But they weren’t all winners. In fact, quite a few ’50s monster movies were extremely rough around the edges. But, of those lesser films, some of them continue to hold a compulsively watchable charm.

Not many giant monster movies feel essentially perfect, but classics like Jaws, King Kong (1933), and the original Godzilla might well be.

Jiminna Shillingford is an avid reader and a passionate storyteller. She is obsessed with all things TV, from anime and romantic fantasy to action-packed series. With that deep affection, Jiminna ...