to form complete sentences while protecting Julie from fellow zombies creates comedy gold with surprising heart. The kicker? Seeing these supposed monsters gradually reconnect with their humanity makes us question who the real zombies were all along.

The Shape of Water (2017)

When a mute cleaning lady falls for the amphibian test subject at her government job, viewers should be horrified. Instead, we’re completely invested. The creature might look frightening with his scales and razor-sharp teeth, but his interactions with Elisa reveal something tender beneath that intimidating exterior. Meanwhile, Michael Shannon’s government agent carves up his fingers, tortures the amphibian, and spews 1960s prejudice – making it crystal clear which character truly deserves the “monster” label. Those underwater apartment scenes somehow transform from bizarre to breathtakingly romantic.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

First impression: giant ape smashes helicopters, killing dozens. Final verdict: misunderstood island protector deserving of our full support. This Vietnam-era take on Kong brilliantly shifts perspective by introducing threats far worse than the massive gorilla. As Samuel L. Jackson’s war-obsessed colonel becomes increasingly unhinged, Kong’s actions start looking less like random aggression and more like necessary peacekeeping. That moment when the great ape shares a quiet lakeside moment with Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson cements the deal – this isn’t some mindless beast, but a complex being worthy of survival.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Remember when dinosaurs were the scary part of Jurassic Park? This sequel flips everything by making us desperately want these prehistoric creatures saved from extinction (again). That shot of the Brachiosaurus crying out as volcanic ash engulfs the island? Devastating. Blue the Velociraptor’s loyalty to Chris Pratt’s character feels more genuine than most of the human relationships. By the time rich collectors start auctioning dinosaurs off like exotic pets, we’re firmly against mankind and hoping these formerly feared predators escape to wreak justified havoc on their tormentors.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

Watching cities get demolished typically doesn’t inspire cheers, yet theaters erupted when Godzilla’s dorsal plates lit up for that final atomic breath. This modern take positions the legendary kaiju as Earth’s defender against worse threats – particularly the three-headed alien dragon King Ghidorah. Humans scramble around like ants below while titanic battles reshape the planet’s geography. A clever script layer suggests these ancient monsters might actually be Earth’s immune system responding to the human infection, making all that catastrophic destruction seem weirdly necessary. Somehow, dropping a nuclear bomb ON Godzilla to help him power up became the movie’s crowd-pleasing moment.

Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

Reanimated corpses should stay scary, not become love interests – yet this 80s-set horror comedy breaks all the rules. When goth outsider Lisa accidentally brings a Victorian-era corpse back using a tanning bed during a lightning storm, their relationship evolves from terror to unexpected companionship. Her creature lurches around with decaying limbs but displays such gentle devotion that audiences can’t help falling for him too. The film’s weirdest achievement? Making his occasional murders seem reasonable, even justified, as he takes out Lisa’s tormentors while learning to blend into suburban life. Those decomposing dance scenes shouldn’t work emotionally, yet somehow they absolutely do.