The early 2000s were undoubtedly a memorable era for the horror genre, spawning tons of original stories and beginning several successful franchises. It also saw the start of some instantly recognizable horror icons, like Samara from The Ring and Jennifer Check from Jennifer's Body. A calling card of 2000s horror is its hard-hitting shock factor, which came in many different flavors. As Alison Foreman, a reviewer from Mashable, stated, "What might surprise you (and definitely surprised me), however, is that the brilliance of horror today can be directly traced to the splatterfest that was the genre in the first decade of the 2000s." The impact that these movies have continued to leave upon the film world is clear, reflecting cultural anxieties and the troubles of the time period.
One characteristic of the early 2000s in terms of horror is the revitalization of the creature feature. A far cry from the original claymation Godzilla of 1954, the technological renaissance of the new millennium truly brought these monsters to life. As one of the most beloved subgenres of horror, these films tend to attract fans of all kinds. Gathering together to watch malformed monsters battle it out on the big or small screen has bonded audiences for decades. The 2000s definitely saw a resurgence of this, as a result of the releases of some of the most successful horror movies ever during this time. Let's take a look at the best creature features of the 2000s, ranked.
7 Cloverfield (2008)
Cloverfield is a modern nightmare, positioning everyday people against a gigantic, monstrous threat. Set in New York City on the eve of an unassuming party, a gathering of friends soon finds themselves in mortal danger. As a hulking creature begins to wreak havoc on the city, they document the downfall of the world as they know it on a video camera. Known for its nauseating handheld shaky-cam style, this film easily finds realistic roots with its found-footage feel. The truly bleak atmosphere sees the city descend into utter chaos with apocalyptic odds. Cloverfield's two successful sequels, 10 Cloverfield Lane and The Cloverfield Paradox, will be followed by another installment that will deviate from its found-footage fame.
6 Pitch Black (2000)
Universal Pictures
Vin Diesel stars as Riddick in the first film of the celebrated franchise following the character. Pitch Black sees a transport spaceship in the aftermath of its crash landing on a distant desert planet filled with ancient, starving creatures waking up from a 22-year hibernation. Riddick, a criminal en route to incarceration, becomes somewhat of a scapegoat when bodies start to drop, until the group realizes what they're truly up against. The freakish creatures are photosensitive, emerging from their cave homes to feed on their easy prey after the planet is engulfed in an eclipse. Looking like a cross between a hammerhead shark, a pterodactyl, and a pale bat, these monsters are absolutely nightmarish, setting up a successful film series.
5 The Mist (2007)
One of the most horrifying Stephen King adaptations, The Mist is a dark foray into an apocalyptic future. After a small Maine town is swallowed by a mysterious thick mist, a horde of Lovecraftian creatures emerge from it and begin wreaking havoc on the town's residents. Father David Drayton (Thomas Jane) runs for shelter in a grocery store with his son Billy (Nathan Gamble) and other neighbors as they all struggle to survive. The mist brings with it a myriad of beasts, including a spider-like entity with hairy spines and a six-legged behemoth with protruding tentacles. The ending to this film is absolutely one of the most hopeless among 2000s horror, leaving viewers wanting to scream into the sky just like David.
4 Hellboy (2004)
The original Hellboy gave birth to the titular horror icon, beginning the fan-favorite series. At the height of World War II, a baby demon is rescued from the Nazis, who invoke him to Earth through a portal in an effort to further their own evil bidding. The Allies intervene, killing their enemies and scooping up the little creature, whom they named Hellboy. All grown up, Hellboy (Ron Perlman) works with the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, teaming up with several otherworldly heroes to fight for the United States. Under Guillermo del Toro's direction, the big and burly Hellboy becomes a harbinger of reckoning, weaponizing his demonic nature to become a force for good. Even at the age of 71, Ron Perlman has said that he would cater to his fans to return to the role for Hellboy 3.
3 The Host (2006)
Bong Joon-ho is regarded as a landmark horror director, and The Host is proof of that. This South Korean epic follows the aftermath of the American military poisoning the Han River in Seoul by dumping toxic chemicals into it, creating a monstrous consequence. As a creature rises from the deep a few years later and terrorizes the city, a family finds themselves in the middle of the madness. Park Hyun-seo (Go Ah-sung), a young girl, is taken by the monster from her father, Park Gang-doo (Song Kang-ho), who springs into action to rescue her. The film examines the real-world horrors of the environmental effects of pollution, developing a truly terrifying tale.
2 The Descent (2005)
A Roger Ebert review called The Descent "a savage and gripping piece of work that jangles your nerves without leaving your brain hanging." In the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, six women descend into the cave systems in search of an underground adventure. Instead, they are met with unimaginable horrors in the form of terrifying subterranean creatures with a thirst for blood. Known as the Crawlers, these humanoid beings have become skilled hunters under the cover of darkness. Terrifying, immersive, and extremely bloody, the film has been called as claustrophobic as they come, as well as a piece of feminist horror.
1 Ginger Snaps (2000)
Ginger Snaps is heralded as a cult classic and an empowering entry into the world of werewolf films. Two sisters, Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) and Brigitte Fitzgerald (Emily Perkins) have a morbid obsession with death. After getting her first period, Ginger is bitten by a werewolf under the light of a full moon. As she grapples with her transformation, her humanity begins to slip away in favor of something much more monstrous. She becomes aggressive and violent as Brigitte struggles to find a cure. The film has been regarded as a heart-wrenching feminist horror, speaking to the bloody burdens that come along with womanhood. With an ending as tragic as Ginger is terrifying, it's no wonder the original film is followed by two sequels. The story is also slated to become a TV show.