All 33 Godzilla movies (including King of the Monsters), worst to best (2023)

Since the release of Godzilla in 1954, the monstrous titan has starred in over 30 self-titled films. The series takes polarizing thematic directions, from Godzilla raging like a beast to the self-assured savior of mankind.

The new Godzilla: King of the Monsters movie looks to take the latter approach, starring classic kaiju like Rodan, King Ghidorah, and Mothra. To celebrate the beauty of this franchise where colossal monsters clash in fights to the death, here's our ranking of all 33 Godzilla movies from worst to best, including Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

All Monsters Attack (1969)

Notorious for its family-friendly approach to kaiju, All Monsters Attack follows Godzilla's son Minilla as he forms an unlikely bond with frequently bullied high school student Ichiro Miki. This strange friendship leads to an unbearably wacky journey, full of low humor and repetitive compositions. What makes this movie increasingly boring is that every kaiju fight is generic, horribly shot, and way too short. To top it off, almost none of this is original. Yes, All Monsters Attack incorporates a surprising amount of footage from other Godzilla movies such as Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, Destroy All Monsters, and Son of Godzilla. When old footage is not reused, it reverts to outdated shots of Minilla and Ichiro sitting around reacting to these "fights".

Godzilla: Planet of the Monster (2017–2018)

Perhaps the strangest entry in the Godzilla universe, Planet of the Monsters' CGI monstrosities approach the franchise from an unusual angle. In this version of events, humanity has left Earth after all kinds of kaiju have taken power, and most importantly, Godzilla is king. However, after twenty years, humanity returns with the mission to end his reign. While the concept sounds like fun, its bland use of color, poorly structured kaiju, faulty shading, and choppy animation make it the ugliest film in the franchise. Plus, chaotically composed battles, an incongruous soundtrack, and its plethora of exposition meld into perhaps the most insufferable Godzilla in decades.

Son of Godzilla (1967)

As the first film to feature Minilla, Son of Godzilla was produced in an attempt to create something cute and suitable for children. Unfortunately, Minilla is scary-looking and her tantrums are reminiscent of a sugar-soaked child stomping her feet and sulking after being denied the last piece of chocolate. Considering Minilla is half the size of Godzilla, I can't imagine that being seen as anything other than menacing. Most of the movie shows Godzilla teaching his son to use his abilities like atomic breath, and I can't even begin to describe how harrowing it is to watch Godzilla teach his newborn son how to use a menacing, city-destroying monster.

Godzilla (1998)

The first American adaptation of Godzilla is widely recognized as a nightmare, as it represents a complete misunderstanding of the series' themes. This film's biggest booty is its attempt to turn Godzilla into a glorified dinosaur. All Godzilla does is run around on its two hind legs and slam into things. This could easily have been disguised as Jurassic Park, considering the movie version of Godzilla lacks any distinctive features. There is no atomic breath, extraordinary regeneration or impenetrable skin. Whereas the 1954 version of Godzilla was frequently shot and felt nothing, the death of the 1998 Godzilla in exactly this way clashes with what the series has always been about and what the King was about makes it threatening.

Godzilla Strikes Again (1955)

The first movie, which pits Godzilla against another kaiju, is also the most boring of the series. Godzilla Raids Again is essentially a complete remake of its predecessor Godzilla (1954), except without the thematic importance and without any compelling plot development. Godzilla's battles with Anguirus are about as boring as it gets. The two basically shake hands and push each other like a poorly choreographed fight. While there are definitely worse Godzilla movies out there, this one might be the most helpful in curing your insomnia.

King Kong contra Godzilla (1962)

Yes, King Kong vs. Godzilla has happened before. And yes, it sucks in the best possible way. I always cite the incredible scene where Kong grabs a tree, rips it from its roots and tries to shove it down Godzilla's throat. Also, does Kong have electricity powers for no apparent reason? If you hit him, he can redirect the power of your palms. I don't know why, but hopefully in the 2020 version, Godzilla gets revenge on Kong for putting a tree down his throat.

Godzilla versus Megalon (1973)

Godzilla vs. Megalon suffers from what many Godzilla movies suffer from: a boring, human-centric plot, enhanced only by the hilarity of watching Godzilla engage in silly battles with other kaiju. When you consider that one of the best scenes in this franchise comes from this generally boring film, it's hard not to enjoy it at least a little bit. Yes, I'm referring to the infamous flying kick where Godzilla is obviously tied to a string as he levitates horizontally to collide with Megalon. It's the kind of B-movie that perfectly sums up these ridiculous entries in the series.

Ebirah, Terrors from the Deep (1966)

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, or as I like to call it, "Godzilla's Beach Episode", features our king dealing with a crab. I liked Ebirah's intimidating design, the dark and cold texture of the film's colors, the upbeat but strangely menacing lagoon music, and the set design. However, its unforgettable plot and painfully clichéd character tropes drag it down. The most ridiculous aspect of the film is that Godzilla and Ebirah simply throw some rocks at each other while splashing in the water. It's hard to imagine how explosives can't harm these kaiju, but we're to believe that rock-throwing is more than just occasional seaside fun.

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)

Set in an alternate universe that has made significant technological advances, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus begins with the Japanese government's attempt to destroy Godzilla by shooting him with a black hole gun. However, this plan fails and a giant dragonfly appears instead, creating an army of pesky bugs. Now the humans must face both threats while the two Kaiju resist. There was definitely a certain charm to this movie, particularly in some of the clashes between Godzilla and Megaguirus, but overall it didn't do as much as it could with its compelling premise.

Godzilla 2000 (1999)

Godzilla 2000 is particularly memorable for its mostly CGI antagonist, Orga, because he looks absolutely awful; reminiscent of digital effects from 20 years before the film's 1999 release. While Orga's CGI iteration looks awful, his physical form later in the film is a lot of fun. Another issue is that when several characters almost certainly should have died, they somehow emerged from the rubble unscathed. And let's not forget the actors' overly dramatic attitudes. However, it has great destruction scenes with amazing scenery and prop design.

Godzilla (2014)

Godzilla (2014), the prequel to the recently released Godzilla: King of the Monsters, received mixed reactions from fans. Some praise the film for taking a different approach and following a human character, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who witnesses the destruction of a kaiju firsthand. Others are critical of Godzilla's lack of screen time. There are many scenes where Godzilla is soon to have an epic showdown with the new kaiju, the MUTO, but it cuts. As a result, we don't get a chance to experience these battles, which is quite annoying as the movie doesn't offer any interesting plots or characters. However, I cannot deny the visual spectacle in the moments of the disaster movie.

Godzilla: Tokio S.O.S. (2003)

Similar to Godzilla (2014), Tokyo S.O.S. follows a group of soldiers as they fight Godzilla, and while the clashes between Mechagodzilla, Godzilla, and Mothra are fun, this human tale is particularly mundane. Misconceptions about love, overused character tropes, and a romanticized view of combat and war all contribute to a painfully out-of-place tone. Thankfully, the way our kaiju clash like action figures when beaten up certainly makes up for it.

Terrors of Mechagodzilla (1975)

This movie is particularly weird as Mechagodzilla along with the new Kaiju Titanosaurus are under the control of a mad genius who hopes to wreak havoc on the world. Terror of Mechagodzilla certainly has great scenes of Titanosaurus and Godzilla beating each other up, but the goofy love story between main character Ichinose and the seemingly evil cyborg Katsura doesn't stay interesting for long.

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)

Although Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla being the first film to debut Mechagodzilla, this film's iteration of the Terminator-like clone of the monster was not created by mankind to stop Godzilla's attacks, as seen in more recent entries. Instead, the aliens assemble the devastating robot to lure and destroy Godzilla. And overall it's a fun movie. Personally, I love the scene where Godzilla stomps, causing a wave of destruction around Mount Fuji and nearly killing Anguirus (a kaiju who is normally supposed to be Godzilla's ally), and when a second Godzilla appears, the monster is revealed to be everything he wants. caused chaos. it was never Godzilla.

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (2002)

This modern version of Mechagodzilla has specially trained forces pilot the colossal machine to protect the citizens of Japan from Godzilla's wrath. What I particularly liked about Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla is how the plot was focused on fighting Godzilla. Usually an irrelevant plot filled with nonsensical romance and filler dialogue slows these movies down for an extra runtime, but much of what happens in this film is relevant to the fight against the titan. It also helps that the battles are a lot of fun.

Invasion of the Astro-Monsters (1965)

The Astro-Monsters-invading obsession with being as alien as possible is getting old fast. Having one of the antagonists as a miniature UFO is far more adorable than menacing. But the way King Ghidorah and Godzilla pummel each other is a lot of fun. Still, it's another Godzilla movie that spends too much time on pointless human stories and has to beg you to see the titans face off again.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

While Godzilla: King of the Monsters has its share of big problems, it's hard when we look at Godzilla, Mothra, Ghidorah or Rodan wreaking havoc and pitting them against each other, it's hard not to dive into what the series is all about. trying to do. These epic and outrageous showdowns give us a glimpse of the nightmarish fun and beauty Godzilla fans have always wanted. It's unfortunate that so much time is spent confining itself to human faces. I wish the franchise would bring back the idea of ​​minimally edited, long, non-stop kaiju fights.

Godzilla contra Hedorah (1971)

Arguably the most intriguing Godzilla movie is Godzilla vs. Hedorah as it takes the most unique approach the franchise has ever seen. The film uses stillness to instill a constant sense of dread, and Hedorah, a giant pollution monster, is perhaps the most terrifying kaiju of all. For the first time in a Godzilla movie, we see people dying after destroying a kaiju. On top of that, Hedorah exudes a gas that melts human skin, which is a nightmare. Perhaps the film's most striking scene shows a group of people dancing in a nightclub when Hedorah's slimy filth slides down the stairs and a lone cat dives in. Even though the movie can be a little boring at times, it's always nice to see Godzilla reverting back to horror.

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)

After Godzilla's cells are exposed to radiation from a black hole, a terrifying monstrosity is born and quickly heads to Earth to wreak havoc. Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla is not only notable for its fantastic design, but the frequent and insane battles between the two kaiju are undeniably fun. While the human story tends to be boring, it's hard to ignore the amount of screen time devoted to Godzilla and SpaceGodzilla, especially since the movie's miniatures are beautifully detailed.

Godzilla Returns (1984)

Acting as a soft reboot that removes every Godzilla from canon (except the original), Return of Godzilla is an intriguing film, as its Japanese release is surprisingly different from its American counterpart. Godzilla (1985), the American version, is heavily edited with horrible voice acting, improper product placement, pointless extra scenes, and the removal of anything politically significant. Because of this, many who have seen the film have experienced a much worse cut, as the original is fun, compelling, and does a good job of what the original did thirty years earlier.

Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)

Godzilla vs. Gigan is the most underrated film in the franchise. His goofy approach to kaiju combat is both strange and notorious, largely due to Gigan's extremely barbaric combat tactics. The way Gigan effortlessly slices through Godzilla's skin and often blasts him with laser beams is hilarious. Furthermore, it's just absurd how Godzilla and Anguirus should team up against Gigan while our Titans dust off the ancient art of rock-throwing. Godzilla vs. Gigan is a blast despite its boring side story.

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Cheesy, flashy, and so 2000s, Godzilla: Final Wars is part of what makes certain Godzilla movies so entertaining: B movies, ridiculous kaiju fights, a surprisingly over-the-top plot, and a questionable resemblance to The Matrix. Even with amateur live-action movies, the kaiju fights left me in awe as they offered a wealth of exciting and powerful confrontations. It's also impossible to forget Douglas Gordon, the hilariously stereotypical American captain who kicks ass with a samurai sword. Trust me, it's great.

Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Destroy All Monsters takes an impressive approach to Godzilla. The film follows every kaiju on Earth as they fall under the control of sinister aliens who force them to scatter across the globe. The final product is an action-packed kaiju set depicting the glorious wrath of Godzilla destroying New York City, sweeping Rodan over Moscow, destroying Mothra Beijing and more. Not only that, we get to witness King Ghidorah take on each of these titans, stacking up into an action-packed Godzilla.

Godzilla vs. Mothra: Battle for Earth (1992)

Battle for Earth's mystical approach to our two main characters, Kaiju, is a big part of what sets it apart. The film's miniatures are among the best in the franchise, similar to Godzilla vs. Biollante and Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. Battra, often credited as the film's main antagonist, wreaks havoc across Japan in an extraordinarily thrilling fashion, destroying buildings with his alarming red flashes and laser eyes. It was also fun to see Mothra and Battra team up to defeat Godzilla.

Mothra contra Godzilla (1964)

In Mothra's first confrontation with Godzilla, we have fights that feel like tactics as opposed to kaiju, who just throw rocks at each other like a low-end fight. Also, Mothra vs. Godzilla is one of the few films in this franchise that manages to create a compelling human plot, as it draws heavily on Mothra's lore and the meaning of its existence. Rather than cluttering the runtime with irrelevant characters doing irrelevant things, our core group is enjoyable and their journey complements Godzilla and Mothra perfectly, making their final battle one of the most memorable in the series.

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)

Ghidorah's introduction to this universe creates an incredibly relevant buzz. It is the first film in which kaiju unite to defeat a common enemy (the three-headed titan), and in this case the team is formed by none other than Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan. The disastrous results of their attempts to destroy Ghidorah are an ideal demonstration of the immense strength of our new perspective. Ghidorah, the three-headed monster is undoubtedly a significant entry in the franchise, as it started a trend of full-scale kaiju combat.

Godzilla contra Biollante (1989)

Although Godzilla vs. Biollante has a B-movie-like presence, it's arguably one of the most entertaining in the series, with its gorgeously designed miniatures and incredible kaiju choreography making it a very well-produced, if silly, movie. Biollante's design is terrifying, with its sharp fangs, slimy tentacles, and seemingly larger-than-life aura. Not only that, but the film's side story is ridiculously entertaining. It never took itself too seriously, nor did it seem cheap or cheesy.

Godzilla contra King Ghidorah (1991)

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah is nonsense. The film's time travel-focused plot goes places you might not expect, like the most bizarre origin story of our Kaiju King imaginable. The fights between Ghidorah and Godzilla are also very fascinating and the scenery design looks almost realistic. In addition, it is the film that introduces us to Mecha King Ghidorah, because it is great that these two kaiju, who often fight for supremacy, have a parallel as mech versions.

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II is a great movie to watch if you're exponentially more interested in seeing beautiful monster fights than something totally plot-driven. Even so, Godzilla's motive for being so aggressive is pretty compelling, and his tiny offspring are infinitely more endearing than Minilla ever was.

Godzilla GMK (2001)

Godzilla GMK aka Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack is the perfect kaiju showdown movie. It has the most impressive encounters in this series, like Godzilla absolutely obliterating Baragon with his atomic breath, or when Mothra flies over the city and essentially bombs the Titan King. While the human story is a little cheesy, it's still among the best in the series, providing animated backdrops for our kaiju to clash.

Godzilla vs Destoroyah (1995)

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah starts out a little boring, but quickly makes up for it with the biggest final showdown in this series' history. There's a lot to love here, from Godzilla literally being a nuclear bomb, adding an incredible amount of suspense to each confrontation, to Destoroyah's incredible design that resembles an apocalyptic demon. The film also includes the scariest conclusion the series has ever seen, showing Godzilla rising from the ashes of a Tokyo that has crumbled to dust.

Godzilla (1954)

Godzilla (1954) is an important classic, not just because it's the movie that started it all, but because none have managed to be as engaging, terrifying and intriguing, despite many entries in the series trying to match its thematic importance. What's surprising about this movie is that it's really not about Godzilla, and the highlights aren't when the kaiju destroy cities. It's about what the creature symbolically means and how the characters in this film must make terrible decisions in response to the mistakes humanity made in nuclear testing.

Shin Godzilla (2016)

Shin Godzilla is the most impressive Godzilla movie of all time. Hideaki Anno's opinion of the King of Monsters is quickly towering over everything else in the series. Whether it's the near-perfect soundtrack, Godzilla's genuinely terrifying design, or the devastating amount of damage the Titan does across Japan, there's a lot to love here. Shin Godzilla is particularly amazing for focusing on an unusual cast of characters, offering us a tactical, thought-provoking and realistic approach to dealing with the concept of a massive, indestructible monster causing irreparable damage to an isolated land. Terrifying, ambitious and thrilling, Shin Godzilla is king.