How To Watch Old Godzilla Movies

[Eugene Aubry]

Thefirst Godzilla film, simply titled Godzilla, is a must-watch. While the practical effects might seem a little cheesy to a modern audience, the film delivers a powerful message about the dangers of nuclear bombs in post-WWII Japan. Directed by Ishirō Honda, Godzilla follows the now-famous kaiju as his home and family are destroyed by an American hydrogen bomb, leading him to cause mayhem in Tokyo.

This film is a classic for a reason and holds a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This film also kicks off the Shōwa era of Godzilla films, which lasted until 1975 and included 15 films. Movies from this era are mostly continuous in their storytelling. Notably, for most of this era (from 1954 to 1972), Haruo Nakajima played the titular monster in a physical suit. Godzilla is currently available to stream on Tubi TV, Max, and Pluto TV.

Work on Godzilla Raids Again began weeks after the release of the first film. This sequel introduces a trope that will endure in the series: the monster battle. In this film, Godzilla reawakens and fights Anguirus, a dinosaur-like creature with a spiked back. Anguirus returns several times in the franchise, in films, TV and even comic books.

This film consistently gets worse reviews than the Japanese original but notably introduced American audiences to Godzilla and a worldwide audience after it garnered an international release. Many outside Japan may remember this version of the film as the 1950s Godzilla since the original 1954 version was not released in American theaters until 2004. Godzilla, King of Monsters! is currently available to stream on Pluto TV, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Max, and the Roku Channel.

Honda returned to the franchise to direct King Kong Vs. Godzilla. In this film, Godzilla battles King Kong, who had his own franchise of films, starting with the American movie King Kong in 1933. The film culminates in a battle on Mount Fuji. The movie was popular with both audiences and critics in Japan and garnered an American release in 1963.

The film was originally started as an American project by stop-motion animator Willis O'Brien, who had worked on the first King Kong. The film was originally going to feature King Kong fighting Frankenstein but was changed to Godzilla when the film was given to Toho. It is currently available on the Internet Archive.

Mothra had already been introduced to Japanese audiences in 1961 and to American audiences in 1962 with her own film simply titled Mothra. The giant moth-like deity appears in many Godzilla films and several of her own.

The film follows Mothra as she tries to regain her stolen egg and fight Godzilla in the process. Mothra Vs. Godzilla explores themes of greed, morality, and of course, nuclear annihilation. The film is one of the higher rated in the series, with a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. It is currently streaming on Pluto TV, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Max, and the Roku Channel.

In Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster, Mothra has to convince Godzilla to help her protect the world against the alien threat of Ghidorah, a three-headed dragon from outer space. This film also introduces Rodan, a kaiju Pteranodon who debuted in the film Rodan in 1956, to the franchise. The movie is currently available to stream on Pluto TV, Max, and Sling TV.

Ghidorah returns in this American-Japanese collaboration. This time, two astronauts, played by Akira Takarada and Nick Adams, run into the monster on Planet X, where it is terrorizing the Xiliens. The alien race asks the astronauts to borrow Godzilla and Rodan to fight Ghidorah once more.

The film was released in America five years after its release in Japan under the name Monster Zero, technically making this either the 7th film in the series or the 12th based on the release date. Invasion of Astro-Monster garnered mixed reviews and sits at 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie is currently available to stream on Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Prime, or Sling TV.

The film was also released as a TV movie in America in 1968 under the name Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster. The film is the fourth Godzilla movie to feature Akira Takarada in a staring role. However, it is the first in the series not to include special effects led by Eiji Tsuburaya. The movie is currently available to stream on Tubi, Pluto TV, and Sling TV.

In Son of Godzilla, a team of scientists accidentally detonates a radioactive balloon made to control the weather, leading to giant mantises. These Kamacuras dig up an egg and hatch Minilla, the son of Godzilla. Godzilla comes to collect his son when giant mantises and spiders attack him.

Minilia is far from the only Godzilla Jr.; another young Godzilla was introduced in later films. Minilla also served as the main influence for Godzooky, a juvenile kaiju featured in the late 1970s Hanna-Barbera TV series The Godzilal Power Hour. Son of Godzilla is available to stream on Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Max, and the Roku Channel.

While all of the early Godzilla films come with a level of cult nostalgia, Destroy All Monsters has been especially remembered as a cult masterpiece. The film is part Jurrasic Park, part Avengers, and overall fun. The film is currently streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Prime, Max, and Sling TV.

The last film in the run of movies directed by Honda, All Monsters Attack, follows an unlikely psychic friendship between a latchkey kid in Kawasaki and Minilla. Both Minilla and the boy, played by Tomonori Yazaki, have issues with bullies. Minilla has to stand up and fight his bully, Gabara, with some help from his father, Godzilla.

In this film, Godzilla becomes an environmentalist when he fights Hedorah, a sea monster made from pollution. The film was released in America in 1972 under the name Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster. In the film, Godzilla can also fly, a power left out of the general Godzilla canon.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah is the only Godzilla film directed by Yoshimitsu Banno. While the film garnered lackluster reviews upon release, some have revisited it and praised it for its darker tone, trippy feel, horror influence, and environmental message. Hedorah is a unique villain as well. The squid-like alien monster shoots acid and replaces the 1950s fear of nuclear armageddon with the 1970s burgeoning trepidation over climate change. The film is available to stream on Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Max, and the Roku Channel.

After nuclear testing causes environmental disasters for the underwater city of Seatopia, the residents of the once-thriving empire release the sea-dwelling beetle, Megalon. The film introduces Jet Jaguar, a mecha-robot hero who helps Godzilla defeat Megalon and Gigan.

While the film got a cinematic release in the US in 1976, U.S. viewers may remember it better by a poorly-cropped late 1980s VHS release. Godzilla vs. Megalon was also broadcast on NBC in 1977 but was cut down to fit in a 60-minute time slot. The telecast was hosted by John Belushi, who donned a Godzilla suit to add sketches to the broadcast. The film was also featured in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, giving it a cult status. The film is streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Max, and the Roku Channel.

Honda returned a final time to direct the last film of the Showa era, Terror of Mechagodzilla. The film picks up directly after the events of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. In the film, a scientist reconstructs the recently vanquished mech, which leads the aliens to unleash Titanosaurus. Godzilla must fight the robot again, and also deal with the even stronger Titanosaurus.

The film was written by a woman, Yukiko Takayama, and is one of the rare Godzilla films to feature nudity. The film was released in the U.S. in 1978; however, it was heavily edited and released under the name The Terror of Godzilla. The film is streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Peacock, and the Roku Channel.

The first film of the Heisei era (which would last until 1995), The Return of Godzilla is a reboot and direct sequel to Godzilla (1954). Directed by Kōji Hashimoto, the film ignores the heroic tone of Shōwa era Godzilla. Instead, Godzilla attacks the Ihama nuclear power plant before heading towards Tokyo.

The American release was renamed Godzilla 1985 and featured scenes with Raymond Burr reprising his role from Godzilla, King of the Monsters! The Return of Godzilla is available to stream on Internet Archive.

Ōmori returned to direct Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. The film reintroduces King Ghidorah to the franchise; however, this time in cyborg form. In the film, an alien race from the future comes to warn 1990s Japanese scientists about nuclear power. Together, they travel back to the 1940s to stop the creation of Godzilla, but ripples in time lead to complications as they accidentally create a second Godzilla.

The film was controversial for its depictions of WWII and the relationship between America and Japan. Honda even criticized the film for a scene including Godzilla stomping on an American G.I. However, notably, the film was the first since 1975's Terror of Mechagodzilla to include a newly orchestrated score by Akira Ifukube. The film is available to stream on Internet Archive.

While this movie is called Godzilla vs. Mothra, the big baddie is actually a monster deity named Battra. When pollution awakes Battra, he goes on a rampage to destroy humans. A group of liliputian islanders call on Mothra to save humankind, and Godzilla awakens to get in on the action.

Akira Ifukube returned to score this film after refusing to work on Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla. The film was also released around the same time as many popular Godzilla video games. Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla was well regarded by critics and holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with a 93% audience score, making it one of the highest-rated films in the series. The film is available to rent on Amazon, YouTube, and Google Play.

Starring Matthrew Brodrick and directed by Roland Emmerich, Godzilla is the first truly American production in the series. This film creates a new backstory for the iconic monster after French scientists expose an iguana nest to nuclear fallout. Notably, in this film, Godzilla also attacks New York City and not Tokyo.

3a8082e126