Over the years, there have been movie monsters that have become a staple of the big screen and we have seen them again and again.
These iconic monsters never cease to thrill, as they are re-interpreted time after time: they also never stop being totally terrifying.
We take a look at some of cinema's most iconic monsters, as Godzilla returns to the big screen this week.
- Godzilla
Godzilla is one of the biggest and most influential additions to the 'Giant Monster' genre, and a brand new film will hit the big screen this week.
Godzilla thrilled audiences from the first time back in 1954, when Godzilla was released: directed by Ishiro Honda.
Godzilla captured the imagination of cinema go-ers, and since then we have seen films such as Godzilla Raids Again, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Son of Godzilla, and The Return of Godzilla all being released throughout the sixties, seventies and eighties.
During that time, there have been just three American Godzilla films: Godzilla, King of Monsters! Godzilla 1985 and Godzilla.
1998 was the last time an American Godzilla film was released, but now Gareth Edwards puts his spin on this classic tale.
He has brought together a cast list that includes Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, & Elizabeth Olsen, and it is set to be one of the biggest films of the summer.
- King Kong
In 2013, King Kong celebrated his eightieth birthday: yes, it really was 1933 when he blasted onto the big screen for the first time.
Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack teamed up in the director's chair... and an icon of monster/adventure cinema was born.
In 1976, the 1933 film was remade by director John Guillermin, before Peter Jackson put his stamp on this story back in 2005.
The 2005 film was the last time a major King Kong movie was made. It was a box office success, showing that King Kong still had the ability to thrill audiences.
The advancement in technology has meant that the character of King Kong has got better and better over the years: Andy Serkis used motion capture to create Kong in 2005 film.
Other spin-off films such as King Kong lives and King Kong vs Godzilla have also hit the big screen.
- Jaws
Jaws is one of the more recent iconic monsters to hit the big screen for the first time: however, it was back in 1975 when the film Jaws terrified audiences from the first time.
Jaws may be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, but it remains one of Steven Spielberg's greatest movies - not to mention it really helped to kick off the blockbuster film phenomenon.
Jaws sequels followed in 1978, 1983 and 1987: however, Jaws 2, Jaws 3-D and Jaws: The Revenge were never able to live up to that wonderful first film.
Jaws: The Revenge was the fourth and final instalment in the Jaws franchise. Jaws has influenced film such as Deep Blue Sea and Sharknado over the years.
And while other movies have tried to replicate the success of Jaws, the 1975 remains the greatest shark movies of all time. It really is as terrifying now as it was back then!!!!
- Dracula
Dracula is an icon of literature and film, and we have seen the Bram Stoker story adapted many times: not to mention it has influenced dozens of other films.
One of the very first Dracula films to be released was Nosferatu: it was an unofficial adaptation Stoker's novel and was directed by F.W. Murnau.
Despite a legal battle and a court ruling saying the films should be destroyed, one copy remained and it is not regarded as a true horror masterpiece.
Bela Lugosi is one of the most famous actors to play Dracula: he took on the role for the first time back in 1931.
Christopher Lee was also to make the role his own when Hammer Horror put their stamp on this well-known story.
Over the years, the likes of Dracula, Dracula 2000 and a Dracula TV series have all been made and released.
Another Dracula project is in the pipeline, in the form of Dracula Untold: Luke Evans is going to take on the central role of Vlad Tepes.
- Frankenstein
Frankenstein is another literary classic that has gone on to enjoy huge and sustained success on the big screen.
The first adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel came in 1910 in a short project from director J Searle Dawley.
Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein, and House of Frankenstein all followed throughout the thirties and forties.
The 1931 film Frankenstein, introduced Boris Karloff in the title role: he has become the most famous and iconic image of this character.
I, Frankenstein was the last time that we saw this character on the big screen, as the graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux was brought to the big screen in a new interpretation of the character.
2015 will bring a new adaptation of the Mary Shelley book, as James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe have teamed up to play Victor Von Frankenstein and Igor.
- The Fly
In 1986, a new interpretation of The Fly hit the big screen, with David Cronenberg in the director's chair.
The movie was loosely based on the short story The Fly by George Langelaan: which has also inspired the 1958 film.
Starring Jeff Goldblum in the lead role, the movie followed a scientist as he begins to turn in a fly when an experiment goes wrong.
The movie - and Goldblum's performance - was met with huge acclaim, and went on to be a huge box office success.
The Fly is widely regarded as one of the best horror movies of the last thirty years, and it further confirmed Cronenberg as a terrific director.
- The Wolfman
The Wolfman has been another big screen monster that has enjoyed success on the big screen over many decades.
This character was introduced to use for the first time back in 1941, with George Waggner in the director's chair.
Lon Chaney Jr was in the title role, and went on to be one of the most influential 'werewolf' films of all time.
We last saw The Wolfman on the big screen back in 2010 as Joe Johnston brought a new drama/horror to the big screen.
This time around, Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro takes on the title role, alongside Emily Blunt and Anthony Hopkins.
Other iconic movie monsters include Alien, Predator, Gremlins, The Mummy, The Blob, and The Thing.