Every Creature From The Black Lagoon Movie, Ranked

by

The Creature from the Black Lagoon was the final major monster series created during Universal’s classic horror era. But which of the three films featuring the Gill-man is the most enjoyable? By 1954, traditional horror movies were losing ground to science fiction, and Creature from the Black Lagoon cleverly combined elements of both genres.

The original film blended exciting adventure with a classic monster story, and interestingly, suggested that the monster’s own beauty led to its destruction. Its impressive 3-D effects were popular with audiences, leading Universal to quickly release two follow-up films. Now considered a staple of 1950s horror, Creature from the Black Lagoon is even being considered for a modern remake.

3. Revenge Of The Creature (1955)

Universal quickly followed up the success of their first Creature from the Black Lagoon film with Revenge of the Creature just a year later. The story involves scientists capturing the Creature and taking him to a Florida aquatic park, but he breaks free and causes destruction. While Revenge of the Creature is a decent monster movie, it doesn’t have the same complexity or impact as the original.

The characters feel flat and lack clear reasons for their actions, and the movie feels slow and predictable until the monster breaks free. While the original film’s location was a key part of its success, this sequel’s setting isn’t very engaging. It’s an okay way to pass the time, but it’s not particularly scary or exciting.

2. The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)

While most of Universal’s classic monsters had successful sequels, the films featuring the Gill-man never quite recaptured the magic of the original. However, The Creature Walks Among Us takes a surprisingly thoughtful and psychological approach for the third film in the series. In it, the Gill-man is captured once more, and this time, scientists attempt to transform him by surgically enabling him to breathe air.

As a sci-fi fan, I always find the ‘playing with nature’ theme fascinating, and The Creature Walks Among Us definitely leans into that, trying to really think about what the Creature is. It’s a low-budget film – only 79 minutes long and you can tell – and honestly, a lot of it is just people talking, and not very interesting people at that. Still, I’d say it’s better than the first sequel because at least it attempts to bring something new to the table, to actually explore the Creature beyond just the monster-of-the-week formula.

1. Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954)

Creature from the Black Lagoon is widely considered the strongest film in the series. It tells the thrilling story of scientists exploring the Amazon River who encounter a legendary monster – a terrifying creature from a prehistoric era. A true classic, Creature from the Black Lagoon has become a lasting part of popular culture.

The Creature from the Black Lagoon features a remarkably well-designed monster – far better than the typical rubber suits seen in 1950s horror films, thanks to designer Milicent Patrick. Ricou Browning’s underwater performance as the creature is a standout, yet often overlooked, achievement. The movie is both suspenseful and action-packed, delivering classic adventure thrills. While the Universal Monsters series faded in the ’50s, this film provided a spectacular finale.

Read More

2026-01-25 02:18