The gentle giant trope is one often associated with family films. It's a great way to endear a character, with the larger, seemingly terrifying monster or being usually paired with a younger child in order to humanise them further.
There's been some truly memorable gentle giants over the years. From tree like aliens to giant gingerbread men, the idea has been taken in a number of different directions. While not all of the films on this list are entirely based around this gentle giant concept, these are all fantastic films that are worth checking out that also include the trope in a major way.
Shrek 2 (2004)
The Shrek franchise is famous for adaptation fairy tale characters in unexpected ways. The original movie had the Gingerbread Man, famous for his role in a children's nursery rhyme. However, the sequel took this idea up a notch.
Referencing characters like the Terminator and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Gingy helped to create a much larger version of himself. Used to storm the castle, the character was actually very good natured and loveable, making his death all the more tragic.
Monsters Vs Aliens (2009)
Perhaps one of the most underrated films from the DreamWorks collection, Monsters Vs Aliens boasted a stellar cast, amazing jokes and some really great character designs. Amongst them was the towering and seemingly terrifying Insectosaurus.
The character was actually quite gentle when it came down to it and was often a misunderstood monster. It sacrificed its life to protect Earth, but after spending some time in a cocoon, came back as a Butterflyosaurus. It was heroic and bold in the face of danger!
The Iron Giant (1999)
The Iron Giant is perhaps the epitome of this genre. The entire film is based around a child befriending what should be a terrifying monster, but in actuality is a gentle and caring robot that people are trying to hunt down and destroy.
It features every element that is associated with the gentle giant idea and is a stellar movie which has gone on to become one of the most iconic animated films of all time. The reason it is so beloved though is due to the fact that the Iron Giant himself is so well crafted as a character.
The BFG (2016)
The mind of Roald Dahl has created some unbelievable adventures for children to enjoy. The BGF is a character that has featured in a couple of different on screen adaptations, but it was the Steven Spielberg version that was perhaps the most imaginative.
While some audiences called it a little boring, overall the latest version of The BFG was heart warming and managed to do a lot with this iconic character. The BFG himself is the very literal definition of a big friendly giant, making him perfect for the genre.
Bumblebee (2018)
The Transformers franchise wasn't exactly off to a great start and many fans felt there were diminishing returns with each instalment. However, one film managed to turn it all around right at the last minute.
Playing on the gentle giant trope and drawing inspiration from classic films like The Iron Giant, Bumblebee managed to serve as a nostalgic story that also brought great action sequences to the screen and a convincing story to get hooked on.
Big Hero 6 (2014)
Baymax has not only become Hiro's best friend and defines the legacy of his brother, but he has also quickly become one of Disney's most popular characters. In part, this is because the large robot is far from fearsome.
Designed to be used in a healthcare situation, Baymax really isn't designed for the superhero role he is thrust into. With a comforting cushioned tummy, he looks a little out of place pushed into a metallic suit of armor. However, he does his best to help out Hiro with his new programming.
Pete's Dragon (2016)
The classic Pete's Dragon took a very simple idea and managed to run with it. The result was a family friendly, Disney classic that remains a big part of the Disney archives. However, the company opened up that vault and gave the franchise a new lease on life.
The results were the live action adaptation of Pete's Dragon which surprised audiences across the world. Often considered to be better than the original, the film really focuses on the unusual relationship between a young boy and what should be a scary dragon.
The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Bride is a family comedy that captured imaginations. It is now a classic in every way and has been replicated many times, but no other film has managed to quite capture the same essence and spirit of the original.
There's a great many fantasy tropes throughout this film, but one is the idea of the gentle giant. With the wrestler Andre the Giant cast in the role, the character had a certain charm and a knack for rhyming. Although supposed to be a little evil, he was actually quite a loving character.
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Baby Groot might provide a lot of hilarious and charming moments in the sequel film, but fans shouldn't forget just how amazing the original Groot is in Guardians of the Galaxy. In fact, the character actually sacrificed his life to save the team.
While he certainly has some rage within, Groot has demonstrated that beneath all that bark there is very little bite. In fact, he's especially great with kids, giving a young child a flower as a sign of his peaceful nature.
King Kong (2005)
King Kong has always been a misunderstood character. Depicted as a raging beast, he actually has been known to protect people from imminent danger and is usually unfairly shot at, especially when it's trying to live peacefully in its own environment.
The 2005 adaptation of the character managed to include some of the iconic imagery associated with the beast. Strong and terrifying, the character was also shown to be just as loving and kind, a vital component of any King Kong.