Confirmed: Criterion Intends to Release Showa Godzilla Films on DVD/Blu-Ray

Over a week ago we reported that Janus/Criterion had obtained the rights to 11 Showa Era Godzilla films. Although Criterion's Jon Mulvaney informed fans that they hope to release the films on "other platforms" he was not specific about whether or not this included home video releases. Now we know for sure.

Via email, Criterion has specified their intentions with the Godzilla titles:

We're excited to let you know that these films should all be available for streaming on the Criterion Channel on FilmStruck (www.filmstruck.com) in December, and we hope to release them on Blu-ray and DVD at some point but they aren’t yet on the schedule. The best way to stay up-to-date on our future release plans is to check our "Coming Soon" section and e-newsletter. You can find the newsletter sign up midway down our homepage (www.criterion.com), in the Newsletter block on the right, just below New Releases.

Criterion's slate of Godzilla and related kaiju films currently include:

Godzilla (1954)
Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956)
Rodan (1956)
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
Ghidorah: The Three Headed Monster (1964)
Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)
War of the Gargantuas (1966)
Son of Godzilla (1967)
Destroy All Monsters (1968)
All Monsters Attack (1969)
Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)
Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla (1974)
Terror of MechaGodzilla (1975)

Godzilla and Godzilla: King of the Monsters have been available from Criterion on Blu-ray and DVD since 2012. Having these Godzilla classics under Criterion's banner insures the best versions of the films possible--The prestigious distribution company, known for releasing cinema's most important films, treats every movie in its catalog with the utmost reverence and attention to preservation. Indeed some of the Godzilla films streaming on STARZ use prints never before seen in North America as well as new subtitles. The Godzilla series may never be in better hands. Stay tuned! We can't wait to see the releases Criterion cooks up in the future.