Godzilla has existed for over 50 years now, racking up over 30 movies across Japan and Hollywood and there are a few to watch before the newest installment Godzilla Minus One. Godzilla originated in 1954 with the original Godzilla film. More recently, audiences saw King Kong and Godzilla face off against each other and ultimately Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs Kong (2021). Now, Japan is bringing another installment to the Godzilla franchise with the story of Godzilla Minus One, celebrating the Kaiju’s 70th birthday.
Little details have been revealed about what the plot of Godzilla Minus One will be, but the President of Toho International, Koji Ueda, revealed (via Forbes) that the movie will once againpresent Godzilla as a terrifying and destructive force, unlike the more antiheroic picture that has been painted of the monster in more recent years, as there are 11 different versions of Godzilla over various eras. Ueda describes this new Godzilla as a “terrifying and overwhelming force.” There can be a lot of information to take in since Godzilla’s first movie in 1954, but these films will set any viewer up for success when going into Godzilla Minus One.
7 Godzilla (1954)
Godzilla
. It’s not only a classic film, but really hones in what the
Godzilla
ideology was originally about. The iconic film deals with the horrors of the atomic bomb in post-war Japan, giving a monster to personify the horrific aftermath of World War II. Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, it has an element of cheesiness to it as the special effects are from the mid-twentieth century, but it holds a place in any Kaiju fan’s heart.
6 Shin Godzilla (2016)
Shin Godzilla is most notable for its different variations of the monster and also for keeping with the roots of Godzilla’s original ideologies about nuclear warfare. The film is the third time Toho rebooted the franchise and was directed by Hideaki Anno, of Evangelion fame. Shin Godzilla goes through five different evolutions, each of which are terrifying to watch unfold on screen. From a slithering second form to the Godzilla that is known and loved today, the monster transforms into something horrifying for every viewer, making it essential viewing before Godzilla Minus One.
5 Godzilla (2014)
Hollywood’s new reboot of the Kaiju franchise is far more underwhelming than a film like Shin Godzilla, but it is sufficient at giving viewers a good background knowledge for the rest of the films. The problem with the American reboots is they fail to take into account the horrors of nuclear war and instead tell a story about a scary monster, without much symbolism. The film stars Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olson, and Bryan Cranston in the first installment of the series. Godzilla (2014) was a commercial success that led the kaiju franchise back into American popular culture after the failure of movies like Godzilla (1998) starring Matthew Broderick.
4 Godzilla: King of Monsters (2019)
The next installment in the Monsterverse features a set of monsters that are essential for basic Kaiju knowledge: Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah. The film stars Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, and Vera Farmiga as they follow the clash between Godzilla and the other monsters. Another benefit of the film is the great special effects and design, creating a great look for the main monsters. The showdowns are fun and entertaining enough, bringing monsters to battle in historic places like Boston’s Fenway Park. This film was far more commercially panned than its predecessor, but it still makes for an enjoyable introduction to these monsters that have been around for decades.
3 Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)
Mechagodzilla is the robot form of Godzilla that he often fights in multiple sequels, most recently Godzilla vs Kong. The story follows Japan as they believe Godzilla is attacking them once again after learning to coexist with the humans, only to be outed as an imposter! The real Godzilla must come and fight the monster which is revealed to be mechanical. While this film may not be the most iconic in terms of special effects and overall filmmaking, it showcases a classic era of Godzilla movies that has influenced the future of these films.
2 Mothra vs Godzilla (1964)
In the same vein as Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, Mothra Vs Godzilla will introduce audiences to an iconic kaiju that is seen in Godzilla: King of Monsters and provide the necessary backstory for Mothra’s inhabitants on this planet, and why she is often found fighting Godzilla in the first place. The film follows a giant egg that is found washed up after a typhoon, which belongs to Mothra.
1 Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Godzilla: King of Monsters
, has a face-off between multiple of the different entities, making great entertainment for what is lacking in production value. The film sees Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra encouraged to team up to face off against Ghidorah, a three-headed dragon that threatens the safety of society. The classics like these are important because they really showcase the roots of the franchise that have been prevalent in
Godzilla
for so long. While they might not be the most amazing movies, they are certainly a lot of fun and will get audiences started on their journey into Godzilla obsession before
Godzilla Minus One
hits theaters.
