Traditionally, the protagonist is the hero of the story who saves the day and rides off into the sunset as the credits roll. In horror and sci-fi, the protagonist often has to defeat a hideous creature or terrifying mutant, but there are some films where the monster is really the hero.
Sometimes the main character is transformed into a monster by an ancient curse, science mishap, or simple twist of fate. Other times, the lead is born a freakish abomination, only to have a gentile soul. Whatever the case, some of the greatest and most endearing movie heroes have been monstrosities.
10 Hellboy Rebels Against His Demonic Origins
Hellboy
A demon summoned by Nazis is the least likely thing ever to be the hero, but that is the case in the 2004 film Hellboy. Considering he was born of a witch and an archdemon, he certainly had the makings of a frightening antagonist. Thankfully, Hellboy was rescued by the Allies and got into the paranormal research and defense business.
With cloven hoofs (in boots in the film), a hand of stone, and horns, the enormous red beast looks as evil and menacing as any movie baddie. Hellboy however has a surprisingly wry sense of humor and works with the good guys, taking down Rasputin and the Ogdru Jahad. In a testament to Hellboy's good nature, he rips off his demon horns as a disavowal of his evil lineage.
9 Melvin The Mop Boy Cleans Up Crime
The Toxic Avenger
In The Toxic Avenger, Melvin the mop boy was never going to be anything but a victim in life, until that fateful day he was exposed to toxic waste. Bullies played a cruel prank on Melvin, where he ended up with a drum of toxic chemicals mutating the scrawny nerd into a grotesque creature with superhuman size and strength.
Even though society had rejected him, "Toxie" used his newfound power to fight for good. Armed with his signature mop, he wiped out drug dealers, got revenge against his bullies, and eventually broke up a crime syndicate. Despite his repulsive appearance, The Toxic Avenger won over the people by fighting crime and standing up for the vulnerable.
8 Otis, Baby, & Spaulding Are Monstrous Antagonists
The Devil's Rejects
Otis Driftwood, Baby Firefly, and Captain Spalding aren't monsters in the sense that they have horns or fangs, but they are no less monstrous. In The Devil's Rejects, this evil trio of kidnappers, torturers, and murderers are the heroes of the story. By the end of the movie, audiences are rooting for some of the most despicable characters to ever curse the screen.
The reason for this is simple: all the other characters in the film are much worse. The Sheriff and bounty hunters tracking them are sadistic, amoral, and needlessly cruel. By comparison, Otis, Baby, and Captain Spaulding seem almost good. With "Free Bird" blaring and a hail of bullets raining down, the trio's death was an oddly sad moment.
7 There's Something Appealing About Dr. Holland3
The Swamp Thing
It's a story as old as time: Boy is accidentally exposed to an experimental formula, boy bursts into flames, boy is transformed into a regenerating plant-based monster. In the 1982 campy classic The Swamp Thing, Dr. Alec Holland becomes the titular hulking behemoth and could have easily used his misfortune to run amok.
The formula which created The Swamp Thing however had an interesting quirk in that it amplifies a person's true nature. Since Holland was a good guy before, he continued to be so, despite his terrifying appearance. It was his hideously mutated form that allowed him to defeat the evil Anton Arcane, but his inner beauty was strong enough to make Alice fall for him.
6 Kong Is A Handsome Leading Man
King Kong (1933)
A 50-foot tall prehistoric ape was never anyone's idea for a dashing leading man until the 1933 classic King Kong. Meant to terrify audiences, Kong actually turned out to be the hero of the film. Initially introduced as a malevolent force, by the end of the movie, the big ape saved the day and got the girl (sort of).
On Skull Island, Ann was offered up to Kong by the natives as a sacrifice. Then, funnily enough, they fell in love. Kong protected Ann from a variety of dinosaurs. Back in New York, the great ape once again came to her rescue from a perceived threat. The look Kong and Ann shared before he fell off the Empire State Building proves this was more of a love story than horror film.
5 David Is Both A Hero & A Villain
An American Werewolf In London
In An American Werewolf In London, David Kessler manages to be both the protagonist and antagonist at the same time. David was bitten by a werewolf while backpacking across the moors, which means he is now a shape-shifting lycanthrope himself. When the full moon hits, David is transformed from a likable human to a savage beast.
As a werewolf, David terrorizes the people of London, while as a human he develops a love interest with Nurse Alex Price. He knows destroying the monster means ending his own life but lacks the courage to do it himself. His dual role as hero and villain comes to an end when Alex tells the wolf she loves him just before the police open fire.
4 T-800 Is Reprogrammed Into A Hero
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
There are few things more monstrous than an unrelenting killer cyborg from the future. In the original Terminator film, the T-800 was sent back to kill Sarah Conner and was arguably one of the most terrifying antagonists ever. By Terminator 2: Judgment Day, however, a T-800 had been reprogrammed and sent to protect John Conner, becoming one of the best protagonists ever.
Though still incapable of human emotion, the T2 Terminator endeared itself to audiences by faithfully serving John Conner and learning some teenage slang: "Hasta la vista, baby." Also, the T-800 was no longer a killing machine. The Terminator's loyalty shone brightest at the end when it sacrificed itself to destroy the liquid metal T-1000, saving John from termination.
3 Seth Didn't Mean To Be Such A Pest
The Fly
In the 1986 film The Fly, Seth Brundel is literally teleported from protagonist to antagonist. Having developed pods that can teleport matter from one to the other, Seth tries it himself and unwittingly merges with a housefly. He seems fine at first, but soon his girlfriend Ronnie notices disturbing changes.
Seth develops superhuman strength and agility, but there were also weird coarse hairs growing out of his back and weeping facial sores. Soon Seth deteriorates into a grotesque hybrid creature devoid of reason and compassion. After his problematic plan to fuse himself with Ronnie and their unborn baby fails, Seth has one last ember of humanity in facilitating his own demise.
2 Dr. Frankenstein's Monster Is No Monster
Frankenstein (1933)
Though he was made with body parts from hanged criminals and had a nightmarish appearance, Frankenstein's Monster was no monster. In the 1933 horror classic Frankenstein, the Monster had a child-like innocence and was badly misinterpreted. His fear of fire was perceived as aggression, which started a tragic chain of events, ultimately leading to his undoing.
The Monster was chained up, tortured, drugged, and marked for execution. Lacking the ability to understand what was happening, the Monster's fight-or-flight instinct kicked in, and he did what he had to do to escape. After accidentally drowning a girl, the Monster was chased to a windmill and set on fire. Frankenstein's creation was merely a victim. The real monsters were humans.
1 Godzilla: King Of All Monster Protagonists
Godzilla
In the original Godzilla, Raymond Burr was awkwardly added to the film for the American release, but the giant atomic-breathed lizard was definitely still the star. In the subsequent kaiju films, Godzilla was always portrayed as the hero. The only film that ever portrayed Godzilla as evil was the 1998 Ronald Emmerich atrocity.
Lt. Ford Brody may have thought he was the hero of the 2014 Godzilla reboot, but once again the gargantuan monster was the main attraction. When a pair of giant winged insect-like "MUTOs" begin laying waste to civilization, Godzilla awakens from his deep-sea slumber to protect mankind. After nearly dying to defeat the MUTOs, Godzilla is dubbed "The King of All Monsters."