Godzilla rarely eats in any of his movies, and there’s one big reason why this is the case. First bursting onto the big screen in 1954, Godzilla is now one of the most iconic movie monsters of all time. He was first created by the Japanese entertainment company, Toho, but he has since appeared in many American films too, notably Legendary’s Monsterverse. Most recently, the kaiju appeared in Takashi Yamazaki’s acclaimed Godzilla Minus One, which brought Godzilla back to his destructive roots.
While depictions of Godzilla have varied widely over the past 70 years, one element of the character has remained the same: he doesn’t eat. Godzilla’s atomic breath is mostly what his mouth is used for, though he also often bites his enemies. Other monsters, including King Kong, have historically eaten on screen, but in the Monsterverse and beyond, Godzilla doesn’t consume food, at least not in the traditional sense.
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Why Godzilla Doesn’t Need To Eat
The no-eating rule goes back to the monster’s Toho roots
The reason why Godzilla isn’t shown eating on screen goes back to the character’s roots and where his power actually comes from. Unlike many of his fellow monsters, Godzilla feeds only on radiation. This ultimately stems from the monster’s origins, with Toho’s original iteration of Godzilla serving as an allegory for nuclear weapons, in particular the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In the Toho films and the Monsterverse, Godzilla seeks out sources of radiation in order to survive and replenish his energy. This is one of the main reasons why attempts to kill the titan with atomic weapons all fail. As seen in 2014’s Godzilla and later in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Monsterverse Godzilla is lured to Bikini Atoll in an attempt to kill him with an atomic blast, but it only makes him stronger. At the end of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, it’s a heavy intake of radiation that ultimately gives him the power to defeat Ghidorah.
Only 1 Godzilla Movie Broke The No Eating Rule
A 1998 movie broke Godzilla tradition in more ways than one
Although Godzilla almost exclusively feeds on radiation across his various franchise appearances, 1998’s Godzilla deviates from tradition. The movie, which is directed by Roland Emmerich and stars Matthew Broderick, is the only film to depict the titular monster eating normal, non-radioactive food. A large mountain of fish is successfully used to lure him out into the open, and the monster is explicitly shown eating in this scene. The film also makes other changes to the titan, of course, including making him more dinosaur-like and removing his traditional atomic breath.
After a back-to-basics approach with Godzilla Minus One, Legendary’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire gives Godzilla a pink makeover, a noticeable update to his traditional appearance. Future takes on the kaiju are sure to make additional changes, but some aspects of the character’s past seem to be here to stay. As seen in Godzilla‘s storied 70-year history, his relationship to radiation is a core part of who he is, meaning the monster probably won’t be shown eating fish or any other more traditional foods anytime soon.
