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Few film franchises have been as successful and long-lasting as Godzilla, with movies spanning multiple eras. While the series has become somewhat silly in the eyes of outsiders, it had a meaningful start. In the original 1954 film, “Gojira,” Godzilla was the villain. This villainous portrayal continued in several early sequels and also in films from other eras.
For those new to Godzilla, these films are good starting points because the movies where Godzilla is a hero tend to be less compelling. Here’s a list of every Godzilla movie where the King of the Monsters is either the primary antagonist or the main one among a group of ruthless monsters.
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Every Godzilla Movie Where He’s the Main Villain
Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
The last installment in Godzilla’s Millennium era, Godzilla: Final Wars, stands out as a departure from the typical Godzilla film. Instead, it leans heavily into an exaggerated style reminiscent of The Matrix, but with giant monsters.
What holds the movie back? Even with the inclusion of the American Godzilla (known as ‘Zilla’), Final Wars disappoints in that it abandons the elements that made the earlier Godzilla films so captivating. In Final Wars, the viewer doesn’t experience the same sense of awe and presence from the monsters. Instead, it’s more like one CGI creature charging at another, leading to a quick clash that ends with one of them crashing into a building and causing an explosion. These rapid encounters consistently reduce the impact of each monster, making Godzilla seem more like a mere plot device to keep the story moving forward swiftly.
Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
If it weren’t for “Godzilla’s Revenge,” the second installment in the franchise, “Godzilla Raids Again,” would likely be considered the weakest of the initial 15-film Shōwa era. It was clear that Toho had not yet perfected the art of creating compelling monster battles, as the fight between Godzilla and Anguirus lacked excitement, mainly consisting of them clumsily colliding for a brief duration.
What hinders the film’s quality? Even if the fight scenes were better choreographed, “Godzilla Raids Again” suffers from a subplot involving prison escapees, which occupies a significant portion of the film’s runtime. This subplot adds nothing substantial to the overall narrative, making it evident that the movie was rushed and lacking cohesion.
Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2017)
The initial installment of a trilogy of anime films showcasing Godzilla on Netflix, “Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters,” adapts the iconic live-action character to an animated setting. The outcome is somewhat mediocre, and for Godzilla enthusiasts who don’t particularly favor anime, it might be a bit of a struggle.
What Are Its Limitations? Nevertheless, the depiction of Godzilla is quite impressive, capturing his formidable and massive presence, reminiscent of his appearance in the Monsterverse, without exaggerating it. Additionally, the film introduces a fresh post-apocalyptic perspective to the Godzilla franchise, which is a departure from the usual themes.
Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (2018)
Similar to the theme in movies like Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II and Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, in Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle, humans are once again in a dire situation and opt to create a mechanical counterpart to combat the looming threat. This film, compared to Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, is darker and has better pacing, making it arguably the standout entry in the Reiwa period trilogy.
Nonetheless, some of the issues that afflicted the first film persist in the second installment. To be more specific, the writing remains subpar, and the animation is, frankly speaking, unattractive.
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
Similar to “Godzilla: Final Wars,” “Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack” is also visually stylized, but it makes more of an effort to emphasize its plot. In essence, the film attempts to transform a sci-fi franchise with a touch of fantasy into a fantasy franchise with a hint of sci-fi.
However, there are factors that hinder the movie. While it is highly regarded by some Godzilla fans, it falls short in terms of engaging characters and incorporates some peculiar changes in the design of certain monsters, such as Ghidorah’s unusually short necks. This makes the film less appealing to the general audience. On a positive note, at least Baragon finally has a moment to shine, although it’s rather brief.
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)
The two Millennium Godzilla films featuring Mechagodzilla are quite similar. They both have a more coherent plot compared to other Millennium entries, while also delivering impressive and well-executed fight sequences.
What sets them apart is their approach to set pieces. Just like Godzilla 2000 and Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, these Mechagodzilla films have a certain stylized quality, but they manage to capture the essence of the Heisei era more effectively than the rest of the Millennium series. Additionally, the storyline involving a sentient Mechagodzilla in “Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla” is well-crafted, and it’s noteworthy that a similar concept was reused in the 2021 film “Godzilla vs. Kong.”
Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)
The Millennium era of Godzilla films may not be remembered as the peak of the franchise’s strength, but it had its notable moments. However, Godzilla himself often felt lacking in depth, never firmly fitting into either a heroic or villainous role. For instance, in “Godzilla 2000,” he is more of a presence than a fully developed character.
What makes this era noteworthy? The two Mechagodzilla movies leaned more towards portraying Godzilla as a villain, similar to the older films, and this approach worked well. The highlight of this duology is the updated appearance of Mechagodzilla. Why does “Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.” surpass “Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla”? It offers more intense monster battles, includes beloved characters from the Showa era, and prominently features Mothra in the mix.
Godzilla (1998)
Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla may not be highly regarded among many Godzilla fans, and it certainly has its flaws. However, over time, it has managed to age gracefully. Instead of approaching it as part of the Godzilla franchise, it’s more productive to view it as a standalone late ’90s blockbuster movie. When you do this, you won’t set yourself up for disappointment, and that’s because, as a mindless and purely entertaining experience, Godzilla is quite impressive. Additionally, the consistently rainy depiction of New York City in the film adds a distinctive and memorable element to its atmosphere.
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Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
The third film of the Heisei era marked a return to the franchise’s roots in terms of the monsters featured. While King Ghidorah was a clear villain in “Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster,” he plays a different role in “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah,” at worst being a mindless tool.
What makes “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah” great is its transformation of King Ghidorah into Mecha-King Ghidorah by time traveler Emmy Kano in the third act. This turns King Ghidorah into a non-antagonistic character. In contrast, Godzilla is a significant threat, demonstrated through his destructive rampage in Sapporo and Tokyo, which is one of the franchise’s standout destruction sequences. The final battle between the two titular monsters is also one of the series’ best.
However, as a movie, “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah” is inconsistent in tone. It shifts between goofy Terminator-inspired scenes, intense World War II flashbacks, and then back to a lighter tone, creating a tonal imbalance.
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)
In each era of Godzilla movies, including the Monsterverse, Mechagodzilla has made an appearance. Initially, he was portrayed as a weapon controlled by aliens with eccentric outfits on two occasions. However, in the Heisei era, Mechagodzilla’s role was different. Instead of being a destructive force, Mechagodzilla was used as a defense mechanism against Godzilla attacks. This unique twist allowed “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II” to be a standalone film, separate from its predecessors, “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla” and “Terror of Mechagodzilla,” which concluded the Shōwa era less than two decades earlier.
This entry not only revived Mechagodzilla as a formidable character but also reintroduced another classic Godzilla creature, Rodan. It’s unfortunate that Fire Rodan only made a single appearance in the series.
Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992)
While both films, “Godzilla vs. Mothra” and “Mothra vs. Godzilla” from 1964, share a similar title and feature Godzilla as the main antagonist, they differ significantly in their themes. However, both movies still revolve around the central idea of confronting greed.
What sets the 1992 version apart is its added emphasis on the theme of parenting and the potential selfishness that can emerge in that context. This deeper exploration is particularly noteworthy, especially considering the original material’s categorization as a B-level production. Additionally, the inclusion of the intriguing character Battra, who transitions from a secondary villain to a hero, adds to the film’s appeal. As a result, “Godzilla vs. Mothra” stands out as a highlight of the Heisei era.
King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
Before becoming the inspiration for one of the highest-grossing Godzilla films of all time, “King Kong vs. Godzilla” started as a quirky 1960s movie with a lingering rumor about its ending. Many believed that in the Japanese version, Godzilla emerged as the winner.
However, this is not accurate. In both versions of the film, King Kong is the triumphant character, which may come as a surprise but fits perfectly with the film’s overall tone. Essentially, King Kong is portrayed as an unwilling yet kind-hearted protector, while Godzilla remains his destructive self. These contrasting personalities create an engaging dynamic between the two iconic monsters.
Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
After a five-year wait, a sequel to The Return of Godzilla finally emerged through an unexpected channel—a writing contest initiated by the IP’s producer at the time, Tomoyuki Tanaka. He organized a public contest allowing citizens to submit scripts for a potential G film.
What sets this sequel apart is its exceptional quality. Although the script underwent some revisions, Godzilla vs. Biollante was the brainchild of dentist Shinichiro Kobayashi. What’s even more remarkable is that Kobayashi’s main contributions centered on what ultimately stood out in the film: its in-depth examination of grief.
Shin Godzilla (2016)
Shin Godzilla, a scathing critique of the sluggish bureaucracy’s inner workings, focuses more on the human monsters corrupted by their own power than the monstrous creature itself. While it’s a dialogue-heavy film, fans of Godzilla shouldn’t be too disappointed, as when the monster finally appears, it’s genuinely terrifying.
What Sets It Apart? Undoubtedly one of the most intelligent Godzilla movies to date, Shin Godzilla, released in 2016, earned high praise from critics, despite being largely overlooked by American audiences. To be fair, it didn’t receive much attention during its domestic release.
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
When it comes to monster battling Godzilla movies, Mothra vs. Godzilla stands out as a top choice. It’s the fourth installment in the Godzilla series and serves as a kind of sequel to 1961’s Mothra. This sci-fi action film has several aspects that make it exceptional.
This excellence extends to its cinematic qualities. Mothra vs. Godzilla excels in building tension, ranking among the best in the franchise in this regard. Only the original Godzilla film, The Return of Godzilla, and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah can match its ability to create suspense. For example, consider the memorable scene where Godzilla emerges from a construction site covered in dirt, which has become one of the most iconic moments in the long-running Godzilla franchise.
The Return of Godzilla (1984)
“The Return of Godzilla” is the ideal introductory Godzilla film, serving as a Cold War allegory featuring the iconic monster. This movie captures the essence of the original Godzilla film but in the context of a different era. What makes it outstanding is its resonance with ’80s movie fans, fitting in seamlessly with other genre classics from that period. Despite some inconsistencies in Godzilla’s size throughout the film, he has never appeared as terrifying as he does here, except perhaps in the original “Gojira” film. Additionally, the mechanical head used for close-up shots is incredibly impressive.
Gojira (1954)
Ishirō Honda’s Gojira is not just the finest Godzilla movie but arguably the best giant monster film ever made. It offers a profound exploration of how a group of artists grapples with the collective trauma of war. Its impeccable pacing, breathtaking cinematography, and a willingness to depict the human cost of destruction set it apart. In contrast to many other monster movies, the original Gojira isn’t primarily about wanton destruction; it’s about the fear of confronting the unknown.
For instance, consider the scene with the photographers and journalists perched on the tower. As they witness the approaching monster, their fear is evident, yet they remain on the tower with their cameras rolling. Even as the monster draws closer and their cameras continue to capture the chaos, one of the reporters, broadcasting live, acknowledges that he’s about to meet his end. This moment of acknowledgment and impending doom is unparalleled in any subsequent Godzilla sequel.
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