As of November 3rd, 2024, the beloved giant monster and icon of Japan Godzilla has officially been around for over 70 years, and if Godzilla: Minus One is anything to go on, the King of the Monsters has a long and prosperous life ahead on the silver screen. In celebration of everyone’s favorite kaiju, we dived into Godzilla’s film library in search of the very best of the bunch, from past to present.
For most fans, Godzilla films can be separated into four separate eras: the Shōwa era (1954-1975), the Heisei era (1984-1995), the Millenium era (1999-2004), and the Reiwa era (2016-present). However, to better capture the full scope of Godzilla’s film history, we’ll be including a second place or “runner-up” position for each era’s ranking.
8
Mothra Vs. Godzilla (1964)
The Shōwa Era’s Runner-Up
The Shōwa Era is chock-full of incredible kaiju action, so if you’re furrowing your brow and thinking that Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, Ghidorah The Three Headed Monster, or even All Monsters Attack deserves the number two spot more than the comparatively humble Godzilla vs. Mothra, you’re not exactly wrong, since all of the above were equally important and influential.
When it comes right down to it, though, Mothra vs. Godzilla was the film that rescued the Big G from an embarrassing loss in King Kong vs. Godzilla. Mothra vs. Godzilla proved that this kaiju icon was here to stay, and its success helped propel the series forward into what it is today. Plus, it has Mothra in it, and who doesn’t love Mothra?
7
Godzilla (1954)
The Shōwa Era’s Greatest Hit
Was there any doubt? This harrowing monster movie, originally released in 1954, was Godzilla’s grand introduction to audiences in Japan as well as abroad, and unlike today, where we happily recognize Godzilla as a monster-fighting hero and icon of Japan, the titanic beast’s original outing was far darker and far less patriotic.
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Functioning as a stand-in for nuclear war, the original Godzilla (or Gojira, depending on your pronunciation preferences) is a tragedy bathed in fire, destruction, and a 50-foot lizard. More than any of that, however, the original Godzilla introduced the world to the King of the Monsters, and the fact that you’re reading this list right now attests to just how powerful that 1954 introduction really was.
6
The Return Of Godzilla (1984)
The Heisei Era’s Runner-Up
The Return Of Godzilla was ahead of its time, being among the first reboot-sequel films (films that ignore subsequent entries in favor of being a direct sequel to the first film instead, ala Halloween 2018) ever made. It also has better pacing and a more captivating narrative, so no matter how cool Godzilla vs. Biollante is, we’re just going to have to live with the fact that The Return Of Godzilla is the better movie for now.
The film technically came out in the Shōwa era, but given that its direct sequel was released only one year into the Heisei era, Return is considered to be part of that era instead, and on top of that, the film really puts in the extra effort to stand apart from what came before. With its more sinister tone and its tragic undertones, The Return Of Godzilla is a thrilling treat that ushered in the Heisei era with a bang.
5
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995)
The Heisei Era’s Greatest Hit
True to its name, Destoroyah is the destroyer. The bringer of Godzilla’s demise. For as dark and grim as the Heisei era had become by its conclusion, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is the bleakest its monster vs. monster format would ever become, and as such, fans of Godzilla even today visualize a deep red thundercloud of dread whenever its name is mentioned.
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Nonetheless, the film works incredibly well as a conclusion to Godzilla’s most consistent era, with all the kaiju action you could ask for, laced with the inherent sense of tragedy that the Heisei era is known for. As a distaster movie, and as a kaiju film, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah is a harrowing reminder that all great things must one day end.
4
Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
The Millennium Era’s Runner-Up
A fan favorite for many, Godzilla: Final Wars was the final Godzilla film until 2014, and as a sendoff to the old ways and the traditional Godzilla film, it does an adequate job of being completely out there and completely in line with what you’d want from a Godzilla film at the same time. It pales in comparison to the Heisei sendoff, but that doesn’t make it a bad film by any means.
What most people these days remember about Final Wars, though, was the announcement that Toho Studios would be retiring the King of the Monsters for the foreseeable future following its release. As a result, Final Wars left a lot of people feeling a tad let down at the time, but revisiting the film today, it’s clear Godzilla: Final Wars knows what it wants to be and how to be a solid kaiju flick.
3
Godzilla, Mothra, And King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack! (2001)
The Millennium Era’s Greatest Hit
Often abbreviated as GMK among fans, Godzilla, Mothra, And King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack is not only the greatest film of the Millennium era but one of the greatest Godzilla films, period. With fantastic design work for King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Godzilla alike, epic monster-on-monster violence, and a fantastic score, there’s a solid reason GMK has the reputation it does among fans.
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The closest equivalent we’ve had since this iconic movie’s release was 2019’s Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, and as wonderous and fantastic a film as that is, it simply cannot hold a candle to the practical kaiju action of GMK. In an era where TriStar’s disaster movie (pun intended) had put the character in a tough spot, GMK and its predecessors were just what the doctor ordered for giant monster fans.
2
Shin Godzilla
The Reiwa Era’s Runner-Up
Shin Godzilla is a very strange movie. It’s great, don’t get us wrong, but its greatness often boils down to its critique of Japanese military politics rather than anything the titular monster does. While the fanbase at large was more than happy to accept the film in 2016 because it meant getting a new Godzilla film from Toho again after 12 years of silence, the shadow of Minus One does not do it any favors in hindsight.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with taking an interest in international politics, especially since those aspects of the film are the ones that feel the most thought out, but the result is a movie where Godzilla himself often feels like an afterthought, even if the film’s use of the big G as a symbol of post-natural disaster fallout was a solid move at the time.
1
Godzilla: Minus One
The Reiwa Era’s Greatest Hit
Godzilla: Minus One is probably the best Godzilla movie of them all, or at the very least, the best film that focuses on the darker side of the iconic kaiju. Every move Goji makes feels intense, big, and horrifying. Every scene he isn’t in builds the relationships of its cast and heightens the sense of dread that follows Godzilla everywhere he goes.
Everything about this movie is kaiju perfection, and all I’ve got to say about that is that it’s about time Japan brought their monster back to the big screen on their terms. As the Reiwa era continues, all signs point to the Minus One continuity being the starting point for an all-new series of films, and if that’s the case, we’ve got a lot to look forward to in the years to come. Happy 70th anniversary, Godzilla! Here’s to 70 more!
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