TheMonsterverseis Legendary Pictures’ fascinating cinematic universe that takes the likes ofclassic movie monsters, likeGodzilla,King Kong,Mothra, andKing Ghidorah, and puts them all into one place. These movies and shows have been well received by audiences, and they completely changed these characters' reputations all around the world, especially outside of Japan.
But the licenses for all these iconic monsters are quite expensive. Not to mention that Legendary Pictures also needs to ask permission from Toho and other companies. They can’t always rely on pre-existing characters, meaning that sometimes they need to create their original monsters. And, to the surprise of their viewers, they have mostly succeeded in creating unique and amazing creatures that add a lot to the lore of the Monsterverse.
Updated on June 21, 2025, by Julián Loyarte:Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was recently released on March 29. In this new adventure, Godzilla and Kong had to team up in order to face two antagonists, in the form of two brand new original monsters that were specifically designed for the Monsterverse. Since these new kaiju quickly became very popular among fans, this article has been updated in order to add them to the list, as they both earned their rightful place in it. Beware of spoilers for said movie.
11Doug (Godzilla Vs. Kong)
An Adorable Little Guy
The Monsterverse is inhabited by giant and terrifying creatures. But there are also a few smaller ones that are oddly adorable. One such case isTitanus Doug, a lizard-like creature that appeared on-screen inGodzilla vs. Kongfor a few seconds. And that was more than enough for fans to fall in love with it.
Like almost every design in the Monsterverse, Doug looks great. It’s fantastical, but it also looks like it could be a real creature. And to top it all off, the name Doug was originally coined by fans before it was later used in official material.
Huge Tusks, Huge Potential
WhenKing Ghidorahperforms his Alpha CallinGodzilla: King of the Monsters, many titans can be seen waking up all around the world. Even though they appeared on-screen for a few minutes, their unique designs caught the audience’s attention. And the most interesting monster in this group was theBehemoth.
There aren’t many mammalian kaiju, let alone ones that are based on elephants or mammoths. So Behemoth’s imposing appearance was enough to make it stand out. It’s also interesting how this seems to be a more peaceful titan, who can restore vegetation as he passes through. Even though it hasn’t appeared much in the movies, Behemoth has a lot of potential and fans are hoping it will have a more prominent role in future projects.
9Warbat (Godzilla Vs. Kong)
A Hunter Of Hollow Earth
WhenKongfirst enters theHollow EarthinGodzilla vs. Kong, he is immediately attacked by a pair of giant flying snakes calledWarbats. In just a few seconds, they managed to trap and hurt the giant ape, which is impressive consideringhow strong Kong is(even though he eventually managed to defeat them).
The Warbat is another perfect example of the Monsterverse’s clever biology since the concept of a giant snake that traps its prey by coiling itself around them, only to asphyxiate them with their wings is creative. Couple that with an incredible design, and this is one of the most fascinating inhabitants of the Hollow Earth.
A Hunter Hiding In Bamboo
Skull Island is one of the most important locations in the Monsterverse, as it’s filled to the brim with deadly yet interesting fauna. One of its most terrifying inhabitants is the cleverly namedMother Longlegs, a giant spider that can hunt both monsters and humans quite efficiently.
Thanks to its clever camouflage method, Mother Longlegs can hide in a bamboo forest and suddenly impale anything that she wants to eat, which is yet another genius concept.This huge arachnid has become a fan favoriteever since it starred in one of the most disturbing scenes inKong: Skull Island.
The Terror Of Skull Island
This is one of the Monsterverse’s lesser-known monsters since it’s the main antagonist oftheSkull Islandanimated series on Netflix. That’s unfortunate because the Kraken is one of the biggest, deadliest, and most terrifying kaiju in this entire cinematic universe. It spent the entire show terrorizing the characters who were stranded on the island, constantly killing and devouring everything in its path. Even Kong himself was afraid of it.
After a lot of buildups, the Kraken finally showed itself for an epic final battle, and it did not disappoint. While its design may feel a tad cluttered, this is a fresh take on the classic mythical monster, with a lot of tentacles, claws, and even a sharp beak that made things even harder for Kong.
A Cryokinetic Mole
While most viewers were hoping thatMonarch: Legacy of Monsterswould heavily feature Godzilla, Legendary took their chance to introduce interesting brand-new creatures. One of the most important ones was theFrost Vark, a giant titan with an appearance similar to a star-nosed mole.
Frost Vark is the terror of the Alaskan mountains, as it can dig in and out of the snow to quickly chase down its prey. But the most powerful tool in its arsenal is its ability to inhale heat and instantly freeze its surroundings. This is one of the most creative monsters in the entire Godzilla franchise, and it certainly left its mark on the audience.
5Ion Dragon (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters)
No Conscience, No Reasoning, Just Destroy
With a name as intimidating asIon Dragon, it’s logical to expect a truly incredible titan. This one did not disappoint, as it was pretty much the most relevant monster inMonarch: Legacy of Monsters, besides Godzilla himself. This is a force of nature that only seeks destruction, and it was responsible for the disappearance of theUSS Lawton, which inspiredBill Randato foundMonarchand look for other titans all over the world.
Surprisingly, there aren’tmany kaiju inspired by Western dragonsin theGodzillafranchise, so the Ion Dragon stands out. With its slick design and its fascinating ability to spray a nacre-like substance from its mouth, this titan is a force to be reckoned with. It even managed to go toe to toe against Godzilla himself, in an amazing (albeit brief) final encounter.
4Skullcrawlers (Kong: Skull Island)
Kong’s Lifelong Rivals
The Monsterverse’s version of Skull Island is quite differentfrom previous iterations, mostly due to how Kong’s main rivals are not just generic dinosaurs, but unique creatures known asSkullcrawlers. Similarly to the Raptors inJurassic Park, these are bloodthirsty monsters that hunt in packs, and they’re directly responsible for the death of Kong’s parents. So his resentment is understandable.
Kong: Skull Islanddirector Jordan Vogt-Robertsconfirmed that they were based onCubone fromPokemon,Sachiel fromNeon Genesis Evangelion, and No-Face fromSpirited Away. These influences were used efficiently, as the intricate design of the Skullcrawlers is one of the best ones in the entire Monsterverse.
Kong’s Evil & Tyrannical Doppelgänger
There have been many Godzilla clones and doppelgängers over the years, but the Eight Wonder of the World never had such an opponent. But this finally changed with the release ofGodzilla x Kong: The New Empireand the introduction of its main antagonist:Scar King. At first glance, this giant ape may not seem that impressive, as he seems physically smaller and weaker than Kong himself. But this monster is not just about raw strength.
Scar King, not only is the tyrannical monarch of an entire civilization of giant apes who bow down to him, but he can also control the powerful ice titan known asShimoand use her as a powerful weapon of destruction, which is a unique concept for this franchise. On top of that, Scar King is more agile than Kong and fights using a versatile bone whip, so he certainly can hold his own in battle. This evil red ape is worthy of being one of Kong’s most memorable opponents.
2MUTOs (Godzilla)
Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms
This is where it all started. When audiences went to the theaters in 2014 to watchGodzilla, they were expecting to see the titular character. However, his opponents, theMUTOs, certainly stole the show. This was mainly because they are a kaiju couple, an imaginative concept that is also reminiscent of classic movies likeRodan.
Both MUTOs have dimorphism that makes their biology quite different from each other. The male is smaller and can fly, while the female is bigger and physically stronger. They both complement each other perfectly and manage to tag team against Godzilla himself in an impressive battle. But the most intriguing aspect about the MUTOs is their appearance, seeing that they’re not bugs, reptiles, or mammals. They’re unique creatures, and that makes them even more memorable.
