With some horror IPs, sequels and even spin-offs are released ad nauseum until it seems as though the franchise couldn’t possibly have any more steam. Then there are the horror properties that have a lot of potential, but don’t ever seem to get their chance to shine. And what’s a horror IP without its monster?
These are the cinematic monsters that proved successful in some way, whether their movie scored big at the box office, was a hit with critics, or gained a massive cult following. And, given the varying levels of success, there’s a rational question to be asked why they haven’t gotten another feature film or streaming miniseries to creep out fans and general audience members alike. By this point, the Predator (AKA Yautja) and the Xenomorph from Alien have gotten plenty of time to frighten viewers and slaughter entire films’ cast lists like theyre nothing…why not the Anaconda or the Creature from the Black Lagoon?
10 Pumpkinhead from Pumpkinhead
Pumpkinhead
- Release Date
- January 13, 1989
- Director
- Stan Winston
- Cast
- Lance Henriksen, Jeff East, John D’Aquino, Kimberly Ross, Joel Hoffman
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Horror
Stan Winston’s Pumpkinhead marked the first of only two films the late makeup master directed. And it’s surprising, because not only is the titular antagonist an unforgettable monstrosity, the movie that surrounds him is remarkably solid.
And, while the title creature is the one who would be returning, it’s Lance Henriksen whose performance fuels the original film. It wouldn’t be the worst idea to stay true to his character arc for a remake while also, of course, making enough alterations to stay fresh.
Pumpkinhead is available to stream on DirecTV and Paramount+
9 The Kothoga from The Relic
The Relic is an underseen late ’90s creature feature with a terrific cast and even better (but unfortunately quite underseen) monster. The Kothoga, an ancient being with mysterious origins. But, as the third act reveals, the Kothoga is a little more human than anyone could imagine.
While The Relic didn’t do particularly well at the box office, its developed a nice little cult following that could help incentivize some sort of continuation. And, were it to continue with a reboot movie or miniseries, the film’s museum setting sends plenty of shivers up the spine. Even if the Kothoga (impressively crafted by Stan Winston and his team) doesn’t snarl his way back onto screens, more horror films need to be set in museums at nighttime.
The Relic is available to stream on fuboTV, Prime Video, Paramount+, and MGM+
8 The Giant Alligator from Alligator
John Sayles’ Alligator manages to be both legitimately eerie in spots and seemingly aware of the fact it’s so silly. And, for fans of practical creatures, the film’s titular beast is an impressively-crafted behemoth.
The third act has the gator crashing a birthday party, which goes poorly for attendees and temporary staff alike. If there’s any scene from a 1980 film that needs to be reimagined in modern times, that’s it.
Alligator is available to stream on AMC+, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Shudder, Pluto TV, and Shout! TV
7 Graboids from Tremors
Tremors
- Release Date
- January 19, 1990
- Director
- Ron Underwood
- Cast
- Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire, Robert Jayne
- Rating
- PG-13
- Main Genre
- Comedy
If there’s ever been an unlikely longtime franchise-starter, it’s Ron Underwood’s 1990 film Tremors. But, when a film brilliantly sets up a franchise’s slightly comedic tone while simultaneously introducing an iconic monster (which is effectively revealed in stages), perhaps it’s not so surprising it set up an elongated second life as a direct-to-video franchise.
But, while 1996’s Tremors 2: Aftershocks is solid (one of the best direct-to-video horror or comedy films of all time, really), the rest are easily skipped. Syfy very nearly continued the IP with a long-awaited reprisal from the original film’s Kevin Bacon, but the series was unfortunately not picked up. And, yet, bringing him and, of course, some Graboids (not Shriekers or Ass-Blasters) back is an A plus idea.
Tremors is available to stream on AMC+
6 The Aliens from Attack the Block
Attack the Block
- Release Date
- May 12, 2011
- Director
- Joe Cornish
- Cast
- Nick Frost, Jodie Whittaker, Luke Treadaway, John Boyega, Adam Leese, Joey Ansah
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Action
Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block is stylish as can be, compellingly shot, and perfectly cast. Nick Frost and John Boyega are particular highlights, but Jodie Whittaker nearly steals the show, as it were.
That is, when the film’s glowing-mouthed doglike aliens aren’t bursting across the screen in a full-on sprint…typically in pursuit of their prey. The Predator had glowing blood, why can’t a dog alien have a glowing mouth? Attack the Block is mostly a cult item, which don’t always receive follow-ups, but so too was The Evil Dead and that franchise continues to this day.
Attack the Block is available to stream on Paramount+ and Prime Video
5 The Crites from Critters
Critters
- Release Date
- April 11, 1986
- Director
- Stephen Herek
- Cast
- Dee Wallace, M. Emmet Walsh, Billy Green Bush, Scott Grimes, Nadine Van der Velde, Don Keith Opper
- Rating
- PG-13
- Main Genre
- Action
As a film series, Critters often gets lumped in with Gremlins. But, outside their antagonists being little and nasty, they couldn’t be any more different.
With five total installments, the series has done well for itself, but it’s often struggled to stay within a tone that isn’t getting pulled in multiple directions. The best of the bunch is Critters 2, which ups the violence, gives the Crites a new ability (merging into a mega-Crite), and gives them a bit more goofy, hungry personality. Should the Crites ever get a legacy sequel or remake under their belt, Critters 2 would be the ideal inspiration.
Critters is available to stream on Max and Cinemax
4 The Giant Anaconda from Anaconda
1997’s well-cast cult classic (Which also did fairly well at the box office) Anaconda inspired several sequels, but it still feels like a one-off. The first sequel, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, went to theaters, but it had an entirely different, overly-serious and CGI-fueled vibe.
The original film, with its (for the most part) animatronic monster(s), is as much fun now as it was in the late ’90s. Practical effects, particularly for monsters, age remarkably well, and with legacy sequels becoming all the rage, now its time for another mechanical, shrieking snake.
Anaconda is available to stream on Prime Video, Starz, AMC+, and Tubi
3 The Merman from Cabin in the Woods
cabin in the woods
- Release Date
- April 12, 2012
- Director
- Drew Goddard
- Cast
- Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Horror
Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods is surprising, intelligent, funny, and frightening, often all at the same time. The brilliantly irreverent horror film not only toys with audiences’ expectations of the genre, but the genre’s history as well.
From Pinhead knockoffs to werewolves, the film’s third act throws everything it can and more at both the two surviving protagonists and the audience. In terms of which of them should appear in some sort of The Cabin in the Woods follow-up (maybe the big red God hand didn’t obliterate the Earth?), there are a few valid picks. The unicorn, with its blood-soaked horn, certainly qualifies as a top-tier choice. But we’re going to have to go with the merman, without expecting Bradley Whitford’s Steve Hadley to make another appearance alongside him.
The Cabin in the Woods is available to stream on Max, DirecTV, and Cinemax
2 The Blob from The Blob
The Blob
- Release Date
- August 5, 1988
- Director
- Chuck Russell
- Cast
- Shawnee Smith, Kevin Dillon, Donovan Leitch Jr., Jeffrey DeMunn, Candy Clark, Joe Seneca
- Main Genre
- Horror
1958’s The Blob, led by Steve McQueen, is a lot of fun and a wonderful timepiece of its era. But Chuck Russell’s 1998 remake is better.
Carrying the small-town spirit of the original film, Russell’s The Blobalso comes packed with legitimately surprising character deaths and a pair of solid lead performances from the Saw franchise’s Shawnee Smith and Kevin Dillon. If Russell himself were to direct a legacy sequel, it would very much be worth watching.
The Blob (1988) is available to rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu
1 The Gill-man from Creature from the Black Lagoon
One of the final Universal Monsters to be introduced to cinemagoers, Creature from the Black Lagoon‘s Gill-man is an impressively-designed monster who, like Frankenstein, doesn’t seem all bad. If anything, he just seems lonely.
The original Creature from the Black Lagoon did a terrific job of building up the Gill-man’s reveal. A hand would come out of the lagoon, a full-body shadow would be shown, his face would be shown through a window…should he finally be featured in another movie (the last time was a version of him in The Monster Squad), the gradual reveal would be the path to take.
Creature from the Black Lagoon is available to stream on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu
