Long Live the (Godzilla) King
Godzilla has existed for over 72 years now. What once started as a metaphor for nuclear testing has become a global franchise; multiple movies, shows, and merchandise, but just how did this happen?
In 1954, the first ever Godzilla film was released, titled “Gojira”. The film followed the horrifying events of a creature created by nuclear testing after the bombing of Japan cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The creature would make its way to Tokyo to bring destruction and chaos in its wake.
The film ends with its defeat, but with the warning of if testing and war keep going on, another Godzilla could emerge. The film was a huge success, both critic and audience wise. Making way for a sequel and many more films to come in what fans call the Showa Era. In this era of movies, Godzilla would return, along with other memorable Kaiju monsters.
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These monsters include, Anguirus, King Kong, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, Gorosaurus, Ebirah the sea monster, Hedorah, Gigan, Megalon, Jet Jaguar, King Caesar, Titanosaurus, and Mechagodzilla.
Throughout these films, Godzilla would start to lean away from his original origins, becoming a hero of Tokyo and defender of earth. Helping defeat these monsters and the occasional alien threat. The last film in this era “Terror of Mechagodzilla” would be released in 1975, and would be the final film for almost 9 years.
It wouldn't be until 1984 that the next Godzilla movie would be released, “The Return of Godzilla” This era of Godzilla would be called the Heisei Era, following the events of the 1954 film, this new series would ignore the movies after the original 1954 movie and tell a series of new films and monsters, mostly. Familiar characters like Rodan, Mothra, Mechagodzilla, and King Ghidorah would reappear, along with new monsters.
These monsters would include Biollante, Super Mechagodzilla, Fire Rodan, Little Godzilla, Space Godzilla, and Destroyah.
All seven movies would all be connected, telling the story of this new Godzilla who would flip from being a villain to an antihero. The final film “Godzilla vs. Destroyah” would be the final film in this era, showing the defeat of this Godzilla, with his son Godzilla Jr. to take his title as king.
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It wouldn't be until 2000 that Godzilla would return with six new films. This is called the Millennium Era of Godzilla. The era would follow four Godzilla movies that would connect, with one being a separate film, and the last being a final showdown. This time around, Godzilla was a full on villain, with creations such as Kiryu being made to try and stop him.
Along with other familiar monsters, new ones such as Orga, Megaguirus, Zilla, and Monster X would be introduced. The final film in this era “Godzilla Final Wars”, would be the ultimate showdown between Godzilla and every single villain and threat he ever faced. A celebration of the character as the studio was not sure if the character would be returning.
Almost six years would pass with no Godzilla content, until 2010 when Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, made a collaboration with Toho to make a new Godzilla movie. Four years passed for that “Godzilla” to be released on May 16th, 2014. The film did great both audience and critic wise, thanks to the performance of Bryan Cranston, and Godzilla himself.
One year after the film's release, Legendary would announce the Monsterverse. It was said to be a cinematic universe of this newly established Godzilla and would feature King Kong as a secondary protagonist. Then in 2017 “Kong Skull Island” would release, a huge win for fans of the original King Kong movies and Kaiju fans in general. Thanks to the film's success, two years later, “Godzilla King of the Monsters” would be released.
The film was a huge love letter to fans of the franchise, as the film would bring back original Toho characters like Rodan, Mothra and of course King Ghidorah. While the film did not do well box office wise, legendary were in too deep to stop production for their next upcoming movie, and thanks to fans giving huge praise to the movie, Warner Bros. gave Legendary the greenlit to continue production.
Then in 2021, Legendary would release the ultimate showdown of monsters, “Godzilla vs. Kong” The movie was the ultimate crossover for fans of the original “King Kong vs. Godzilla” movie. The film had a very tough fight with audiences as the film was released towards the middle of the pandemic in March of 2021. Thankfully, the film did well box office wise and critic wise, allowing the latest Legendary Godzilla movie and show “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire” and “Monarch Legacy of Monsters” being big successes for the franchise as well.
As of now, Godzilla sits in a great place. The Monsterverse is currently working on its next movie “Godzilla X Kong: Supernova” Starring the late Sam Neill, the film is being kept a secret as major leaks and plot details are floating around the internet. Meanwhile, the most recent Godzilla movie “Godzilla Minus One” would go on to be acclaimed as the best Godzilla movie of all time.
Thanks to its themes of survivor’s guilt, post‑war trauma, national shame, the human cost of militarism, the struggle to rebuild life after devastation, and the affirmation of hope and community in post‑WWII Japan. This makes Godzilla’s presence ever so impactful as he has a personal connection with the film's main lead. The movie would also make Godzilla history as it would be the first to ever win an Oscar for "Best Visual Effects," making a huge impact on the character. Thanks to the film’s success, director Takashi Yamazaki would return to direct its sequel, “Godzilla Minus Zero”. This latest Godzilla film is already making huge records as it is the first Japanese film filmed for IMAX, the second longest Godzilla movie, and is the first ever Godzilla film to be Rated R.
As the new film dawns on Godzilla fans, it's amazing to think that after many movies and incarnations, Godzilla is still here. Embracing new stories, different takes on monsters, and finding ways to be relevant and stay true to his original meaning, long live the king.
