TOP TEN GODZILLA MOVIES
There are three pillars that have made me the nerd I am today. One of them is super heroes/comic books. Another is horror. And the third is kaiju/giant-monsters. If there's anything to add it would be ninjas but that's more of a way of life. To anyone who has frequented this blog this should come as no surprise. These are the enduring passions of my life that have been with me since I was in single digits and are even stronger today.
My love of Godzilla runs deep. I've seen every Godzilla movie and most of them I've watched many many times. Growing up in the 1980's and 1990's I mostly watched the Showa Era (1954 - 1975) Godzilla films on repeat. Godzilla 1985 was out but, as a kid, I couldn't watch that film often because of the ending. I really thought they killed Godzilla at the end of Godzilla 1985 and it was emotionally harrowing to watch as a child. I seriously bawled my eyes out every time I watched G1985. So, the Showa Era it was (and even then at that time not all Showa Era Godzilla films were available. I speak specifically of the once mythic DESTROY ALL MONSTERS)!
Growing up my greatest joy was discovering a new Godzilla movie, whether it be a Showa Era yet to be seen or a brand new film just made (the HEISEI series, the films from 1984 to 1995, was new at this time). Needless to say, these movies have been with me for a long time and I am still watching them again and again today. I go back to these movies even more than I do super hero films.
Like anything, I have my favorites and my least favorites. I am primarily a fan of the Japanese films and have yet to be won over by any of the American efforts (so far, but this new Godzilla: King of the Monsters could change that). I guess you could say I'm a purest (Godzilla snob, if you like). But out of all 34 films (American films included) I think there's only one I truly dislike (and that's on principle and not necessarily based on the film's quality). I think you can guess which one that is. All of this is to say that, while it is a pure joy, it is also kinda hard to pick my favorites.
Watching these films as a child and on through to adulthood and still today, my preferences for Godzilla films have changed a bit. The Godzilla movies that would've been on my top ten as a kid in single digits are quite different than my top ten today. As a kid I had a strong love for the more kid friendly Godzilla films like Godzilla Vs Megalon and Son of Godzilla. Never would I have said that Godzilla 1985 was a film I liked as a kid. While I still enjoy the Godzilla films I loved at that age (yes, even Godzilla Vs Megalon), I have come to love different aspects of Godzilla's character and certain elements of Godzilla films more as an adult.
And that's perhaps the enduring strength of Godzilla. There's an appeal of the character that transcends age. You're able to find plenty to love as a child and then there's a deeper level to appreciate the older you get. This top ten list is very much the evolution of my life long love of Godzilla. It is limited to only the 34 Godzilla films and not including peripheral kaiju films set in the same universe (Mothra, Rodan, Varan, ect. That's for another list!).
In celebration of the long-awaited GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS,
the sequel to the 2014 GODZILLA from Warner Bros. and Legendary
Entertainment (as if I needed an excuse to talk about Godzilla), here is my top ten favorite Godzilla movies!
Now, onto the list!
THE BONUSES
#12
GODZILLA, MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK (2001)
The "Millennium" films era (1999 - 2004) is one of the stranger phases of the Godzilla series. Of the six films from that period only two build on a continuing story, the majority being stand alone efforts. With that one exception the Millennium films feel like a series of experiments. One such experiment was having the director of the acclaimed GAMERA TRILOGY of the 1990's take a swing at Godzilla. Simply referred to as GMK, this 2001 film is perhaps the most off-beat of the Millennium films.
Godzilla is downright evil in this film and Ghidorah, who is traditionally a villain, is the hero kaiju along with Mothra and Baragon. Baragon receives an updated yet faithful recreation and is one of the reasons why I like this film. I love when older obscure fan-favorite kaiju are given a second chance to shine and garner new fans. And I absolutely love how ruthless and powerful Godzilla is in this film. This film is more grounded in Japanese spirituality which lend it a unique identity. And director Shusuke Kaneko instills the film with great action and intensity. Sadly it's Mothra and Ghidorah that disappoint me in this film as their depictions are quite strange in comparison to previous iterations. When I discovered that Mothra and Ghidorah were never meant to be in the film and were forced upon the director by the studio, it all made sense.
The three monsters in the film were originally supposed to be Anguirus, Varan, and Baragon. This original premise makes more sense and interests me far more than what we ultimately received. While I still like this film a lot, I wish I had never known the original intentions. Ignorance would've been bliss as now I'll always look at this film and imagine the better movie that we almost received if it weren't for short sided studio executives. Oh well. It is still one of my favorite Godzilla films.
#11
GODZILLA 2000
Being born in the 1980's I had very few chances to watch any "real" Godzilla movies in theaters. I was too young to see Godzilla 1985 when it came out. I saw Tri-Stars 1998 Godzilla in a theater but I don't count that film. Godzilla 2000 was the first real Godzilla film I saw in a theater and it was glorious! I must admit that the thrill of seeing a real Godzilla film in a theater has heavily painted my view of this film still to this day.
Yeah, the English dubbing was lacking and felt a little cheesy, but Godzilla was great all around. Of the Millennium films I feel the special effects are the best here. Godzilla is imbued with incredible power, from his roar to his atomic breath and city destroying might. The sound design on this film is fantastic as you can feel the vibrations of Godzilla's roar. And his atomic breath has never looked more realistic.
The plot is kinda crazy and feels akin to the wild and fun Godzilla films of the 1970's. It's like an update of the style of Godzilla films I loved as a child. Definitely not to be taken too seriously, this movie reminds me of how much fun a good Godzilla movie can be. Godzilla: Final Wars tried to recreate this fun 70's Godzilla esthetic too but, in my opinion, didn't do it nearly as well as Godzilla 2000.
THE TOP TEN
#10
GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH (1995)
The epic finale to the Heisei era Godzilla films, Godzilla Vs Destoroyah is, to date, the only grand send off the king of the monsters has ever received. Perhaps the biggest reason I love this film as much as I do is Godzilla's incredible character evolution. "Burning Godzilla" a.k.a. "Death Godzilla" is such an amazing and cool redesign and natural evolution of the character. No matter how many years pass by, Burning Godzilla's awesomeness never wanes. The costume used in the film is simply astounding.
Then there's Destoroyah or more simply "Destroyah." Toho was kicking around an idea for a while for a film called Godzilla Vs the Devil. This idea ultimately became Destoroyah (just look at him! If the Devil was ever a kaiju Destoroyah would be it). I love how scary Destoroyah looks and how downright evil he is. Tying in his origin to the original weapon that killed the first Godzilla, the Oxygen Destroyer, was pure brilliance and absolutely fitting.
The Heisei era films feels like the only era where the filmmakers had a clear vision for the series and where they wanted to end up. The continuity between films is the tightest any era of Godzilla films has ever been and the monster suits and miniatures are arguably the highest quality of the entire franchise. This film being such a strong ending only reinforces the argument that the Heisei series is among the best eras of Godzilla films.
#9
INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (1965)
With a few exceptions, the Showa era Godzilla films by Ishiro Honda
possess more gravitas and depth than all others. I prefer Honda's tone in
his films and approach to the kaiju. For most of the films he treats the
kaiju seriously and even manages to imbue them with character and
sympathy. Invasion of Astro-Monster a.k.a. GODZILLA VS MONSTER ZERO combines many elements from previous non-Godzilla films, taking the franchise to a whole new level. Not only do we see the return of King Ghidorah, but the narrative is blown wide open with the introduction of the Xilians.
The cast of this film is amazing. Franchise regulars like Jun Tazaki, Akira Kubo, Kumi Mizuno, and Akira Takarada deliver franchise best performances. Perhaps none more so than Yoshio Tsuchiya as the alien Controller of Planet X. And I absolutely love the inclusion of American actor Nick Adams, giving his all to the role of Glenn. The story of this film would become a staple of the franchise, being repeated in the various different eras of the series, including several times in the Showa era itself. This film also marks the last in the Showa series to possess a more serious tone, mostly.
As I've grown older I've come to realize just how incredible the films of director Ishiro Honda are. I've reached that age where my appreciation for older films grows more and more every time I see them. What the filmmakers of yesterday were able to accomplish on limited budgets and practical effects is far more impressive than anything they can do today in a big budget blockbuster with CGI, in my opinion.
#8
GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA (1974)
Of the Showa era films not directed by Ishiro Honda, Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla is hands down my favorite. It was Godzilla's 20th anniversary and where previous films were showing a decline in quality and an increase in stock footage from previous films, this 1974 feature pulls out all the stops. I love Masaru Sato's upbeat jazzy 70's score which makes the film feel bigger than it really is. And I love the crazy melding of genres in this film: it's one part Japanese mythological fantasy, one-part spy espionage thriller, one part "Planet of the Apes" knock-off, all mixed together into one epic kaiju extravaganza!
The monsters on display here are great too! There's new footage of Anguirus, one of my favorite kaiju, that I love with the exception of him being hurt bad by Mechagodzilla (always makes me sad to see). And Mechagodzilla is powerful and scary as hell. He's given a brutal merciless personality, that of a cold soulless machine (pre-Terminator era!). And I love King Shisa (Seesar or Caesar or however you want to say it). I love when kaiju designs are drawn from real creatures or mythological creatures such as the Shisa from Okinawan myth.
This film unabashedly embraces a 70's film esthetic and it dives in head first into the insanity. And that's why I love it.
#7
MOTHRA VS GODZILLA (1964)
If there is one film in the entire series that most agree upon as being the best of the sequels it's Mothra Vs Godzilla a.k.a. Godzilla Vs The Thing. From a technical aspect this film surpasses all others of the Showa era. The effects works by Eiji Tsuburaya are by far his pinnacle achievement, imbued with unparalleled realism. And Godzilla's character is equally realistic, casting off the fun anthropomorphic persona from King Kong Vs Godzilla for a bestial, almost malevolent, character. One look at Godzilla's suit design in this film tells you everything you need to know about the king of the monsters in this film.
This is the last time in the Showa era displaying Godzilla as a truly villainous kaiju, how I ultimately prefer him. This film contains one of the best sequences of the military battling Godzilla as well, with new and inventive strategies and a moderate degree of success. There's a remarkable scene where the head of the Godzilla suit accidentally catches on fire too! And we can't forget the Mothra sequences either. The battle between Godzilla and adult Mothra is intense, filled with multiple special effect techniques to bring it fully to life, with a combination of camera speeds and filming techniques as well.
Then there's the narrative implications of this film that truly blow the doors wide open, showcasing a combined "cinematic universe" in today's terms. By combining Mothra and Godzilla this film showed that the events of Mothra's solo film from 1961 occurred in the same universe as Godzilla's films. And Toho would continue expanding their cinematic universe from here on out. Then there's the deeper message of the film, that of cross cultural unity among humanity. This seemed to be Ishiro Honda's overall theme from his films, for the people of the world to set aside their differences and work together as one people, a great message for all time.
While I can see and clearly recognize this film's superiority (and it should be number one of the list), personally it is not my favorite. Call me crazy, but I'm just not as big of a Mothra fan as I should be. Don't get me wrong, I love Mothra and can see how she furthered the kaiju genre and character of the kaiju more than any other. But there's something lacking in Mothra's character that just doesn't appeal to me like other kaiju do. And ultimately this is all about the kaiju, right?
#6
GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1955)
Okay, now you know I'm crazy, right? I mean, who ranks Godzilla Raids Again above Mothra Vs Godzilla? First off, yes, Mothra Vs Godzilla is a better movie. Do I prefer it over all others? No. Personally I love Anguirus far more than Mothra. I also love the novelty of black and white horror films (and we only have two b&w Godzilla films to enjoy). Also there's the unique take on Godzilla in this film from a director not Ishiro Honda or Jun Fukuda.
I love the first ever kaiju versus battle in this film. Godzilla vs Anguirus is perhaps the most savage and truly animalistic kaiju rumble on film. I love the varying camera speeds, angles, and lighting of the photography for the battle and city destruction sequences. All of it is further enhanced by glorious black and white film. Even though Ishiro Honda and Akira Ifukube are absent for this film, Eiji Tsuburaya is still here and his monster effects and miniatures are in top form. The monsters and city destruction scenes are great!
The other aspect I like about this movie is that it feels more like an American monster movie of the 50's than a Japanese kaiju film. I enjoy seeing the Japanese attempt at an American monster movie style. This film feels far superior to 50's American monster movies both in terms of tone and effects. There's dwelling on the effects of such destruction on the people and the indomitable human spirit. Masaru Sato's dark and somber score reinforces the dour tone. And they even turn tropes of the American monster movies on their heads.
This movie is definitely one of the underappreciated films in the franchise. Luckily for me it was one of the first Godzilla movies I'd ever seen and no doubt that plays heavily into my love for it.
#5
GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964)
The Avengers of the Godzilla series! The cross franchise integration that started in Mothra Vs Godzilla goes one step further here. Mothra returns and Rodan is brought into the ever expanding Godzilla cinematic universe. And not only that, but a new kaiju is introduced as well, the most impressive monster showcased in a kaiju film at that point: Ghidorah, the three-headed monster! Four legendary monsters all together in one film, the most kaiju ever in one film to that point!
In case you couldn't tell, I hold this film in pretty high regard. This film is perhaps the last in the Showa series that depicts Godzilla as he originally was meant to be: punishment for mankind's sins. But this movie also shows Godzilla's first character evolution, from mankind's destroyer to savior. Such an evolution could only work through the character of Mothra too as she is that unique kaiju which seems to possess an intelligence and knowledge base greater than our own. Only through Mothra is Godzilla's transition believable (as believable as giant monster movies can be, that is).
It is staggering what Eiji Tsuburaya and his special effects crew were able to pull off with this movie, especially when you consider the era in which it was made. It's all practical and in camera effects, with a few exceptions (Godzilla's atomic breath and the like). From the monster effects to the miniatures and city destruction effects, all of it looks amazing. And everything gels with a stellar script from the writer behind most of the Showa era films, Shinichi Sekizawa.
This film is nothing short of epic!
#4
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968)
This was the mythic and elusive Godzilla film of my childhood. I started watching Godzilla films in the 80's. As I got older and started researching Godzilla in books from my local library (READING IS GOOD. And knowledge is power!) I started coming across a title I had never seen before: Destroy All Monsters. Jeff Rovin's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MONSTERS detailed all the monsters present in the film, a total of eleven! My young mind was astounded and my imagination ran wild with thoughts of what the movie might look like.
As I had seen everything else released at that time, and was familiar with most of the monsters, it was monsters Varan, Baragon, and Manda that intrigued me the most as I had barely seen or even heard of them before outside of the legendary NES video game. I remember when SyFy Channel (then "Sci-Fi" Channel) premiered Destroy All Monsters in the late 90's and I went to crazy lengths to see it. It was a mix of exhilaration and disappointment, thrilled at finally seeing it and disappointed that Varan and Baragon were barely in it. Nothing can ever live up to our own imaginations. Nevertheless, the film was amazing to see.
The movie represents a high-water mark for Eiji Tsuburaya's special effects. No other Godzilla film to this date had featured this many monsters before. Even if two of the eleven monsters were only cameos, that's still five more than the previous record of four. And these nine kaiju all participate in the final battle too (something we can't say for the 15 kaiju that appear in 2004's Godzilla: Final Wars). And aside from Varan and Baragon, all the kaiju in this film are treated pretty well.
The narrative in this movie is basically a repeat of Monster Zero so it's nothing special in those terms. But from a kaiju appreciation perspective this movie is spectacular. And really, what is the core reason why we watch these movies? If Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster was the Avengers of the Godzilla series, then Destroy All Monsters was the Avengers: Infinity War of the series. Nuff said.
#3
KING KONG VS GODZILLA (1962)
King Kong and Godzilla jockey back and forth for my all-time favorite monster. It was King Kong I was introduced to first and then Godzilla (both in their black and white original films and both when I was three and four years old respectively). Then I next watched these two cinematic titans battle it out in a clash that rocked my young self to the core. This was the first kaiju rumble I'd ever beheld and I still hold it in high regard.
This film has one of my favorite entrances of Godzilla's in all of his films: Godzilla breaks free of an iceberg (if you recall he was buried in ice in his previous movie). His subsequent assault on the mainland is one of my favorite scenes in the film too. It should be no surprise that this costume design for Godzilla is my personal favorite for the Showa era Godzilla costumes. It's unique among all of the Showa era films in its serpentine countenance and massive dorsal plates (I love the dorsal plates! They should never mess with the dorsal plates!). This is the second and last time in this era that Godzilla was depicted as rather thick and robust, probably the closest to his original design from 1954.
King Kong is less impressive in this film however, but he's not bad. I love his entrance too and his battle with Odako (the giant octopus) right out of the gate. This may be the strangest Kong has ever looked and I like that Toho went to lengths to showcase Kong as a unique creature rather than just a big gorilla. Kong's final battle with Godzilla is a mix of wrestling and animal ferocity. It makes for a hyper-kinetic crazy action set-piece that is both fun and epic.
This wasn't the first Godzilla movie I ever saw (that would be the original), but King Kong Vs Godzilla was the first Godzilla film I recorded on VHS (followed shortly thereafter by Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster). I watched this movie endlessly on repeat growing up. As such this movie holds the most nostalgia for me. This film might be the most responsible for making me the Godzilla fan that I am today.
#2
GODZILLA 1985
Of all of the Godzilla sequels and subsequent films only a few have managed to recapture the tone and nature of the original 1954 film. Godzilla 1985 a.k.a. THE RETURN OF GODZILLA (its Japanese title) manages to channel the fear of nuclear power once again, this time with the Cold War as its backdrop. Tonally this was the darkest film in the franchise since the original, treating the content with the utmost severity. From the music to Godzilla's malevolent design and wrathful persona, this film brings power and gravitas back to the franchise. Godzilla was shown to be just as relevant in 1985 as he was thirty years prior. If you can place the film in its historical context it holds even more power.
When looking at this film side by side with the previous film, TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1975), Godzilla 1985 feels incredibly modern by comparison. Godzilla is completely redefined for a new era. The special effects are simply incredible, Godzilla's suit and atomic breath both looking absolutely stunning. And the miniatures are the most realistic and impressive they've ever looked to that point. The destruction sequences and pyrotechnics are beautifully realistic all around. The technical achievements of this film are a wonder to behold.
If you would've asked my kid self back in the day if Godzilla 1985 was a favorite of mine he'd have said, "No. Never," and it was all because of the ending. When I first saw Godzilla 1985 I lived in a world where Godzilla Vs Biollante didn't exist, nor any films after. Godzilla 1985's ending features the king of the monsters being lured to the rim of an active volcano and plummeting to the molten depths below. He looses a harrowing scream while a somber film score plays. To me it was watching my hero and favorite character die a horrible agonizing death, burned alive.
I used to cry my eyes out at that movie, gut-wrenching loss filling me at the end. I was practically inconsolable for a few hours after watching the movie. I couldn't watch that movie often, nor did I want to simply because of the ending. Now I feel that ending is one of the reasons why the film is so good and powerful. To me this film still holds up very well today.
#1
GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE (1989)
After being emotionally gutted by Godzilla 1985's volcanic ending and thinking Godzilla was really and truthfully dead, when Godzilla Vs Biollante received its U.S. debut I was through the roof with excitement! Seeing Godzilla emerge triumphantly from the rim of the volcano was one of the happiest moments of my young life (I know, I should've gone outside more...). Not only is it a powerful visual, but it confirmed to me that my hero didn't really die in 1985. It still fills me with awe today and those feelings are a big reason why I love Godzilla Vs Biollante.
Godzilla Vs Biollante stands unique among the entire franchise for its modern plot, cinematography, and high water mark of special effects. The high realism and tone of Godzilla 1985 is by and large retained. Personally the plot feels like a further modernization of the series, focusing on the unique properties of Godzilla's cells and genetic engineering. In some respects the series stopped advancing after this film, opting instead to retread tired plots from the past, losing all semblance of verisimilitude. Whether you prefer where the Heisei series went from here or not I'll leave that up to you.
Godzilla has never looked more real to me than he does here. The detail of the Godzilla suit is incredible. When he roars you can see multiple rows of teeth and his tongue moving! His nose and upper lip curl when he snarls and there's an intensity in his eyes. And then there's Biollante! Easily one of the most realistic looking kaiju they've ever made, Biollante is unique among the whole kaiju stable, terrifying, and a wonder to behold. I'd say these monsters look as good as anything that American genre films were doing at the time. And while the subsequent Godzilla films yet boasted amazing effects work, none really reach this level again. This movie also possesses, in my opinion, the most engaging military campaign against Godzilla since 1964's Mothra Vs Godzilla. I love the SUPER X2 with the remote guidance system and especially the Fire Mirror.
I'll admit that the timing of my Godzilla fandom growing up has a lot to do with this film being my all-time favorite Godzilla film. My love for this movie was founded as a child and those feelings really haven't diminished. This movie still holds up well today for me, moreso than any of the other Heisei era films, Millennium films, the 2014 American film, and Shin Gojira. Godzilla Vs Biollante showcases both an evolution of the franchise as well as a positive example of experimentation with the formula. All this it does without losing Godzilla's true meaning, purpose, or his signature character design and roar.
THE ONE ABOVE ALL
GOJIRA (1954)
Obviously the greatest Godzilla film ever made will forever be the original 1954 classic. Even the 1956 American version has enough gravitas and power to be considered among the best. The emotional weight inherent in the film and the cultural resonance herein will never be surpassed. This is the film that grows in power the older you get and the more you dig into it. The psuedo documentary style of both versions lends the film an authenticity and realism no other Godzilla film will ever have too. And understanding the historical context when this film was released makes it all the more striking. The World War II allusions and post war Japan identity are a window into what the country was really going through at the time.
Anyway, I could go on and on about this movie. It's unfair to include it on any top ten Godzilla movies list and should be understood as the undisputed best. What's more interesting is which other Godzilla films we fans personally prefer.
Hopefully you've enjoyed the list and we here at Blood Work would love to know your top ten Godzilla films (again, you don't need to include the original. We all know that it is the best). So let us know in the comments below!
Until next time, as always, keep the blood flowing!
And for more top ten lists and Godzilla related posts, check out the links below!
TOP TEN LISTS
TOP TEN LEAST FAVORITE HULK STORIES
TOP TEN INCREDIBLE HULK VILLAINS
TOP TEN ACTION MOVIE HEROES
TOP TEN GREATEST TURTLES
TOP TEN JOHN CARPENTER FILMS
TOP TEN CHILDHOOD CARTOONS
TOP TEN FAVORITE NES GAMES
TOP TEN SNES GAMES
THE SAGA OF THE KING OF THE MONSTERS
