Whether spawned by an atomic blast, discovered on a long-lost island or ripped from the pages of mythology, these oversize beasts trample the scenery in our favorite creature features.

King Kong turns 77 Wednesday. In honor of the Depression-era primate, here’s a look at the unruly spawn that followed in the giant ape’s thunderous wake.

Out-sized freaks of nature — or, often, mutants created by man’s folly during the atomic age — these monsters peaked in the ’50s and ’60s during the golden age of sci-fi, but their influence lives on in modern films like Cloverfield .

Many were created by stop-motion pioneer Ray Harryhausen and by Japan’s Toho Company, known for its kaiju (monster) and tokusatsu (special effects) flicks.

These are some of our favorite giant movie monsters. Did we skip your favorites? Let us know in the comments section below.

Above:

Mighty Joe Young

In 1949, Willis O’Brien, the stop-motion artist behind King Kong , created a variation on the giant primate theme. In Mighty Joe Young , the misfit jungle creature travels unhappily from Africa to Hollywood.

The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms

In this 1953 flick, a hibernating Rhedosaurus from the Arctic Circle awakens after a nuke test, then attacks Manhattan.

It Came From Beneath the Sea

Not to be confused with 1953’s It Came From Outer Space, this 1955 adventure movie stars a gigantic octopus that causes trouble after being stirred from its Pacific Ocean lair by hydrogen-bomb testing.

Godzilla

Launched in 1954, Godzilla, aka Gojira, quickly became Japan’s alpha mutant and a metaphor for the U.S. atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The radiation-fueled monster has appeared in 28 movies and there’s another Godzilla remake in the works.

Them!

Atomic tests in the New Mexico desert turn ants into gigantic killers in 1954’s Them! A pioneer in the “big bug” genre, the movie was nominated for a special effects Oscar.

Rodan

In Rodan , a 1956 Japanese export, a mega-reptile wreaks havoc after being “awakened” by a mining operation.

20 Million Miles to Earth

For 1957’s 20 Million Miles to Earth , Ray Harryhausen invented a reptilian biped called the Ymir. Hatched from an egg brought back to earth from Venus, the fast-growing, sulfur-gobbling Ymir goes on a rampage in Rome.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad

For this 1958 stop-motion adventure, Ray Harryhausen created a number of supersize monsters, including this Cyclops.

Mysterious Island

Based on a Jules Verne novel, this 1961 movie takes place in a land inhabited by creatures of ancient origins and enormous scale. Crafted by Ray Harryhausen, Mysterious Island ‘s monstrous denizens include this flightless prehistoric bird known as a Phorusrhacos.

Mothra

Mothra ‘s enormous lepidopteran, unveiled onscreen in 1961, combines traits of both butterflies and moths. The creature was created by Toho Studios, the same company that dreamed up Godzilla.

Jason and the Argonauts

Ray Harryhausen’s 1963 movie re-imagined the ancient saga of Greek hero Jason and his Argonauts as a populist action adventure. Among the highlights: a battle with the many-headed Hydra.

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

In 1964’s Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster , the title creature battles Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan. The role of King Ghidorah, also known as Monster Zero, was performed by a costumed stunt actor, aided by a team of puppeteers.

Gamera

This giant flying turtle with tusks hit movie theaters in 1965, courtesy of Japan’s Daiei Motion Picture Company. The fire-breathing Gamera came out of hibernation after an atomic explosion. A prime example of kaiju eiga (Japanese monster movie), the film (which spawned multiple sequels) will be re-released May 18 on DVD as Gamera, the Giant Monster.

Clash of the Titans (1981)

Like the 2010 reboot of Clash of the Titans , Ray Harryhausen’s 1981 action movie used Greek mythology as inspiration for visual-effects–driven battle scenes. Here, the Kraken sea monster looks for prey.

Tremors

Giant, wormlike creatures known as graboids erupt from the Nevada desert in Tremors , the 1990 monster comedy that begat two sequels, a prequel and a television series.

The Host

Chemicals dumped by the U.S. military create the amphibious creature that goes on a rampage in The Host , a standout 2006 South Korean movie.

Cloverfield

Produced by J.J. Abrams and directed by Matt Reeves, 2008’s Cloverfield effectively revived the monster movie for 21st-century audiences. The giant creature, whose origins remain shrouded in mystery, was revealed little by little in a jittercam gem.

Clash of the Titans (2010)

Drawing from Greek mythology, the 2010 upgrade of Hades’ legendary sea monster the Kraken was designed by Aaron Sims and detailed by Moving Picture Company. Aiming for photorealistic detail, the transparency in the scales reflects the fact that this monster has avoided the sun for thousands of years.

We’ll say it again. Did we skip your favorites? Let us know in the comments section below.

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