There are over 40 Godzilla appearances over the decades since the kaiju appeared in the mid-1950s. The King of monsters has taken quite a journey, with movies about him released every few years. Although the original idea was that Godzilla was a stand-in for atomic bombs, he has become both an enemy and a friend as the decades have passed. With so many films released, one has to wonder what makes for a good Godzilla movie. Using the settled-upon criteria, which are the best Godzilla films? In no particular order, here are the best Godzilla Movies ever.
Godzilla (1954)
This is where the legend began and although the parallels that the producer drew between the monster and nuclear weapons were clear, it is the mix of emotions and action that led this franchise to become a hit. This first film was overshadowed by the America Cut called Godzilla, King of Monsters, and this is the first time a lot of people learned about the king of monsters.
Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
Although this entrant into the franchise has a rather awkward title, it was the first Godzilla film in the 21st century. It also took a turn, with the director spreading an anti-war message in this one. He used the monster’s origin to craft a new story around it, with the monster empowered by both nuclear radiation and the spirits of the soldiers murdered by the Japanese army. Ghidorah also made an appearance and is widely regarded as one of the most unusual but interesting additions to a Godzilla field. Ghidorah would turn out to be the hero this movie needed.
Godzilla Vs. Kong (2021)
Godzilla came back to the box office in a big way with the latest release from this mega franchise in Godzilla Vs. Kong. This movie is a continuation of the effort to build the Monsterverse which includes several monsters from the Godzilla universe and other franchises and universes.
The movie had a slice of everything you would expect such a movie to have. There were action-packed scenes, a visit to the earth’s core, mass destruction, battles under the sea, human stories and so much more. If you love this franchise, the trailers released before the movie led you to support Godzilla or Kong depending on who you thought would come out on top.
Beyond supporting either Godzilla Vs. Kong, many people placed wagers on which of the two mega monsters would come out on top. This phenomenon became so widespread that social media hashtags were formed, and people started bashing the mega monster whose corner they were not in. If you were in states like Tennessee, West Virginia, and Ohio, you most likely supported Kong according to gathered data. Just remember that if you are thinking of putting a wager on such epic showdowns in the future, ensure you do it with reputable sites. BonusFinder’s guide is just released to help you find reputable gambling sites, whether you want to place a wager on real or fictitious events and showdowns.
Godzilla Vs. Biollante (1989)
Although this movie does look dated according to today’s standards, it was a massive hit in 1989. It gave fans of the franchise everything they would want to see in a Godzilla film, including fantastic special effects, uncontrolled science and a plot that took advantage of the political tensions in the world at the time.
The plot surrounds the governments of the world trying to obtain the monster’s biological matter so they can create similar monsters for their own applications. At the same time, a grieving father takes actions that lead to the unleashing Biollante, a monster widely considered one of the most fearsome opponents for Godzilla.
Godzilla (2014)
The 2014 addition to the franchise is widely considered as the first time Hollywood got the monster and the franchise right. Godzilla remains one of the most visually stunning entrants into the franchise, although it can be a bit dark in some places.
Godzilla was the first attempt at creating the Monsterverse and from the movie’s success, we can say that the producers and directors got this one right. Godzilla is never revealed to be a mutated sea reptile, and this helps the directors weave the monster’s history and origins into a new story. It also allows them to take inspiration from events such as the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
This movie has a great plot, although the director keeps insisting on following characters that the audience is not interested in from around the halfway mark. However, fans still get what they expected, with huge monsters and city destruction being prevalent in the movie.
Choosing the best Godzilla films is so difficult because there are over 40 of them. However, there are those that have received a lot of acclaim for being some of the best entrants into the franchise, and it is those that we have focused on above.
If you are a fan of Godzilla, Toho and the Monsterverse and are looking for a welcoming online community to share your passion and engage with other die-hard Godzilla fans, look no further! Join in the Godzilla Movies forum - a dedicated community of Godzilla movie and Monsterverse fans!
Godzilla Quick Links
- Godzilla vs. Kong 2 Official Plot Synopsis
- New Godzilla Monsterverse game in development by Legendary and 7Levels!
- Matt Shakman to direct Monsterverse Godzilla Series for Apple TV!
Get G-ed Up!
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This article was written By Chris and published on 2021-12-16 06:52:29
More about upcoming Godzilla & Monsterverse projects
Godzilla vs. Kong was the sequel to Michael Dougherty's Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters and was the fourth and final installment in the Monsterverse movie quadrilogy. Now, the Monsterverse takes a new direction - into TV! On January 20th, 2022 Legendary announced a new live-action Godzilla Monsterverse TV Series which will stream on Apple TV Plus network! Be sure to check Godzilla-Movies often for the latest news and info on the Monsterverse TV Series and all things Toho Godzilla as well!
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