In the mood for creatures? Start with these 7 monster movies
In the mood for creatures? Start with these 7 monster movies
The new ‘Frankenstein’ set the tone and these creature features take it even further.
With “Frankenstein” finally landing on Netflix, my wife and I made a whole night of it. We watched it at home over the weekend and both of us were blown away. It’s gorgeous, emotional, and honestly deserved a full theatrical run. Something about seeing that story updated with that much care put me right back into monster-movie mode. So, I pulled together a list of the seven creature features you can stream right now. Some are new. Some are strange. A few are completely unhinged. But they all scratch that same monster itch that had me thinking about “Frankenstein” all weekend.
Top 7 monster movies on streaming right now
No. 7: ‘M3GAN 2.0’ (2025) | Peacock
I caught “M3GAN 2.0” in theaters and have an unpopular take: I loved it. Critics didn’t love the genre shift, but honestly, that’s what makes it fun. This isn’t really a horror movie like the first “M3GAN.” M3GAN basically becomes an AI superhero here, and it’s a blast. The movie leans into robot chaos, dark humor, and great performances from Allison Williams and Violet McGraw.
It’s more of a sci-fi action comedy, and that’s probably why it struggled at the box office. But the people who actually saw it? They’re loving it even more than the original. It even has a higher Rotten Tomatoes audience score. It’s bold. It’s weird. And it’s entertaining all the way through.
M3GAN 2.0
After the underlying tech for M3GAN is stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia, M3GAN’s creator Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal.
No. 6: ‘The Parenting’ (2025) | HBO Max
“The Parenting” is one of those movies where the setup alone sold me. A young couple invites both of their families to a country house so everyone can meet at the same time. They expect chaos. Instead, they get a four-hundred-year-old ghost. It’s light and funny and built around a great cast. Nik Dodani and Brandon Flynn play the couple while Parker Posey, Lisa Kudrow, Dean Norris, Edie Falco, and Brian Cox step in as the parents.
My wife and I put this on, thinking it would just be some easy background watch, and it ended up being way funnier than we expected. And honestly, the scene with a possessed Brian Cox absolutely losing it is reason enough to hit play even if you never make it to the end.
The Parenting
Boyfriends Josh and Rohan plan a weekend getaway to introduce their parents, only to discover that their rental is home to an ancient demon.
No. 5: ‘No One Will Save You’ (2023) | Hulu
“No One Will Save You” is one of the most creative alien thrillers out there. Kaitlyn Dever plays Brynn, a young woman living alone who suddenly finds herself face to face with spindly, grey intruders creeping through her house. The wild part is the movie barely has any dialogue. Dever carries the entire thing with physical acting and raw tension.
I put this on late one night and instantly regretted watching it in the dark. It’s intense. The aliens are creepy. The sound design is relentless. And underneath all of that, the movie has something real to say about grief and guilt. If you want a monster movie that actually gets under your skin, start here.
No One Will Save You
A lonely woman battles extraterrestrials who threaten her future while forcing her to face her past.
No. 4: ‘Wolf Man’ (2025) | Prime Video
“Wolf Man” takes the classic werewolf setup and makes it feel grounded again. Christopher Abbott plays Blake, a dad who brings his family to a remote home in the woods only to realize something is hunting them. The attack happens early. The paranoia kicks in fast. And once Blake starts changing, the movie leans into the emotional fallout instead of old-school werewolf rules.
I watched this one expecting cliché monster mayhem, but it surprised me. Abbott brings a real vulnerability to the role, and the transformation scenes are both tragic and gnarly. Plus, Julia Garner plays this one perfectly. If you want a modern take on a classic story, watch it.
Wolf Man
With his marriage fraying, Blake persuades his wife Charlotte to take a break from the city and visit his remote childhood home in rural Oregon. As they arrive at the farmhouse in the dead of night, they’re attacked by an unseen animal and barricade themselves inside the home as the creature prowls the perimeter. But as the night stretches on, Blake begins to behave strangely, transforming into something unrecognizable.
No. 3: ‘Death of a Unicorn’ (2025) | HBO Max
“Death of a Unicorn” might be the strangest movie on this list in the best way. Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega play a father and daughter who accidentally hit a unicorn with their car on the way to a billionaire’s estate. That would be enough for a movie, but this one goes bigger. The unicorn’s blood has miraculous properties. The billionaire wants to exploit it. And suddenly, everyone around them wants a piece of the creature.
I watched it because Rudd and Ortega sounded like an odd pairing and ended up loving how wild the whole thing gets. It’s darkly funny, full of satire, and somehow still sweet. A24 really went for it here.
Death of a Unicorn
A father and daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat, where his billionaire boss seeks to exploit the creature’s miraculous curative properties.
No. 2: ‘Poor Things’ (2023) | Hulu
“Poor Things” is not a monster movie in the traditional sense, but Emma Stone’s Bella remains one of the most unforgettable creations in recent memory. She plays a Victorian woman reanimated with the brain of her unborn child, and the result is equal parts funny, bizarre, and beautiful. Her journey toward freedom is wild and messy and somehow tender.
My wife and I watched this one the moment it hit streaming, and both of us just sat there after the ending. It’s visually stunning and emotionally powerful. And Lanthimos somehow pulls off a story that feels both grotesque and incredibly human.
Poor Things
“Poor Things” plays out like a feminist “Frankenstein.” A mad scientist reanimates a dead woman using the brain of an infant and she must learn the ways of the world. Emma Stone won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of back-from-the-dead Bella Baxter. The supporting cast is phenomenal with Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, and Ramy Youssef as three men who love Bella.
This film from director Yorgos Lanthimos also won Oscars for Best Production Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Costume Design. Be forewarned: this film contains more nudity and sexual content than most mainstream movies.
No. 1: ‘Frankenstein’ (2025) | Netflix
“Frankenstein” is the movie that inspired this whole list. My wife and I watched it at home the weekend it dropped, and both of us had the same reaction. This thing deserved to be in theaters. Guillermo del Toro brings so much heart and empathy to the story that even the bleakest moments feel meaningful. Oscar Isaac plays Victor with this tight, obsessive energy. Jacob Elordi brings a surprising softness to the Creature. Every scene is loaded with emotion.
It’s faithful to the book in the right ways and bold in the places where del Toro puts his own stamp on it. The production design is moody and gorgeous. The performances land. And the whole thing feels like a love letter to the original story. This is the kind of monster movie I will revisit every year.
Frankenstein
Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.