How long have I loved Godzilla? The details are lost to the mists of time. When you love a 984-foot tall nuclear monster with all your heart, it feels as though you’ve loved him forever.
I was probably introduced to Godzilla via Mystery Science Theater 3000, the beloved sci-fi humor show of my teen years. In the wee hours of the morning, hopped up on Mountain Dew and Cheetos, I watched terrible movies like Godzilla vs. Megalon, Gamera vs Guiron, and that fantastic idiot-fest, Manos, the Hands of Fate .
Admittedly, Godzilla vs. Megalon isn’t the best Godzilla movie. But nor is it the worst! That title goes to Son of Godzilla, a movie so breathtakingly awful you'll want a memory enema when the credits roll.
This post cannot be comprehensive. There’s simply too much Godzilla for a single blog post from a humble fan. But I will do two things today. First, I will tell you why I believe Godzilla is so great. And second, I will give you some Godzilla movies to watch, in order of awesomeness.
Godzilla Basics
There are at least thirty-six Godzilla films. I won’t recommend that you watch them all. The first Godzilla movie came out in 1954 and he's been going strong for over sixty years.
Godzilla is a kaiju, or “strange beast”, and he’s a cultural icon in Japan and around the world. Godzilla has atomic breath capable of reducing most objects and living organisms to ash, he is capable of absorbing tremendous amounts of nuclear energy, and he is impervious to most damage. Godzilla can breathe underwater, and he regenerates! He can also throw a wicked right hook.
In Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, Godzilla is an official tourism ambassador.
Godzilla appears largely indifferent to humans, although at times he has fought on the same side as humanity. Godzilla has other kaiju enemies, such as King Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla. Sometimes he fights alongside allies, including the giant insect kaiju, Mothra.
Why Godzilla is so Great
Here are some reasons why Godzilla is beloved:
Godzilla is an allegory: Godzilla often stands in for profound societal fears and issues. He’s a huge, dramatic, and enigmatic figure. But as for what Godzilla represents, it changes as humanity changes. In the original 1954 Godzilla, he was representative of nuclear annihilation. Arising out of the horrors of World War II, this campy monster movie had a lot to say about the horrors of war, the dangers of the military-science, and the suffering that followed. In Shin Godzilla, Godzilla is reflective of a different kind of nuclear threat. The movie is a critique of the Japanese government’s response to the Fukishima disaster. In American Godzilla movies, Godzilla often stands in for the natural order: a planetary defense system that fights back against environmental degradation or alien attacks.
Godzilla is powerful: Godzilla movies are big stories told on an unusual scale. Cities are knocked over like LEGO towers. Humans are diminished to the size of ants. The mighty military is outmatched!
An epic battle is at the heart of all Godzilla movies. I saw Godzilla: King of the Monsters in IMAX specifically to enjoy the scale and size of the monster battles. They were indeed, epic.
Godzilla evolves: He is not static. Godzilla may undergo mutation and transformation. At times, this makes him very difficult to fight. Godzilla’s evolution reminds us that our knowledge of the universe is limited.
Godzilla is not human: What are Godzilla’s motivations? They often remain mysterious. He is ancient, and he is fighting battles we don’t fully understand. Godzilla movies often place humanity on the sidelines, a place where we rarely are in our stories. Other times Godzilla fights humanity like a natural disaster. You cannot reason with Godzilla. You cannot communicate with him. He is alien, yet of the Earth.
Godzilla is old, but always new: While Godzilla movies are… Godzilla movies, there is always something new to appreciate about a Godzilla film. I enjoy comparing Japanese Godzilla movies to American ones. And I also enjoy seeing Godzilla throughout the decades. The movies made in the sixties and seventies are so campy! There’s so much variety.
Why We Love Godzilla
We watch movies because they make us feel something. When I watch Godzilla movies I feel awe! And I often laugh. These are big, emotional movies with huge stakes. And the battles are often breathtaking in their scope. The history of Godzilla and what he means to people gives me much to think about.
But there’s incredible variation among Godzilla movies. Some are cringy-corny. Downright terrible! A few, like the original, are heartbreaking. The newer movies have amazing monster battles.
In my view, Japanese Godzilla movies have better themes and American Godzilla movies have better battles. But I enjoy both very much.
Which Godzilla Movies Should You Watch?
I’ve written this guide like a travel itinerary. Depending upon how much time you have to spend, I’ll tell you which Godzilla movies to watch.
Godzilla in One Film
- Shin Godzilla
If you have only time for one Godzilla movie watch Shin Godzilla. Why? This movie offers the best of both worlds. It’s “classic Godzilla” in that it’s Japanese and it’s an allegory for a real-life nuclear threat, in this case, Fukishima. But it’s also “modern Godzilla” in that the special effects are great and the story is set in a modern context.
A tip: always watch Japanese Godzilla movies in Japanese if possible. (Subtitles > Dubbing)
For extra credit, refresh yourself on the Fukishima nuclear disaster before watching this movie. It will give you context for the satire. Also, all Godzilla movies contain wacky moments. Roll with the wacky! It’s part of the experience.
Godzilla in Three Films
You’ll get a fuller appreciation for Godzilla if you watch at least three films.
- Shin Godzilla
- Godzilla (1954) - Japanese original
- Godzilla (2014) - American original
Compare and contrast the American and Japanese films. They’re very different, aren’t they? Consider the time periods in which they were made. Can you see how the stories reflect the hopes and fears of the people who made and watched them?
Godzilla in Seven Films (My Recommendation)
This is the movie list I recommend if you’d like to enjoy the best of Godzilla while getting an overview of his greatness.
Modern Godzilla:
- Shin Godzilla
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters
- Godzilla vs. Kong
Classic Godzilla:
- Godzilla (Original 1954)
- The Terror of Mechagodzilla
- Godzilla vs.Bolliante
- Godzilla Final Wars
These films showcase Godzilla across different decades, and across Japan and the US. Some are scary. Some are cheesy. Some have aliens. And alien robots? It gets wild!
Expanding your view of the Godzilla Universe
Not all Godzilla movies contain the titular hero. The following films contain other monsters from Godzilla's universe and they're quite good:
- Kong, Skull Island (2017)
- Rebirth of Mothra (1996)
Have you even lived until you've seen Mothra's fairy companions? I'm not sure that you have. 😋
Thanks for reading my post about Godzilla. I hope you enjoy the movies as much as I do. Also, if Godzilla ever shows up for real, remember the two step process for handling that situation:
-
Point at him and yell “GODZILLA!
-
RUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!!!