10 Best Movies About Cryptids, Ranked

Who doesn’t love cryptids on some level? Whether these creatures real or not, they add excitement to our world. Think of the tourism, the merchandise, the profits, and of course, the films!

While there are hundreds of cryptids out there, some are more popular than others. For example, Bigfoot has a ton of films while Bessie has very few. Even when there are films of lesser-known creatures, they tend to be less noticed and/or get poor reviews.

Today, cryptids are trending more than they used to through podcasts, Interest stories, and even video games. Of course, the film industry has caught on and has been making plenty of cryptid content in a variety of genres.

10 Love In The Time Of Monsters (2014)

This comedy horror film is a combination of a campy horror movie and a cheesy love story. The story centers on two sisters who have to battle toxic monsters that are dressed in Bigfoot costumes at a tourist trap in order to save their loved ones.

Many go into this film with low expectations and come out of it surprised. It’s not a “so bad that it is good” sort of film. It actually good in the sense it doesn’t take itself too seriously and leans more into the comedy than the horror.

9 Harry And The Hendersons (1987)

Part fantasy and part comedy, this ’80s film is about a Seattle-based family that accidentally hit Sasquatch with their car. Sasquatch turns out to be okay and quite friendly so the family names him Harry.

The film actually won an Oscar for Best Makeup. It has pretty important moral messages too, like sometimes humans are more monstrous than beasts, that forgiveness is important, and of course, to protect the wilderness.

8 Scooby Doo And the Loch Ness Monster (2004)

Cryptid fans can count on Scooby Doo to explore some of these fascinating creatures. It even has scary moments now and then. In terms of the Loch Ness monster, Scooby Doo made a full comedy-horror movie. The cast goes to Scotland and meet amateur cryptozoologist, a Professor Fiona Pembrooke, who is staking her entire career on the fact that the Loch Ness monster exists.

Hardcore Scooby Doo fans tend to prefer the show, but cryptid fans would definitely appreciate this film.

7 Abominable (2019)

This cute animated film is about a girl named Yi who discovers a lost and young Yeti in Shanghai. The Yeti gets named Everest and they decided to try and find its home. It is sort of the every man’s film. It doesn’t take risks, but it is enjoyable for people of all ages.

In terms of design, this Yeti cannot be more cute. As usual, Dreamworks Animation knows how to make expressive and lovable characters.

6 Letters From The Big Man (2011)

This film takes place in southwestern Oregon and is about a government hydrologist who discovered Sasquatch. Unlike some Bigfoot films, it doesn’t shy away from showing us the creature. This incarnation of the idea of Bigfoot looks a bit like a cross between a bear and a gorilla. It is not a comedy or horror film, but one of drama.

It’s pretty different from other Bigfoot movies from its drama genre alone. According to critics, the characters and cinematography are rich in beauty and imagination.

5 The Mothman Prophecies (2002)

While not as popular as Bigfoot, Mothman has been a cryptid that is rising in public fascination. A film that comes up in a lot of Mothman discussions is The Mothman Prophecies. The supernatural-horror mystery claims to be based on real events that occurred in the 60s at Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

While critics gave the film mixed reviews, many consider it as a solid thriller. It is a hidden gem that was cursed with bad marketing when it was released. Don’t let the negative critic reviews scare you away.

4 Smallfoot (2018)

The most recent cryptid films have been coming from the world of animation. Smallfoot is one such film and it centers on Yeti. The movie is pretty cute, with the Yeti’s treating humans as the cryptids and vice versa.

Of the cryptid films, it’s definitely aimed at the younger generation. However, it does have messages on tolerance and acceptance that adults can appreciate as well.

3 Missing Link (2019)

Coming out near the same year as other animated cryptid movies like Smallfoot and Abominable, what makes this movie stand out? In terms of animation style, the story, and cast of characters, it feels more unique. Critics agreed too, with this film winning awards like Outstanding Visual Effects in Animated Feature at the Visual Effects Society Awards.

The story follows Sasquatch and an English explorer traveling to the Himalayas to meet Sasquatches Yeti cousins. It is a charming story about finding where you belong.

2 Leeds Point (2008)

The bulk of cryptid movies are horror films, but a lot of them are known to be bad (so many fit into the “so bad that it is good” category). This horror film already stands out a little because it is about the Jersey Devil, a far lesser seen cryptid in the film industry.

This is an independent film that worked with a low budget, so it can be a little hard to come by. It is, however, one of the highest ranked cryptid films on IMDb.

1 A Wish For Giants (2018)

The most unique piece of this film as a cryptid movie is the framework of the plot. It features a young girl with a life-threatening medical condition. A volunteer offers to make one wish of hers come true. So she makes a wish, and it is to see Bigfoot. The volunteer has to try to find Bigfoot.

In terms of story and what fascinates people about cryptids in the first place, this indie film has a lot of heart.

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