In the world of fantasy, anything is possible, since magic allows creatures of all shapes and sizes to exist in a shared universe of wonder. Within that scope, there can be kind fairies that deliver words of encouragement and helpful wizards who guide heroes to glory, or there can be horrific, bone-devouring monsters that destroy everything in their path.
A terrifying monster is one of the most valuable elements to a fantasy story; the scarier they are, the braver the hero appears when they overcome their evil opponent. From diabolical witches to gargantuan beasts who wield unstoppable power, these are the scariest monsters in fantasy movies, ranked by how vital they were to the story and the depth of the emotional scars they left on viewers.
10
Darkness – ‘Legend’ (1985)
The same year Tim Curry played Butler Wadsworth in the cult-classic comedy Clue, he also got comfortable in the makeup chair to play the Lord of Darkness in the ’80s fantasy favorite Legend. As the towering horned villain to Tom Cruise’s Jack, the red-skinned menace was a larger-than-life presence who was as devious as he was powerful. While some villains think they’re the hero of their own story, Darkness knew he was evil and took pride in it.
While Darkness is unmistakably intimidating and frightening to those around him, he’s also charming and carries himself like royalty. The makeup for Darkness is impressive, making a strong argument for why that art is still needed in films and accentuating Curry’s magnetic performance. Darkness steals every scene he’s in, and would rank even higher if the Lord of Darkness weren’t so charismatic.
9
The Skeksis – ‘The Dark Crystal’ (1982)
Widely considered one of the best fantasy movies of the ’80s, The Dark Crystal is a beloved classic. Directed by puppeteering genius Jim Henson alongside Frank Oz, The Dark Crystal takes moviegoers to the planet Thra, where two races of creatures, the noble Mystics and the evil Skeksis, wrestle for control of a powerful crystal. Years later, the film would receive a prequel series, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, that ran on Netflix for one season.
Looking like a cross between a vulture and a reptile that was left in the microwave for too long, the Skeksis left an impression in their villainous roles. Cruel and greedy with no redeemable traits, they added the “dark” to the dark fantasy, proving that entertainment for children in the ’80s hit a little harder than current-day offerings. Adults new to the world of The Dark Crystal might blow them off as mere puppets, but the Skeksis inspired more than a few nightlights back when Reagan was in office.
8
Smaug – ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ (2013)
Dragons are classic fantasy foes for faithful knights and love interests to donkeys, and one of cinema’s most memorable fire breathers was Smaug in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Voiced and motion-captured by Benedict Cumberbatch, Smaug is an intelligent and well-spoken dragon who is difficult to outsmart and impossible to take on in a direct head-to-dragon-head fight. Poor Hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) is completely at Smaug’s mercy, a fact Smaug enjoys.
Smaug considers all other creatures beneath him, which is actually normal for a large reptile that can fly and breathe fire. Smaug can afford to be arrogant because he can level an entire village if he so wishes, although that doesn’t mean he’s invulnerable. Whereas many dragons are represented as slow, unthinking monsters, Smaug stands out as a quick-thinking and swift opponent who strikes fear into armies that know they don’t have a chance at surviving an encounter with him.
7
The Witches – ‘The Witches’ (1990)
Witches left lasting scars on the children of the ’80s, thanks to The Witches. Based on Roald Dahl’s book of the same name, The Witches follows a boy named Luke (Jasen Fisher) and his grandmother Helga (Mai Zetterling), who come across a coven of evil witches while on vacation. Led by the Grand High Witch Miss Ernst (Anjelica Huston), the coven turns Luke into a mouse, only for him to escape and fight to stop their murderous plans.
Even though The Witches is a fantasy comedy, the scene where the witches reveal their true selves is a moment burned into the memories of children. After making sure the doors are locked, the gross-out moment begins as a banquet hall full of women peels off the gloves and wigs they use as disguises. Miss Ernst’s true self looks closer to a goblin with a long nose and skin that appears to be rotting, making her a striking and frightening villain to the younger audience who were still getting over the revelation that Big Bird wasn’t real.
6
The Sandworms – ‘Dune’ (2021)
No matter which adaptation of Dune is your favorite, there is no disputing that the sandworms are iconic monsters. Chronicling the power struggle over the desert planet Arrakis and its valuable export known as spice, Dune is a science fiction story with fantasy elements known for detailed world-building and intricate narrative. And the worms. It’s also known for the gargantuan worms that burrow underneath Arrakis’ surface.
The sandworms in Dune are built up as massive threats before making their first appearance, but no amount of dialogue can do them justice. The sandworms are so large that they can’t properly fit into the frame without a wide shot to capture their size, and they move with a speed that makes them impossible to escape when they pick up vibrations. That said, they’re great modes of transportation if you can master the worm surf move.
5
The Kraken – ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’ (2006)
In Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, the only thing scarier than hearing “We’re out of rum” is the words, “Release the Kraken.” The squid-like sea monster is used as the ultimate weapon, rising to the surface to use its massive tentacles to turn a pirate ship into spare lumber. Whoever controls the Kraken controls the ocean, because there’s nothing deadlier in the waters to put up a fight.
Even the most bloodthirsty pirate would tremble at the thought of the Kraken attacking their ship. With whipping tentacles that could tear a ship into pieces within minutes, the chances of escaping the Kraken were not high, even if given a head start. If the monster seems intimidating at first glance, it only gets worse when more of it is revealed, its mouth boasting enough sharp teeth to ensure the trip to Davy Jones’ Locker will be a painful one.
4
Dementors – ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
There are many dangers in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but the most frightening monster is, without a doubt, the Dementors. Most commonly found as guards at the maximum security prison of Azkaban, the Dementors are clad in black cloaks that hide the majority of their appearance. To be in the presence of one is hazardous, as they immediately send those in their proximity into depression.
First appearing in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Dementors make Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) look warm and cuddly by comparison. A Dementor is the physical manifestation of sorrow, which is why they work so well to keep dangerous wizards within the walls of Azkaban. Their most feared move is the Dementor’s Kiss, where the monsters can suck the soul from a victim’s body, leaving them in a catatonic state similar to the feeling of trying to watch all eight Harry Potter movies in a row.
3
Balrog – ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ (2001)
In terms of traditional fantasy storytelling, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the gold standard for the genre. In the trilogy opener, audiences are introduced to heroic characters like the hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen), as they go on a quest to destroy the One Ring. On this adventure, the Fellowship encounters one of the most unforgettable monsters, the Balrog.
The Balrog is armed with a flaming sword and whip, but the monster hardly needs it with a size advantage that leaves it towering over any foes. Even people who haven’t watched The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring are likely familiar with the scene where Gandalf holds off the fiery demon monster while his party escapes, screaming, “You shall not pass!” Frodo and the gang encounter many monsters on their way to accomplishing their mission, but the Balrog sets the bar high early on.
2
Shelob – ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
Speaking of the many monsters Frodo faces, his run-in with Shelob in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is the stuff of nightmares for arachnophobes. In an attempt to reclaim the ring for his own, Gollum (Andy Serkis) leads Frodo into the lair of the giant spider known as Shelob. Alone, petrified, and lost in a series of tunnels, Frodo does his best to escape the spider, but the eight-legged monster eventually catches him.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King makes the audience feel Frodo’s panic as he tries to avoid the creature’s large mandibles and sharp, pointed legs. Fellow hobbit Sam (Sean Astin) wins the friend of the year award for fighting Shelob, bravely fending off the spider to save Frodo. A lesser hobbit would have taken one look at the giant spider, politely stepped away, and spent his time on a nice eulogy for his pal instead.
1
The Pale Man – ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
There are all manner of frightening monsters in fantasy, but it’s going to take something truly special to knock The Pale Man from Pan’s Labyrinth off the number one spot. Guillermo del Toro’s dark fantasy is a masterpiece of the genre, telling the story of a young girl named Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and the magical creatures who think she’s the reincarnation of a princess.
In order to return to her kingdom, Ofelia will need to complete three tasks, with one of those setting her up for a confrontation with The Pale Man. Played by Doug Jones, the Pale Man is a corpse-like monster with white, sagging skin and a reputation for eating children. His face is a blank slate with no eyeholes, and he instead sees through eyes that are placed inside sockets within the palms of his hands. Although this haunting creature receives limited screen time, The Pale Man is easily the most frightening character to exist within cinematic fantasy.