Godzilla is still dominating the big screen! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best films to ever star The King of the Monsters.
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00:00 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best to ever star the
00:12 King of the Monsters.
00:22 Number 20, Godzilla King of the Monsters
00:32 Director Michael Dougherty's kaiju film amplified everything about the monstrous iteration of
00:37 Godzilla.
00:39 This King of the Monsters was finally being showcased in all his glory.
00:44 He had some formidable allies and enemies featured, and the human stories were made
00:49 more interesting.
00:50 Godzilla King of the Monsters nearly overstuffed its titanic story by featuring legends like
00:56 King Ghidorah, Rodan, and Mothra in a single film.
01:01 But this Godzilla-sized monster mash made up for it with stunning action and brilliant
01:07 special effects.
01:08 King of the Monsters went a long way towards building goodwill for Big G fans that were
01:14 tentatively entering the monsterverse.
01:25 Number 19, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
01:28 Let's face it, any Godzilla movie that features King Ghidorah is gonna be a good time.
01:43 What made this one stand out is how he combined different sci-fi concepts.
01:48 Outside of the kaiju, the modern heroes have to accept visitors from the future.
01:53 We also get a "Godzilla-saurus" that saved Japanese soldiers during World War II.
01:59 While all those elements might sound too random to work together well, the movie expertly
02:04 blends all the plotlines.
02:06 A scene where a soldier who was saved by the Big G in the past reunites with Godzilla in
02:11 the present is particularly effective.
02:13 It's a monster movie where the human conflicts are just as interesting as the kaiju battles.
02:28 Number 18, Terror of Mechagodzilla
02:38 While this film may not have been a financial success when it was released back in 1975,
02:44 it has since been largely reappraised by Godzilla fans.
02:48 In the aftermath of the Big G's battle with his Mecha counterpart, humans try to use the
02:53 wrecked robot's remains to their advantage.
02:57 But the quest for knowledge that might benefit the world ends up endangering it all over
03:02 again.
03:03 Outside of the great moral questions, there's also some heft to the monster battles here.
03:08 It certainly helps that we get more Mechagodzilla action.
03:19 We also welcomed a new monster named Titanosaurus, whose big personality fit his hulking body
03:25 well.
03:26 Combining new thrills with sobering old lessons, this underrated flick definitely deserves
03:32 a little more shine.
03:34 Number 17, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2
03:52 Serving as a direct sequel to 1991's Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, this film doubles down
03:59 on the Mecha-monster mayhem while introducing original elements.
04:04 In this film, Godzilla gets a new son that's fittingly named Godzilla Jr.
04:10 Humanity attempts to use the kid kaiju to lure his parents into a fight against their
04:14 mechanical creations.
04:16 Unfortunately for them, Rodan flies in and crashes the party in the worst way.
04:23 Not only is the action here totally satisfying, but the cinematography feels energetic and
04:28 fitting to all the monster-mashing at play.
04:31 Overall, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2 is a fine entry from the underrated Heisei era
04:38 that definitely deserves your time.
04:51 Number 16, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah – Giant Monsters All-Out Attack
04:58 Yes, the title is a mouthful, but that shouldn't keep you from enjoying one of the most eminently
05:04 watchable films from Big G's entire catalogue.
05:08 Nicknamed "GMK" by fans, the movie reframes Godzilla as an Earth-destroying threat.
05:15 The only beings capable of stopping him are the world's guardian monsters.
05:20 GMK is one of the few films to feature King Ghidorah as a protagonist.
05:25 During the adventure, the hateful Hydra collaborated with Mothra and Baragon against Godzilla's
05:31 marauding rampage.
05:41 The creature effects are outstanding in this one, particularly Baragon, whose demise has
05:46 to be one of the saddest scenes in Godzilla's entire filmography.
05:51 Additionally, Big G has rarely felt this dangerous and downright evil.
06:06 Number 15, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
06:18 While it may be bold to say this movie contains some of the most entertaining kaiju action
06:23 of the entire franchise, anyone who sees it will understand the hype.
06:27 The action really kicks into gear when Godzilla turns on his old friend, Anguirus.
06:33 After it's revealed that this rampaging monster is actually an alien-made robot in
06:38 disguise, the original Big G has to fight to break the machine.
06:49 The movie does a good job introducing one of Godzilla's greatest and most troublesome
06:54 enemies.
06:55 Although the build-up and prophecy regarding the debut of King Caesar may have been at
07:00 odds with the alien story, the sight of those two duking it out against Mecha-G still fills
07:07 us with joy.
07:09 Number 14, Invasion of Astro-Monster
07:18 This 1965 entry hits all the beats of an entertaining Godzilla film from the Showa era.
07:25 Aliens that arrive in order to make fools out of earthlings?
07:28 Check.
07:29 At some point in the movie, do the aliens betray humanity and utilise mind control on
07:35 giant monsters?
07:36 Double-check.
07:38 Underneath the familiar set-up, fans will still find a complex tale with some surprising
07:43 twists.
07:44 There's also tons of amazing kaiju footage to keep the action-hungry fans well-fed.
07:50 But most importantly, Invasion of Astro-Monster is also the Godzilla film that features Big
07:56 G's legendary victory dance.
07:59 That alone is enough to put this franchise film into the Hall of Fame.
08:09 Number 13, Godzilla vs. Kong
08:20 The beef between King Kong and Godzilla goes back decades.
08:24 After spending time apart, the 2021 movie brought the pair's rivalry into the modern
08:30 age.
08:31 Admittedly, the plot isn't half as deep as the Hollow Earth.
08:36 Godzilla essentially senses something is off in the world at the same time that Kong coincidentally
08:41 leaves his island.
08:43 And just as the main clash is winding down, Mechagodzilla roars its way into the picture.
08:57 But the big coincidences and small gripes are forgotten whenever the monsters fight.
09:02 Thanks to glorious CGI, we have a few of the greatest kaiju clashes ever put on screen.
09:09 The title fight in particular definitely lives up to the hype.
09:13 Godzilla vs. Kong was the giant-sized dose of dopamine we needed in 2021.
09:19 Number 12, Kidora the Three-Headed Monster
09:33 The status of King Kidora as an apex-level baddie for Godzilla all started with this
09:38 film.
09:39 At first, the Big G is purely concerned with beating up Rodan.
09:44 However, Mothra swoops in and convinces both of them that there's a bigger threat on
09:49 the way.
09:50 Seeing the Queen of the Monsters team up with Rodan and Godzilla to face off against Kidora
09:56 was great.
09:57 Additionally, it certified that the Hydra was too intimidating to take on solo.
10:02 The kaiju battles in this film are creative and fantastic, and while the movie's tone
10:08 is lighter than other films, it's more accessible for younger audiences.
10:13 That last part is especially fitting, since it's team-up films like these that bring
10:18 out the kid in all of us.
10:28 Number 11, Godzilla vs. Hedorah
10:40 Every franchise filmography needs an outlier, and for Big G, that role is fulfilled by 1971's
10:47 Godzilla vs. Hedorah.
10:50 The film is unapologetically dark in places, as it delivers an undeniable environmental
10:56 message.
10:57 Director Yoshimitsu Banno also inserts plenty of hallucinogenic weirdness into the visual
11:03 style of Godzilla vs. Hedorah.
11:06 His stylistic choice gave the story an atmosphere unlike any other film in Big G's franchise.
11:13 The titular smug monster, in the meantime, possesses a nightmarish design that serves
11:18 as a dark mirror of humanity's toxic choices.
11:22 Godzilla vs. Hedorah also includes a heavy, psychedelic rock soundtrack, and an overall
11:29 haziness that makes us question whether the whole thing was a fun and freaky dream.
11:37 Number 10, Godzilla
11:48 Almost two decades after Hollywood was ridiculed for making a silly Godzilla film, redemption
11:54 came in the form of this 2014 epic.
11:57 The grounded tale painted a world like our own that just so happened to have terrifying
12:02 monsters brewing just under the surface.
12:06 After a pair of kaiju became major threats, an awe-inspiring Godzilla stomped onto the
12:11 scene to bring balance.
12:13 The grim story was admittedly knocked for its dark cinematography and limited monster
12:18 mayhem, but it did make each kaiju feel like a god.
12:23 Additionally, the 2014 film deserves lots of credits for inspiring an entire monster-verse
12:29 of stories.
12:30 Despite its dark edges, most audience members left wanting more.
12:35 To borrow a legendary quote from Dr. Ishiro Serizawa, viewers were ready to…
12:43 Number 9, The Return of Godzilla
12:46 Although the survivors of the kaiju's first attack thought the terror had ended, their
12:51 fear returned when Godzilla did.
12:54 This 1984 film showed how effective these franchise films could be as thrillers that
13:00 included elements of realistic and fantastical horror.
13:04 Telling the story, Japanese citizens have to prevent a potential nuclear incident between
13:10 nations and keep Godzilla at bay.
13:21 The grounded conflict allowed a lot of room to explore humanity's contemporary and historic
13:27 issues in a new lens.
13:29 At the same time, we never lost focus on Godzilla's strength.
13:33 It doesn't matter whether you watch the 1984 version of the film or the American cut
13:38 titled "Godzilla 1985".
13:41 Either way, you'll be drawn into an engaging and sobering story.
13:54 Number 8, Godzilla Final Wars
14:02 While a 125-minute runtime may seem excessive, the film's length allows for plenty of awesome
14:10 action and memorable monster cameos.
14:13 The straightforward setup of "Godzilla Final Wars" has the Big G facing off many of his
14:18 old foes.
14:19 And while they all put up a good fight, the King refused to be dethroned.
14:24 That's not to say he's without friends, as Mothra and Rodan show up too.
14:29 We also get an unexpected but not unwelcome performance from former UFC fighter Don Frye
14:36 in a lead role.
14:42 While the stakes don't feel particularly high for humanity or the overpowered Godzilla,
14:47 they don't need to be here.
14:49 Fans are just here to have fun and watch a kaiju-sized love letter to the franchise.
14:55 Number 7, Mothra vs. Godzilla
15:07 One could argue that it wasn't until 1964's Mothra vs. Godzilla that fans witnessed the
15:13 Big G fight against a proper foil.
15:16 Sure, he had already battled both Anguirus and King Kong at this point in his filmography,
15:22 but the Queen was his best match yet.
15:25 The two came to blows after Godzilla threatened Mothra's eggs.
15:29 While she battles to save her offspring, humanity struggles to find their place in the world
15:34 between these titans.
15:36 The human drama behind the discovery of Mothra's eggs is compelling.
15:41 At the same time, the actual kaiju battles are some of the best from this early stage.
15:46 This crossover film should be essential viewing for franchise fans.
15:58 Number 6, Destroy All Monsters
16:14 Godzilla Final Wars wasn't the first Big G film to gather up all of his friends and
16:19 foes.
16:20 1968's Destroy All Monsters has the distinction of being the first to gather all our faves
16:26 in one place.
16:28 Anguirus, Gorosaurus, Manda, Baragon, Kumonga, and more all showed up to the party.
16:35 Each of these monsters take villainous turns thanks to some malicious aliens, but once
16:41 the kaiju regain their senses, they become an unstoppable alliance.
16:54 This is another monster mash that doesn't need to worry about subtle metaphors and allegories.
17:01 Destroy All Monsters is focused on collecting your favourite kaiju and setting them loose
17:06 to do what they do best – mess stuff up.
17:10 Number 5, Godzilla vs. Biollante
17:19 We're glad that 1989's Godzilla vs. Biollante seems to be finally receiving the praise it
17:26 deserves from Big G fans.
17:29 There's a level of tragedy at play on Biollante's origin story that stands in stark contrast
17:35 to so many other kaiju.
17:37 After Erika Shiragami shockingly dies at the hands of rogue villains, her DNA is combined
17:43 with genetically modified plants.
17:46 The fusion of genetic material eventually leads to Biollante's birth.
17:51 It isn't long before this tragic creature gets revenge against those who cut her life
17:56 short.
17:57 Unfortunately, Biollante's actions put her on Godzilla's radar.
18:02 The resulting battle pushes the Big G to his limit.
18:06 While we won't spoil the ending, we can't hide our desires to see the tragic tale of
18:11 Biollante continue on day.
18:20 Number 4, Shin Godzilla
18:34 The decision to make Godzilla an unstable and continually evolving creature was deemed
18:40 controversial back when Shin Godzilla was released in 2016.
18:44 Thankfully, the end results of this film were so impressive that the new character design
18:49 won over most of Big G's rabid fanbase.
18:53 We can totally see why, too, since the creature design is tremendously frightening and unsettling.
19:00 It truly feels like a destructive deity who will never yield to humanity willingly, and
19:06 we'll never forget the unhinged and terrifying way it unleashed an atomic breath attack.
19:12 While we're used to seeing Godzilla brought to the brink, the humans are pushed to the
19:16 very edge in this epic.
19:19 We can't look away as they rally against this ever-growing threat to their existence.
19:34 Number 3, Godzilla vs. Destroyah
19:43 Moviegoers don't historically visit Godzilla films for emotional pathos.
19:48 Yet, there probably wasn't a dry eye in the house when it was revealed that, yes,
19:53 Toho did in fact kill off Godzilla in 1995.
19:58 The movie made headlines during this time for being the tale where Godzilla's heart
20:02 went into full nuclear meltdown mode.
20:06 Although the movie used his son to build a path forward for the franchise, saying goodbye
20:10 to an old friend was hard.
20:13 The emotional story doesn't make Godzilla's farewell tour any easier on us.
20:19 Godzilla vs. Destroyah made moviegoers realize how much we loved Godzilla and what he truly
20:25 meant to us.
20:34 Number 2, Godzilla -1
20:43 The human tales within Godzilla movies can often be hit or miss, but the main story present
20:49 in Godzilla -1 was unquestionably compelling.
20:53 In the last days of World War II, Koichi Shikishima becomes one of the few soldiers to survive
21:00 an encounter with Godzilla.
21:02 After spending years being haunted by guilt and fear, the kaiju returns to wreak havoc.
21:08 We legitimately care about Koichi's journey and chances of survival.
21:13 Meanwhile, Godzilla always feels like he's waiting in the wings, a harbinger of death
21:18 lurking just around the corner.
21:20 The way Godzilla -1 effortlessly balances the human and monster elements should be studied.
21:28 It's a modern masterpiece that feels destined to become an enduring example of the genre
21:33 at its finest.
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21:56 1.
21:57 Godzilla
21:58 One of the reasons why Godzilla is rightfully lauded as a cinematic classic today is because
22:04 repeated viewings of this film always seem to reveal something new.
22:09 For some, it might be the choice bits of dialogue that underline the gravity of each monster
22:15 attack.
22:27 For others, it may be the seriousness with which Godzilla is presented.
22:32 Each appearance feels like the end of the world.
22:35 At the heart of the film, there's an allegory for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
22:40 that still feels relevant.
22:42 When director Ishiro Hondo and special effects coordinator Eiji Tsuburaya collaborated on
22:48 this landmark film, they used techniques that would change the entire industry.
22:54 The first Godzilla movie is a thrilling adventure that continues to influence legions of stories.
23:06 What was the first Godzilla film you ever watched?
23:10 Let us know in those comments below!
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