Books in Greatest Movie Monsters series

Through his famous ransack of Tokyo, Gojiraor Godzilla, to Western audiencesbecame the definitive movie monster. But the original Godzilla delivers more than just thrillsthe fictional monster represents Japans very real reaction to nuclear war. Attracting new generations of fans decades after his 1954 debut, Godzillas popularity launched a franchise of over two dozen films and paved the way for numerous other B-movie kaiju (monsters), including Rodan and Mothra, to take the silver screen. This lively volume provides a behind-the-scenes look at the various Godzilla films and the monsters pop culture legacy both in Japan and abroad.

Through his famous ransack of Tokyo, Gojira—or Godzilla, to Western audiences—became the definitive movie monster. But the original Godzilla delivers more than just thrills—the fictional monster represents Japan’s very real reaction to nuclear war. Attracting new generations of fans decades after his 1954 debut, Godzilla’s popularity launched a franchise of over two dozen films and paved the way for numerous other B-movie kaiju (monsters), including Rodan and Mothra, to take the silver screen. This lively volume provides a behind-the-scenes look at the various Godzilla films and the monster’s pop culture legacy both in Japan and abroad.

In 1913, Universal Studios released a silent film, The Werewolf, based on an 1898 short story about Native Canadian wolf-humans who terrorized white settlers. This movie is believed to be the first to draw from werewolf lore. Since then, films have taken various approaches to lycanthropes, or werewolves. This absorbing narrative examines people's fascination with werewolves in movies, television series, and literature. Besides werewolf myths, readers consider the special effects, makeup, acting, and impact of major werewolf productions, from the Hollywood monster classic The Wolf Man (1941) to the Twilight and Harry Potter movies and beyond.

The iconic image of King Kong climbing the Empire State Building has been a pop-culture staple since the original King Kong film premiered in 1933. Since then, there have been King Kong remakes, comic books, television series, and even a musical. King Kong also inspired other films, such as the Planet of the Apes franchise and big-ape documentaries. This resource will take readers behind the scenes of these thrilling movies with posters and stills from each era of the King Kong phenomenon, discussion of special effects, and more.

In 1913, Universal Studios released a silent film, The Werewolf, based on an 1898 short story about Native Canadian wolf-humans who terrorized white settlers. This movie is believed to be the first to draw from werewolf lore. Since then, films have taken various approaches to lycanthropes, or werewolves. This absorbing narrative examines people's fascination with werewolves in movies, television series, and literature. Besides werewolf myths, readers consider the special effects, makeup, acting, and impact of major werewolf productions, from the Hollywood monster classic The Wolf Man (1941) to the Twilight and Harry Potter movies and beyond.

The iconic image of King Kong climbing the Empire State Building has been a pop-culture staple since the original King Kong film premiered in 1933. Since then, there have been King Kong remakes, comic books, television series, and even a musical. King Kong also inspired other films, such as the Planet of the Apes franchise and big-ape documentaries. This resource will take readers behind the scenes of these thrilling movies with posters and stills from each era of the King Kong phenomenon, discussion of special effects, and more.

Aliens have haunted the monster movies that have chilled and thrilled rapt audiences for years. This fun-filled film resource begins with the ancient alien history in art, literature, and other classic works. It covers scary science fiction's most significant writers and how their stories came to influence alien movies for years to come. Beginning with the first alien films ever made, the book carries readers through the most popular flicks and sequels, with informative tidbits about their impact on audiences and the current events that may have in turn been mirrored in the movies.

As the success of the recent Transformers movies proves, the movie-going public cant get enough of robots. Cyborgsclose kin to the robotalso continue to fascinate, appearing in several popular movie franchises. Readers will learn about the rich history of robots and cyborgs on film and television, from the robots that featured in the silent movies of the 1920s to todays high-tech creations. Learn about the endearing R2-D2 and C-3PO, the formidable adversaries Megatron and Optimus Prime, the well-nigh unstoppable Terminator and many, many more.

Aliens have haunted the monster movies that have chilled and thrilled rapt audiences for years. This fun-filled film resource begins with the ancient alien history in art, literature, and other classic works. It covers scary science fiction's most significant writers and how their stories came to influence alien movies for years to come. Beginning with the first alien films ever made, the book carries readers through the most popular flicks and sequels, with informative tidbits about their impact on audiences and the current events that may have in turn been mirrored in the movies.