Werewolf By Night & 9 Other Movies Where Monsters Are Heroes

With the surprisingly dark Werewolf By Night released on Disney+, audiences get to experience a new monster that doubles as the hero of the story. Typically, with monsters, they are given their monikers because that name because they are the villains, such as the infamous Predators and Xenomorphs from the respective Alien and Predator franchises.

However, Werewolf By Night is far from the first to play with the idea that monsters are merely allegories for the outcasts that society, unfortunately, labels as abnormal. From vampires to werewolves to cybernetic organisms, some 'monsters' have been the protagonists of the story, thus subverting expectations.

Werewolf By Night (2022)

Jack Russell revealed as Werewolf in Werewolf By Night

In October 2022, the Marvel Cinematic Universe surprised viewers with its first delve into horror with Werewolf By Night. It is, essentially, a giant love letter to the classic Universal monster movies, especially The Wolfman with its titular dark hero Werewolf (otherwise known as Jack Russell).

Although the short movie starts with Elsa Bloodstone and the rest of the hunters about to begin their quest, the viewers are later surprised to discover that the kind-hearted and sweet Jack has been keeping his supernatural identity a secret. While the MCU does show how dangerous he can be after he is forced to transform, butchering humans with a surprising amount of gore (that isn't as graphic due to the black-and-white style), there is small part of the audience who can't help but root for his escape due to the mistreatment he received at the hands of the other characters.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

After so many sequels, fans are so used to the Terminator being the hero that many tend to forget that the Terminator was the villain of the James Cameron original. The sequel, Judgment Day actually tricked fans into thinking Arnold Schwarzenegger was the villain again.

Instead, the role of the villain was given to the show-stealing T-1000 and the T-800 is changed from a time-traveling slasher villain to the hero of the movie. This change proved to be for the better because many audiences still consider Terminator 2: Judgment Day to be the best of the franchise.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

The MonsterVerse definitely went out of its way to confirm that Kong (played by Toby Kebbell), is more than an animal that wants to be left alone; he's a protector of Skull Island who fights more malicious monsters that murdered his family. It's actually human characters that are the villains of Kong: Skull Island.

This role as a hero would continue with his matchup against Godzilla in Godzilla Vs Kong where he has to fight a rogue Godzilla and Mechagodzilla to save the Earth. Though it is a bit jarring to see Kong as essentially a superhero, it worked in distinguishing himself from other portrayals of the character.

Hellboy (2004)

Based on the Dark Horse Comics character, Hellboy is definitely a monster, and he's aware of it. It's why he files his demon horns down to try and appear more pleasing to human eyes. He was even originally sent here to bring about the apocalypse but since he was raised by a good father, he became Earth's defender.

The original Guillermo Del Toro version of Hellboy is still considered a cult classic, with Ron Perlman embodying the character of Hellboy to near perfection in the eyes of fans. It mixes monster horror, action, and even some fantasy to turn the titular demon into an iconic superhero.

The Invisible Man Returns (1940)

The title is technically a lie since Jack Griffin is not back from the dead in this sequel to The Invisible Man. Instead, Vincent Price plays Geoffrey Radcliffe, who becomes invisible to prove his innocence after he is accused of a crime he did not commit. As a result, this Invisible Man is more of a dark hero who keeps from falling into the darkness that took Griffin in the previous film.

It's a strong sequel that is more of an action thriller rather than a horror film which would end up inspiring future adaptations of The Invisible Man such as the 1958 television series, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Memoirs Of An Invisible Man.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

The Hulk is one of many famous examples of a superhero inspired by monster movies. He is a mix of Dr. Jekyll, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein's Monster and that carries over into The Incredible Hulk.

The Hulk is more of an action-packed Frankenstein who is misunderstood and mistreated by others and hunted by the government. He even ends up fighting another monster that is far worse than him with Abomination. Although it remains the MCU's least-profitable film, The Incredible Hulk has gained a following as one of the best live-action portrayals of its dark hero.

Underworld (2003)

Modern gothic action movies had quite the boom in the early 2000s and one of the best examples was the Underworld movies. The original remains a strong action film showing the war between werewolves and vampires that occurs in secrecy.

With Kate Beckinsale as the now-iconic Selene and fully realized lore, Underworld and its first two sequels are still pivotal vampiric action films that brought the same level of care to its R-rated action as the first two Blade movies.

Van Helsing (2004)

This action film is an example of a true monster mash since it brings together Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, Jekyll & Hyde, the Wolfman, and the monster hunter Van Helsing into one movie. It knows what it is and delivers a fun action film that honors classic Universal monster horror movies.

Technically, the movie is all about humans fighting monsters, but it's revealed that Frankenstein's monster is a force for good; and, in the finale, the titular Van Helsing reveals his supernatural identity to fight Dracula with an iconic werewolf design.

Dracula Untold (2014)

Originally intended to be the beginning of the sadly failed Dark Universe, Dracula Untold reboots the iconic vampire into an anti-hero prince who curses himself with vampirism to save his country. Though it was not a successful film, it did slowly gain a cult following for providing a dark and brutal take on the character.

Dracula Untold doesn't negate the tragedy of Prince Vlad to provide a spectacle. The whole movie is about the character struggling to keep his humanity and descending into the monster that would become his own undoing. If the rest of the Dark Universe had struck the same balance of horror and action, perhaps it wouldn't have been canceled.

Blade (1998)

Before the MCU, it was Wesley Snipes' Blade that forever changed comic book movies. It even took the character of Blade in a direction that influenced future comics because audiences loved the hard R-rated vampire hunter.

It's such an interesting concept of a vampire who hates his own kind and hunts them. From stellar action sequences to Wesley Snipes' performance, Blade was so beloved that it spawned an arguably better sequel and both movies are important in the history of vampire films, comic book movies, and movies starring people of color.

NEXT: 10 Best Quotes Of The Original Blade Trilogy