With the upcoming battle royale between the heavyweight champions of the kaiju world, it might be easy to forget that giant monster battles were once a very common occurrence at the local drive-ins. Everything from the traditional Godzillas and King Ghidorah to the simple and effective giant insects and alien invasions were par for the course.
But with the days of high-tech CGI and 4k clarity, filmmakers now have new and improved ways to make these giant monsters larger than life. With the rebirth of Godzilla and Kong, perhaps some of their peers and contemporaries can receive the modern treatment as well.
Gort (The Day the Earth Stood Still)
Call it an honorable mention but if there’s one giant robot that deserves a second chance, it’s Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still. Keanu Reeves might have made a believable alien in the remake, but its version of Klaatu’s robot protector left much to be desired.
The movie had a gigantic version of the metal man from another planet but did next to nothing with him. It’s high time Gort got his own movie.
Cyclops (The Cyclops)
Like many on this list, the cyclops in question is a star of a nearly forgotten B-movie. Nowadays, The Cyclops would be something worthy of the SyFy network, but it does still have modern movie potential.
There is adequate potential for a decent film here. So long as there is a giant cyclops or one-eyed monster in general, the script can be whatever it wants. Whether that be a summer blockbuster or a tongue-in-cheek parody of the B-movie genre.
Giant Tarantula (Tarantula)
They knew Leo G. Carroll (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) was over a barrel when Tarantula took to the hills, and so would a bunch of modern arachnophobes. At one time, giant spiders were all the rage. Maybe it’s time for them to make a comeback?
Not since Eight-Legged Freaks have modern audiences had a traditional giant spider destroying the city, and Tarantula would be a return to form. Probably not as intimidating to some as Godzilla or Kong, but it’s something worth thinking about.
Scorpion (The Black Scorpion)
What could be worse than a giant tarantula? A giant black scorpion. Scorpions on their own aren’t exactly the most lovable creatures. So why not go to be movie route and give audiences one the size of a semi-truck.
Like so many giant monsters and insects, a remake of The Black Scorpion has the ability to go all out with its insanity. So long as there is a giant clawed, stinging monstrosity attacking the city at the end of the day, viewers will be satisfied.
Jet Jaguar (Godzilla Vs. Megalon)
This gigantic robot might take a few cues from the more famous Ultraman but given the right direction and script, Jet Jaguar could make a triumphant return out of the ’70s and into the 21st century.
Showa-era entry Godzilla Vs. Megalon saw the king of all monsters team up with this giant mech to take on an insectoid alien monster, but he’s hardly been heard of since. With a cool and colorful design, one wonders why he hasn’t had at least his own anime series yet.
Megalon (Godzilla Vs. Megalon)
Speaking of Megalon, if ever there was an under-appreciated Godzilla monster, it’s this one. How does one even begin to describe this mishmash of massive monstrosity? Part insect, part lizard, part robot, part alien, all an incredible cocktail of kaiju goodness.
A modern Megalon would definitely have to appear in a Godzilla movie first, but a solo film featuring the creature would not be shunned, either. Here’s hoping he gets in on some of the modern action.
Ants (Them!)
Throwing things back to the ’50s, a remake of Them! should be a love-letter to the shlocky sci-fi flicks of the era, rather than just a modern remake. The film is one of the unsung heroes of the genre and definitely deserves some full-on recognition.
Giant man-eating ants might not be the scariest idea on paper, but given the right treatment, they can be. Replace the stop-motion with well-crafted CGI and Fess Parker with an A-list actor, and a hit could be well underway.
The Iron Giant (The Iron Giant)
Although not too many fans consider it, The Iron Giant is perhaps one of the first kaiju movies many modern viewers were introduced to. Often regarded as a forgotten favorite lost in nostalgia, Brad Bird’s tail of a giant robot crashing to Earth and befriending a boy is a story that needs to be retold.
Granted, the only way this would work is if Bird had full control with its modernization. Perhaps even a live-action version might happen?
Frankenstein’s Monster (Frankenstein Conquers the World)
The kaiju genre often gives viewers some of the most interesting combinations known to film. If it’s not Godzilla teaming up with a giant robot to take on an alien monster, it’s a giant Frankenstein-like humanoid grappling with a subterranean monster.
A humanoid kaiju grown from the heart of Frankenstein’s monster is about as bombastic as a monster movie can get. Why not update the script and make it better, even more gruesome? It would certainly be an original idea.
Giant Robot (Giant Robo)
If The Iron Giant got the Godzilla/Power Rangers treatment, the result would be Giant Robo. A modern version would be extremely entertaining so long as the adaptation didn’t take itself too seriously, or at the very least, was tongue-in-cheek about its delivery.
Think about it: a young boy becoming friends with a giant robot and defending the earth against an evil gang of space aliens sounds pretty cartoonish on paper. A modernization would definitely need some updates, but it could be possible to do the concept justice.
