Godzilla Movie Rankings
This list is all things Godzilla and the other movie universe films that overlap his character, namely all things Toho. If it's a movie about Godzilla or one of his rivals, you'll find it here.
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- DirectorTakashi YamazakiStarsRyunosuke KamikiMinami HamabeSakura AndôPost war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.It's certainly the best Godzilla movie I've seen in theaters. I have always believed the way to make a great Godzilla movie is to make not only him awesome but also the characters so we have a rooting interest. They nailed it all the way around with this one. Aside from a few nitpicks at the end, this is about as perfect as a Godzilla movie can get.
- DirectorKoji HashimotoStarsKeiju KobayashiKen TanakaYasuko SawaguchiThe Japanese government suppresses news of Godzilla's return as political tensions increase between the US and USSR, both of whom are willing to bomb Japan to stop the monster.Everything about this movie works so well but especially the dark tone and ominous atmosphere while maintaining that sweet 80s goodness. As a character, this is peak Godzilla to me. He is at his best as a menacing wrecking machine, and this dark, cold movie captures it the best. The costume is one of the best in the series and one I remember well growing up as a kid. The story is quite strong as well as Godzilla already exists in this world but has largely been forgotten 30 years after his original rampage. It's alluded to that this is possibly the same monster, but no one can be sure. Maybe it's just because I adore all things 80s, but this is the best Godzilla movie I've seen thus far.
- DirectorHideaki AnnoShinji HiguchiStarsHiroki HasegawaYutaka TakenouchiSatomi IshiharaJapan is plunged into chaos upon the appearance of a giant monster.Godzilla is a huge part of Japanese culture, and this movie does him modern justice as it truly feels larger than life. The human perspective is fantastic in this movie and completely realistic, which raises the stakes when Godzilla starts wrecking the world. It's a very unique movie for being in the giant monster genre and certainly one of the very best Godzilla movies ever made.
- DirectorShûsuke KanekoStarsChiharu NiiyamaRyûdô UzakiMasahiro KobayashiA reporter, notorious for working on pseudo-documentaries, must uncover the legend of the three guardian monsters who must rise to defend Japan from the vengeful spirits within Godzilla.I'm blown away by how awesome this movie is. As far as monsters existing in our world and man's way of reacting to it, you can't find a better entry than this. Just check out the scene where the woman decides to take a selfie with Baragon in the background. This is hard evidence that people in suits and puppets still look more realistic than the very best CGI, and this is the perfect blend of special effects with real scenery. I'm sure it was expensive as hell to make. Godzilla is a flat-out beast in this one, the most menacing he's been since the '84 masterpiece. Like Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, I'm still not that crazy about King Ghidorah serving as a hero. Also, like that film, this had the potential to be the very best Godzilla movie if the ending was a little bit better.
- DirectorKazuki ÔmoriKoji HashimotoKenjirô OhmoriStarsKunihiko MitamuraYoshiko TanakaMasanobu TakashimaDesolate by the loss of his daughter, a geneticist creates a monstrous new mutation.This is the version of Godzilla that I always used to see as toys growing up, and it's obvious why: it's the most fierce looking of all. This movie is just loaded with great visuals from the new nemesis Biollante (despite the bizarre origin) to Godzilla staring down the telepathic young girl on the helicopter pad. There are also some great characters in this one from the cocky military agent with snide remarks to the young gun trying to serve his country by taking Godzilla down. It's glorious to watch it all unfold, and it's absolutely one of the best in the series.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsTakashi ShimuraAkihiko HirataAkira TakaradaAfter a dinosaur-like beast - awoken from undersea hibernation by atom bomb testing - ravages Tokyo, a scientist must decide if his similarly dangerous weapon should be used to destroy it.I have long held the belief that there is no truly perfect Godzilla movie, and I stand by it after my most recent rewatching of the one considered by most to be the best: the one that started it all. This is a fine film with a few iconic moments and a great finale, but it's not on the level of even King Kong from 21 years prior. Despite Godzilla's demise at the end, they leave the door open to continue the franchise and proceed to do so.
- DirectorKazuki ÔmoriKoji HashimotoStarsKôsuke ToyoharaAnna NakagawaMegumi OdakaTime travelers use Godzilla in their scheme to destroy Japan to prevent the country's future economic reign.Probably considered one of the most outrageous entries, this is also easily one of the most fun. I love King Ghidorah, and, even though this movie messes with his origin (as well as Godzilla's), his involvement sets up not one but two titanic clashes. From a writing perspective, I give them tons of props for the creativity, especially the wild flip-flopping of who the villain is at any given moment. It has more twists and turns that Ghidora has heads!
- DirectorMichael DoughertyStarsKyle ChandlerVera FarmigaMillie Bobby BrownThe crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.The more I see this movie, the more I cherish it. It's a great follow up to the 2014 reboot and incorporates so many monsters and ideas while respecting their history. There are no bad reimaginations here, and the only fault I can find with the movie at all is the young girl doing a little too much. Her aside, I enjoyed the various takes from so many human characters and how nobody is really viewed as right or wrong so much as they are left to deal with the ramifications of their actions.
- DirectorGareth EdwardsStarsAaron Taylor-JohnsonElizabeth OlsenBryan CranstonThe world is beset by the appearance of monstrous creatures, but one of them may be the only one who can save humanity.The second American attempt at Godzilla is worlds better than the first. Godzilla has always been a cool concept just limited by the movie-making capabilities of the time. Now, we can make him do anything and make him look realistic doing it. More than anything, the film does a really great job of capturing the human perspective of monsters suddenly walking the Earth. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the villain MUTOs. It just feels like they are going for Mothra without having the rights to the creature locked up yet. I would have preferred having a classic villain appear. With that said, man, is this movie easy to watch and, man, does it movie look cool.
- DirectorJun FukudaStarsAkira TakaradaKumi MizunoChôtarô TôginFour men searching for one's brother are shipwrecked on Letchi Island, where they encounter Godzilla, a monstrous lobster, and terrorists who have enslaved the natives of Infant Island.It might be an unpopular choice, but this is the first Godzilla movie I saw as a kid and remains one of my favorites. This one just has everything I want in fantasy/science fiction films, including a criminal organization, a beautiful island setting perimetered by a giant lobster and a real Bond-like feel to it. It actually reminds me a lot of Dr. No/You Only Live Twice combined with the Mysterious Island. It has heart too, with messages about doing the right thing even when it's dangerous. I find this to be a real treasure and can't believe it's so poorly received by many.
- DirectorTakao OkawaraKazuki ÔmoriStarsMasahiro TakashimaRyoko SanoMegumi OdakaThe United Nations assembles the ultimate weapon to defeat Godzilla, while scientists discover a fresh pteranodon egg on a remote Japanese island.The Heisei era continues to produce quality films that always appear to be on the cusp of true greatness before a familiar pattern sets in, namely making Godzilla the villain for most of the movie. The beginning of this movie is purely awesome as I love the origin for the rebooted Mechagodzilla coming from the future cyborg Mecha King Ghidorah. The opening credits are tremendous and set up a great film that doesn't quite live up to its potential. The strangest thing about this movie is not the decision to reintroduce Godzilla's son but to call the movie Mechagodzilla II when it's a reboot rather than a sequel.
- DirectorJun FukudaStarsMasaaki DaimonKazuya AoyamaReiko TajimaAn Okinawan prophecy appears to foretell Earth's destruction at the hands of Godzilla, only for the true Godzilla to reveal his doppelganger as a mechanical alien weapon.Mechagodzilla is the first Godzilla nemesis I've really enjoyed since King Ghidorah, so this movie couldn't come at a better time after several stinkers in a row. The story here is more James Bond like in the same vein as the first Ghidorah movie, and that works for me. I am tired of the aliens trying to use giant monsters to take over the planet, but at least this giant monster is fresh and quite menacing. I also like King Caesar and the mythology around him. It makes the movie a good blend of mystical and sci-fi, and that's everything I want in these films.
- DirectorTakao OkawaraStarsTakehiro MurataHiroshi AbeNaomi NishidaAn independent group of researchers actively track Godzilla as a giant meteor is discovered. The mysterious rock begins to levitate as its true intentions for the world and Godzilla are revealed.After the American bastardization of Godzilla, Japan responds with a pretty interesting movie. This reboot starts with a lot of potential as Godzilla beautifully wrecks a city in the background. After that, things get a little weird as this movie seems to take shots at Roland Emmerich by having a lot of similarities to Independence Day. The biggest hindrance to this movie is the weak CGI in several scenes. The monster threat is unique but not amazing, but the film bookends nicely with Godzilla again laying waste to the city as the credits roll.
- DirectorRyûhei KitamuraKoji HashimotoShûsuke KanekoStarsMasahiro MatsuokaRei KikukawaDon FryeGodzilla's fiftieth Anniversary project, in which Godzilla travels around the world to fight his old foes and his allies plus a new, mysterious monster named Monster X.It's absolutely insane but also ridiculous fun and funny too. If we're judging a movie on its ability to entertain, how is this one not considered quality? Look at all those callbacks to not only previous Godzilla movies but also other Toho films! What we have here is basically a remake of Destroy All Monsters but one that's actually a lot of fun to watch. This movie is what happens when Godzilla crosses paths with the Matrix, and it's definitely enjoyable.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsAkira TakaradaYuriko HoshiHiroshi KoizumiWhen opportunistic tycoons refuse to return Mothra's egg to Infant Island, its people must decide if they are willing to answer Japan's own pleas for help when Godzilla arises near Nagoya.The second monster crossover goes much better than the first as this movie provides plenty of entertainment. From the moment Mothra's giant egg shows up on shore, I'm pretty much dialed in to this. The only thing I don't really care for is the final showdown of the movie even though it's not terrible or anything. But it's crucial to understanding the mythos of Mothra as she is reborn through a new egg whenever near death. As long as an egg is in play, it appears Mothra's lineage never ends.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsYôsuke NatsukiYuriko HoshiHiroshi KoizumiA detective protects a princess who prophecies Earth's destruction by a powerful alien dragon, which Mothra and her fairies - aided by Godzilla and Rodan - must battle against.This movie is very entertaining to me. It's a great blend of science fiction and spy thriller with the subplot of the assassins trying to eliminate the princess whose body has been overtaken by an alien emissary. King Ghidorah is awesome and my favorite of all the monsters. I also love the way Mothra calls Godzilla and Rodan (who survived the lake of fire apparently) to unite against the greater threat. So this, the seventh kaiju movie in this shared universe, is the one in which Godzilla finally becomes heroic. I know I'm overrating this, but I enjoy it.
- DirectorJun FukudaStarsTadao TakashimaAkira KuboBibari MaedaA reporter stumbles upon weather experiments on a tropical island, discovering giant mantises, a castaway woman, and an infant monster that Godzilla must learn to raise as a son.Of all the Godzilla movies, this is one of the most well-balanced when it comes to human and monster intrigue. The story around the scientists trying to control the weather is really well done and creates a unique setting/situation that the monsters are forced to rival by having several different nemeses as well as Godzilla's son, Minya, who is not as annoying as you'd expect. I know I rate this much higher than most Godzilla fans, but it works for me.
- DirectorTakao OkawaraStarsTetsuya BesshoSatomi KobayashiTakehiro MurataJapan is caught in the middle of a three way battle between Godzilla, the divine Mothra, and her dark counterpart Battra.I think this is one of the most visually satisfying of all the Godzilla movies to this point. It's bright and colorful, and all the battles look really good, especially the fight in the ocean. The nighttime fight by the ferris wheel is one I have always remembered. Overall, though, it just feels like a remake of Mothra and Mothra vs. Godzilla combined into one film, and that would be fine with me if not for the random face turn by Battra at the climax. I don't like that and that we're expected to feel anything for Battra when it meets its demise.
- DirectorIshirô HondaJun FukudaStarsKatsuhiko SasakiTomoko AiAkihiko HirataAn Interpol investigation uncovers a shunned biologist and his daughter, who are involved in an alien plot to use Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus to defeat Godzilla and wipe out humanity.Godzilla in a Greek tragedy is the best way to describe this one, and it works pretty well. They build a good story for the first time in a long time in this series, giving us some emotional attachment to the heroes and villains. The right people die, and there are plenty of them in this one, which is good to see after the previously campy 70s string of films. The final fight is definitive in that Godzilla disposes of not one but two foes. I think it's great that the King of the Monsters trailer uses the beautiful music from this movie.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsFurankî SakaiHiroshi KoizumiKyôko KagawaAn expedition to Infant Island uncovers a native tribe and twin tiny fairy priestesses of a mythical deity, who sets out to rescue the pair after they are kidnapped by a greedy businessman.I appreciate the unique character that is Mothra, but we do get the same notion that radiation is responsible for the creature's gigantic size. Like Rodan, there's no mention of Godzilla here, but the shared universe is coming within the next few years. The characters here are getting back to the same level of interesting as those in the original Godzilla. I especially like the reporter and all the tactics he employs to get his story. He's also incredibly heroic. The ending is a little underwhelming, but at least it's wildly different than the monster movies we've gotten before. It really serves to bolster the idea that, unlike Godzilla and Rodan at this point, Mothra has good intentions.
- DirectorMasaaki TezukaIshirô HondaStarsMisato TanakaShôsuke TaniharaMasatô IbuJapan creates an artificial black hole device to trap Godzilla forever, but a test of the device creates new foes for Godzilla, car-sized dragonflies called meganula and their queen, Megaguirus.I'm not sure why this one seems to get a bad rap among fans. Although the villain seems less than inspired, there are plenty of interesting elements like the flooded city and the plan to rid the world of Godzilla. The CGI is improved from the previous film, and the fight between the monsters is pretty solid, but the random still shots mess things up a bit. It might not be the most exciting entry, but there really isn't much wrong with it.
- DirectorMasaaki TezukaKazuki ÔmoriStarsYumiko ShakuShin TakumaKana OnoderaA new Godzilla causes the JSDF to construct a cyborg countermeasure from the original monster's remains. The beast's restless soul is discovered to inhabit the machine as the pilot must learn to find value in her own life.This movie is really all about the visuals. It's basically a remake of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, and I like and dislike similar things about it; however, whereas Godzilla kind of becomes an antihero in that film, he's the enemy all the way through in this one, and I just don't enjoy that role for him when there's another monster threat. The human characters are interesting and have pretty cool backstories, but this movie is something of a letdown for me given the inconclusive ending. They tease so many deaths, and nobody dies. It's actually a solid film up until an underwhelming climax.
- DirectorMasaaki TezukaKoji HashimotoTakao OkawaraStarsNoboru KanekoMiho YoshiokaMickey KogaMothra and her fairies return to Japan to warn mankind that they must return Kiryu to the sea, for the dead must not be disturbed. However Godzilla has survived to menace Japan leaving Kiryu as the nation's only defense.I'm seeing something of a trend in the Millenium Godzilla series. They all start off with great visuals and cool concepts but fail to deliver at the climax. This one has the best depictions of Mothra ever in the opening, and I appreciate the callbacks to the original Mothra film, but this fails to live up to it when the movie opts for a retread of Mothra vs. Godzilla from 1964. I'm sure fans love seeing their favorites on the big screen all at once, but I need more or something different at least.
- DirectorTakao OkawaraIshirô HondaKoji HashimotoStarsTakurô TatsumiYôko IshinoYasufumi HayashiThe aftermath of the Oxygen Destroyer brings forth Destoroyah, a beast intent on killing Godzilla, who is on the verge of a nuclear meltdown.Despite being one of the highest rated Godzilla movies, I don't like this one. While the concept of Godzilla melting down is an interesting one to me, the villain simply is not. Sure, the ties to the oxygen destroyer are a nice callback, but the monster is overbooked and boring in my opinion. I don't like how they rip off Aliens with the second mouth bit either. The worst part of this movie, though, is the annoying college kid who can't pass his exams but somehow understands Godzilla and can coordinate attacks better than the scientists and military experts. The Heisei era starts off so strong but fumbles at the goal line with its last two entries.
- DirectorIshirô HondaJun FukudaStarsAkira KuboJun TazakiYukiko KobayashiIn 1999, a race of she-aliens, the Kilaaks, brainwash Earth's monsters into attacking major cities, prompting a team of astronauts to stop the invaders while the monsters battle Ghidorah.They open with a great premise here as all of Earth's monsters have been relocated to Monster Island to live in peace and remain under observation, but conquering aliens release them and use mind control to get them to attack various cities. Manda and Gorosaurus, which appear in other Toho films, cross over into the Godzilla universe here. This movie, unfortunately, isn't nearly as great as it should be as the monsters get limited screen time until a final battle that has been greatly overrated as all the monsters gang up on King Ghidorah and actually kill him! Instead of being an epic final chapter, this feels like a glorified remake of Invasion of Astro-Monster.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsRhodes ReasonMie HamaLinda MillerThe evil Dr. Who captures King Kong to dig for Element X when his robot duplicate, Mechani-Kong, is unable to do the job, but Kong soon escapes and battles his doppelganger.Even though King Kong does not look good in this movie, it's a pretty entertaining piece of film that feels like a mix between James Bond and the Lost World. The villains are quite mysterious and make things enjoyable seeing them get their comeuppance. The movie is mostly here because Kong obviously fights Godzilla a time or two among these movies and also for Gorosaurus who returns (from the dead?) in Destroy All Monsters.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsKenji SaharaYumi ShirakawaAkihiko HirataA mining engineer investigates the deaths of his colleagues, discovering prehistoric nymphs and a creature capable of flying - and wrecking havoc - at supersonic speeds.The first of the monster movies to be in color, Rodan clearly has some effort behind it in terms of a fairly interesting story, but the creature itself just doesn't come across as intimidating to me, at least not with the effects at their disposal in 1956. I just can't not see those strings operating the Rodan puppet every time I watch this. While there is no mention of Godzilla in this movie, the theory behind Rodan is the same: nuclear testing awakening him from his slumber. The sad ending gives us the demise of not one but two Rodan creatures.
- DirectorRoland EmmerichStarsMatthew BroderickJean RenoMaria PitilloFrench nuclear tests irradiate an iguana into a giant monster that heads off to New York City. The American military must chase the monster across the city to stop it before it reproduces.Although everyone bashes it, this is not a bad movie, but it's just not a good Godzilla movie. Yes, this creature bears almost no resemblance to Godzilla, but, in the same way that the X-Men movies have almost nothing to do with the X-Men, this is still fairly fun to watch on its own merit. I just find the cast really jarring and mostly unlikeable. The craziest thing to me is that the CGI is pretty spotty at times despite a huge budget and this coming years after Jurassic Park and Independence Day, which are pretty much flawless.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsNick AdamsAkira TakaradaJun TazakiAstronauts encounter the Xiliens, who ask Earth to rid their planet of "Monster Zero", but when one astronaut romances a mysterious woman, he uncovers the Xilien's true intentions.The series here goes totally science fiction at this point as we again have a story revolving around aliens. This time, they want to use Earth's monsters Godzilla and Rodan (but not Mothra?) to help them against another monster threat. That's right - one movie after his debut, King Ghidorah immediately returns to threaten an alien planet as well as our own. This isn't bad, but it's also not nearly as good as it seems like it would be.
- DirectorJordan Vogt-RobertsStarsTom HiddlestonSamuel L. JacksonBrie LarsonAfter the Vietnam war, a team of scientists explores an uncharted island in the Pacific, venturing into the domain of the mighty Kong and must fight to escape a primal Eden.This just isn't a King Kong movie to me. It's more like the Lost World or even Predator than King Kong, and the human characters are atrocious. From helicopters maneuvering around like people and accidentally shooting each other to Loki running around with a Samurai sword cutting bats out of the sky, I totally checked out of this by the midway point.
- DirectorAdam WingardStarsAlexander SkarsgårdMillie Bobby BrownRebecca HallThe epic next chapter in the cinematic Monsterverse pits two of the greatest icons in motion picture history against each other--the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong--with humanity caught in the balance.It's actually impressive that they somehow made this movie only barely better than the original version. There is way too much crap going on, the size inconsistencies are baffling and the humans are beyond obnoxious. The only redeeming quality of this entire movie is the finale against Mechagodzilla.
- DirectorYoshimitsu BannoIshirô HondaStarsAkira YamanouchiToshie KimuraHiroyuki KawaseA toxic, ever-evolving alien life-form from the Dark Gaseous Nebula arrives to consume rampant pollution, threatening to destroy all life in its wake unless Godzilla is able to stop it.Completely unlike any other Godzilla film I've seen thus far, this movie is flat-out bizarre. It's totally 70s and even tries a Bond like opening with a theme song. Unfortunately, they either overplay it throughout the movie or use no music at all, which is eerie at first but then boring later. Everything about it seems out of place. It also gets quite psychedelic at times, and I always find that off putting. This movie really solidifies Godzilla as something of a superhero as the lead little boy has a toy of him and anticipates Godzilla saving the planet from Hedorah. No one really panics when he emerges on the scene.
- DirectorKenshô YamashitaTakao OkawaraKazuki ÔmoriStarsJun HashizumeMegumi OdakaZenkichi YoneyamaGodzilla is threatened by two new forces: Mogera - another UN built machine; and Space Godzilla - a beast spawned from Godzilla's particles in space.The Heisei series finally gives us a stinker in this overbooked sci-fi mess. SpaceGodzilla just seems like a lazy idea for a villain, and the origin is pretty weak too. He's also too comic booky in that he imprisons Baby Godzilla and even constructs his own fortress for a climax that goes on way too long. The human characters are surprisingly the redeeming part of this movie that really comes across as way too hokey, which is saying something for a Godzilla movie.
- DirectorIshirô HondaShûe MatsubayashiStarsTadao TakashimaYôko FujiyamaYû FujikiWhen an ancient underground civilization and their snake-like guardian plots to reclaim the surface world, those of the surface fights back.With this movie, you are really just getting a wacky combination of a James Bond movie and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The premise is too big for the budget, and it's totally unrealistic that a worldwide problem would come down to such a small group of people. Manda is what makes this a Godzillaverse movie, but he's barely in it and certainly not as imposing as previous kaiju we've seen. There's also the titular warship, also called Gotengo, that appears in Godzilla: Final Wars.
- DirectorOkihiro YonedaStarsMegumi KobayashiSayaka YamaguchiAki HanoA new Mothra takes to the air and must battle Death Ghidora to save humanity.The Mothra reboot - and it is a reboot since none of the characters knows anything about Mothra - doesn't go nearly as well as the first Godzilla reboot. It seems to be aimed at children by making a pair of them the focus of much of the movie, which is never a good thing with monster movies, although the best scene in the movie with Mothra sinking into the ocean is pretty heavy stuff. The new Mothra appears to be a male, which is an interesting change of script. The villain is basically an alternate version of Ghidorah, which is not as welcomed. I kind of look at this like She-Ra and He-Man. She-Ra is colorful and grabs your attention quickly but ultimately pales in comparison to the real show.
- DirectorIshirô HondaMotoyoshi OdaStarsKôzô NomuraAyumi SonodaKoreya SendaOriginal Japanese version. Research in the Tohoku region comes across a monster known to the locals as the mountain god Baradagi.It's difficult to watch this and not see Varan as a Godzilla knockoff. They even sound similar. He doesn't have much backstory other than being a legend among villagers that comes to fruition. And the only thing that does separate him from Godzilla is his surprise ability to fly, but it's never capitalized on. Instead, the movie just becomes a matter of the military pursuing and trying to destroy Varan with no human story of interest.
- DirectorOkihiro YonedaStarsMegumi KobayashiMisato TateAki HanoTo save the world, Mothra goes back in time in an attempt to defeat a younger King Ghidorah.This trilogy has been quite silly for the most part, but I thought the human characters had the most potential of any of the three movies. Then we go into a time travel plot that is really hard to accept. There is just way too much gaining new powers for the sake of convenience in this series but especially in this movie. You also have the random Mothra larva appearing in the prehistoric era with no explanation whatsoever.
- DirectorMotoyoshi OdaIshirô HondaStarsHiroshi KoizumiSetsuko WakayamaMinoru ChiakiScout pilots for a fishing company are startled to discover a second Godzilla, whose battle with rival monster Anguirus threatens to destroy Osaka.Pitiful is a good way to describe this movie. I think it's fair to say that this movie never has a chance following the surprise success of the original film, but it's barely half as good. We have a second Godzilla and now a nemesis for him in Anguirus. Unfortunately, their battle leaves a lot to be desired. Only one human character is pretty interesting but more so because you feel sorry for him.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsKenji SaharaYumi ShirakawaMomoko KôchiShortly after a giant robot destroys a village, aliens from outer space arrive offering friendship. Will the people of Earth tie these two events together?This alien invasion movie is here because of Moguera, who is honestly not very impressive. The movie is solid for the first 30 minutes or so but then falls into a pretty boring line of story telling.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsNick AdamsKumi MizunoTadao TakashimaAn American scientist and his Japanese colleagues study a mysterious feral boy who is seemingly resistant to radiation, while a subterranean dinosaur ravages the Japanese countryside.Baragon first appears here and shows up in a few Godzilla films, so that's the reason this is included in the list. I don't understand the fascination with Frankenstein. If you want to use him, that's fine, but he's not a giant and doesn't dress like a neanderthal. I never find myself rooting for him, so the movie doesn't work for me. Baragon looks pretty terrible as well, making me wonder why he's ever brought back for more appearances.
- DirectorIshirô HondaTom MontgomeryStarsTadao TakashimaKenji SaharaYû FujikiA UN reporter covers the appearance of a prehistoric monster that emerges from hibernation, while a pharmaceutical company seeks publicity with a monster of their own.It's probably intentional that the plot of this movie is a pharmaceutical company trying to cash in on a gimmick because that's all this movie is. Everyone wants to see these two fight, so let's contrive a ridiculous way to make it happen and also somehow get them on a level playing field. King Kong looks flat out terrible and somehow gets stronger when struck by lightning. Maybe the worst offense of all is giving us no winner!
- DirectorJun FukudaYoshimitsu BannoIshirô HondaStarsHiroshi IshikawaYuriko HishimiMinoru TakashimaAfter a manga artist and his friends uncover a plot by his employers at an amusement park to lure aliens Ghidorah and Gigan to Earth, Godzilla and Anguirus set out to defeat them.Even though Gigan is one of the most creative (albeit ridiculous) designs we've seen for a monster yet, this plot is pretty uninspired. A third alien race tries to control monsters into taking over the planet, and, you guessed it, one of them is King Ghidorah, who died in the last film we saw him in; however, that movie was set in the future. This movie repeats the offense of All Monsters Attack in recycling footage from other movies, which is incredibly lazy. Even worse than Godzilla flying in his last appearance is Godzilla actually speaking to Anguirus here. It's incredibly jarring to see. The parts with Gigan are decent, especially the fact that he draws blood on Godzilla and Anguirus with his blades, but the inconclusive finish leaves much to be desired.
- DirectorIshirô HondaStarsRuss TamblynKumi MizunoKenji SaharaA giant, cannibalistic humanoid's rampage through Tokyo is halted by his more docile twin, but neither their reunion nor their scientist caretakers can prevent their eventual duel.I really don't care for this movie. The first movie is nothing special, in my opinion, and this fails to follow up in a better way. Neither monster intrigues me in the least, and the protagonist, if we want to call him that, is completely unlikable. Why even change actors from the first movie and why make Frankenstein look totally different? I'm not sure why this movie seems to get a lot of praise when it's just weird. How is either creature a Frankenstein anyway?
- DirectorJun FukudaYoshimitsu BannoIshirô HondaStarsKatsuhiko SasakiHiroyuki KawaseYutaka HayashiMegalon, the monster god of the vengeful underground kingdom of Seatopia, is aided by Gigan in attacking the surface world, until android Jet Jaguar teams up with Godzilla to fight them.The series appears to be in a real rut at this point with four bad movies in a row. This one has some decent ideas that are just so poorly executed. Once again, we get a different race of humanoids trying to use a monster to take over the Earth; in this case, the Seatopians, basically Atlantean type people, want to use a giant beetle god to do their bidding. They couldn't find a sea creature? The biggest problem with this movie is that Godzilla is an afterthought. He saves the day, sure, but the real focus is on Jet Jaguar. It's weird to see Godzilla buddy up to a robot like this. Gigan returns for a tag team match that ends up being more comedic than anything else.
- DirectorKunio MiyoshiStarsMegumi KobayashiSayaka YamaguchiAki HanoMothra's twin nymphs and children from the city find a lost city, as well as a giant monster that is attracted to environmental calamities.The aquatic theme to this one should make it interesting, but it's very childish at times, especially when characters should be killed off and continuously escape death. For every cool element like the temple and the monster threat, there are several lame things like a goofy human duo of villains, boring children, the same awful Mothra sister and Mothra suddenly having the power to change his form into something fish like.
- DirectorIshirô HondaJun FukudaKengo FurusawaStarsKenji SaharaMachiko NakaTomonori YazakiA latchkey child living in the industrial city of Kawasaki confronts his loneliness through his escapist dreams of Monster Island and friendship with Minilla.This movie is absolutely terrible, mainly for making Godzilla fictional in the Japanese world. The main character is a boy that has a Godzilla toy, and the media laughs when they find out the monster is the boy's hero. They also make Godzilla's son able to change his size and speak English, and it's as awful as it sounds. Every fight but the one with the new villain Gabara - who is terrible - consists of stock footage from the previous island films! Half the movie is a dream while the other half is Home Alone minus the comedy.