Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws' turns 50: 7 animal and monster horror films with scare value

As Steven Spielberg's horror creature-feature 'Jaws' turned 50 on June 20, 2025, here are seven others that remain a haunting memory to audiences worldwide:

Jurassic Park (1993)

Spielberg's direct spiritual successor to his own film 'Jaws' saw dinosaurs brought back to life, making it a marvel in terms of tension, spectacle, and box office success.

Alien (1979)

A terrifying extraterrestrial called a xenomorph hunts the crew of a spaceship, earning its spot as one of the most iconic and feared movie creatures ever.

The Meg (2018)

A massive prehistoric shark, the Megalodon, resurfaces from the deep, wreaking havoc in this modern, action-heavy homage to Jaws, starring Jason Statham.

Anaconda (1997)

This campy film sees a 'National Geographic' documentary crew in the Amazon rainforest forced into joining the hunt for a colossal, man-eating anaconda.

Cloverfield (2008)

This found-footage monster horror film about a large creature that terrorises New York City, directed by 'The Batman' fame Matt Reeves, instantly became a cult-classic that revived the genre.

Lake Placid (1999)

This flick about a giant crocodile—with a poster very much like that of 'Jaws'—might be a cheesy B-movie but still manages to thrill and entertain in equal measure.

The Grey (2011)

Liam Neeson leads a group of plane crash survivors hunted by a pack of relentless wolves in the bleak Alaskan wilderness.