Phase behavior of Langmuir monolayers of behenic acid (BeA) has been examined by two-dimensional compressibility. It was found that phase transitions of BeA could be classified into two distinct categories, named Type-I and Type-II in this work. The former is typified by a positive peak on the compressibility-pressure (β-π) curve, indicating the transition can occur itself in a way of collapse from the initial structure. The latter is characterized by a dropping step on the β-π curve, implying that it cannot happen itself and the driven force is continuous compression. For BeA molecules, compressibility coefficients at the initial and final state are the same, β i =β f , for Type-I phase transition from L 2 to L 2 ' state, whilst β i >β f for Type-II phase transition from L 2 ' state to S state.