Dragons are as timeless in world folklore as they are in pop culture, and whenever one makes an appearance, awe and fascination soon follow. Throughout the years, creative minds have been bringing dragons to movies and television shows with varying degrees of success. The best ones live on, however, and continue to thrill audiences both new and old.
The following is a collection of dragons that have made a tremendous impact on audiences throughout the years. Some scared the pants off moviegoers in theaters, while others thrilled viewers from the safety of the living room. Here are the 10 coolest, in no particular order.
Drogon - Game of Thrones (2011)
Along with his brothers Viserion and Rhaegal, Drogon was one of three dragons hatched and imprinted onto Daenerys Targaryen shortly before she began her conquest to re-take the Iron Throne. Drogon grew to be the largest and most formidable of the trio, and a difficult beast to master in his juvenile years.
Eventually, Drogon would get a hold of his temperamental ways and serve as Daenerys' primary steed when it came to transportation and combat. After the deaths of Viserion and Rhaegal, only Drogon remained as perhaps the last dragon in the entire world and set out on his own as a free creature. He is certainly the coolest dragon ever to have graced a television screen.
Smaug - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
The terrible might of Smaug was finally given its due day in the theatrical release of the second Hobbit film, and it was well worth the wait. This menacing looking dragon was as supremely intelligent as it was formidable and terrifying, and Peter Jackson's production crew succeeded in bringing this stature to the big screen.
Smaug's rage, greed and cruelty were given an extra shot of intensity, thanks to some superb voice-acting from Benedict Cumberbatch, providing Smaug with everything he needed to scare the pants off of moviegoers, while stealing their awe at the same time.
Vermithrax Pejorative - Dragonslayer (1981)
In the 1980s, on-screen dragons were few and far between, and none truly captured the spirit of the creature in the same way that Dragonslayer managed. The evil dragon Vermithtrax Pejorative was a practical effects masterpiece that brought a sense of realism and belief to a genre used to men in rubber suits and cabling. In fact, 25 percent of the film's budget was dedicated specifically to the special effects needed to bring Vermithrax to life.
The dragon was so popular in fact, that it influenced a number of high profile creatives, including Guillermo del Toro and George R.R. Martin, who took inspiration from its design to create the dragons that would eventually show up in his Game Of Thrones books.
Bahamut - Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005)
While not technically a dragon in the purest sense, Bahamut did start out as one and has consistently evolved throughout the Final Fantasy franchise. By the time Square had released a full feature-length film sequel to the popular Final Fantasy VII video game, the creature retained certain dragon elements from its first appearances in previous titles.
The fight between the heroes and Bahamut is one of the most adrenaline-pumping battles ever committed to animated film. The seemingly unstoppable titan wreaks havoc from above before being slain by Cloud Strife in a truly spectacular and heart-pounding climax, sending him crashing to the city streets below.
Eborsisk - Willow (1988)
Willow had enough chilling imagery to last a lifetime, and it was all rooted in a sense of plausibility and realism. This included the use of magic, especially when Willow strikes a troll with his magic wand, triggering a magical transformation into the Eborsisk, a skinless, grotesque two-headed fire-breathing dragon.
The creature itself is ripped straight out of a nightmare, with sagging masses of flesh and twisted maws that appear wholly unique to the world of Willow, and something perhaps never glimpsed before - and hopefully never again!
Falkor - The Neverending Story (1984)
Not all dragons are malevolent or destructive. Some, like Falkor, bring luck and companionship to those who befriend them. Falkor's presence in The Neverending Story was a much different take on the traditional dragon formula. He was kind, gentle, yet mischievous and full of humor.
He would also serve as a loyal companion to Atreyu and his battle against the Nothing. Even when all hope had been lost, Falkor remained by his side and tried his best to comfort a hero who believed he had failed Fantasia. No other dragon is quite like Falkor, making him one of the coolest by far.
King Ghidorah - Godzilla (1964 - 2019)
This particular dragon isn't native to Earth, but in fact, is an alien creature who came to Earth for the purpose of laying waste to the planet. It has appeared in a ton of Godzilla films and is widely regarded as his most dangerous and lethal foe.
Its three-headed design is a major departure from traditional dragons, and gives it an edge in combat, especially since they are all capable of firing gravity beams from their mouths. Their bite strength is also formidable and capable of draining the life force from its victims. Fans still get excited whenever Ghidorah makes an appearance - a testament to his iconography.
Hungarian Horntail - Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire (2005)
One of the fiercest dragons in the Harry Potter universe is the Hungarian Horntail, a lethal predator with a 50-foot flame breath that yields extremely high temperatures, plus incredibly fast flight speeds and agility in the air. The Horntail is renowned for its unparalleled aggression, especially in defense of its young.
This dragon bears some of the most distinctive traits of classic dragon imagery, from its lizard-like appearance to its horned head and spiked tail. It also serves up one of the most nail-biting moments in The Goblet of Fire, scoring it major points on the cool list.
Mother Dragon - Sucker Punch (2011)
Sucker Punch features one of the coolest dragons ever to grace a Hollywood film. It appears in the middle act when Babydoll and the girls engage in a quest to retrieve two crystals buried inside a baby dragon. After slaying the creature, they incur the wrath of its very angry mother - a fire-breathing behemoth of epic proportions.
This big reveal sets up a multifaceted combat sequence, involving the dragon chasing after a WWII-style plane while the girls attempt to bring it down. It ends with a super-stylized slow motion shot of Babydoll leaping into the air to drive her katana through its skull, slaying the dragon to the tune of Skunk Anansie's "Search And Destroy."
Granamyr - He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe (1983)
Granamyr is one of the most unique dragons on this list and serves as one of the principal protagonists of the classic He-Man cartoon series from the 1980s. This ancient being is the lord of the dragons living at Darksmoke, an area isolated away from Eternia's human populace.
He is both a wise scholar and a powerful sorcerer - two qualities that have gifted him with a degree of patience. This is necessary due to his species' dislike for humans, thanks to a shared bloody past. He-Man's actions inspire Granamyr and the dragons to begin viewing humanity with a newfound respect, but Granamyr's wisdom and temperament would take it even further.