10 Essential Monster Movies You Need To See Before Godzilla

4. Pacific Rim (2013)

Movie Monster: Kaiju One look at Guillermo Del Toro's body of work and the influence monster movies have on him is clearly visible. From the colourful character creations of Hellboy to the nightmarish fairy-tale Pan's Labyrinth, his films come with a bevy of exciting and imaginative creatures. Therefore it is no surprise Pacific Rim is laden with tons of beautifully horrific creature designs - though it does borrow heavily from the Toho productions of old. Del Toro has not been shy in his openness about Japanese inspiration. His creatures are actually referred to as 'kaiju,' which translates to 'giant monster. There are also some rumblings about a Godzilla/Pacific Rim crossover in coming years, as both share the same production company (Legendary Pictures). Wishful thinking, but mere speculation at the time of writing. Despite a number of grievances with a shallow plot and two-dimensional characters, Pacific Rim - featuring breathtaking set-pieces and humongous battles between monsters and robots - is a worthy homage to the Godzilla flicks of yesteryear.