All 6 Eras of Godzilla, Ranked

Godzilla has all the time been the king of the monsters, or the king of the monster films, however this can be a king who’s additionally had a number of reigns. Godzilla debuted in 1954, and what may’ve as soon as appeared like a one-off monster film turned a lot extra, as a result of within the 70+ years since that film first got here out, there have been nearly 40 Godzilla movies. And that’s not counting quick movies, TV exhibits that Godzilla’s been part of (like Monarch: Legacy of Monsters or Godzilla Singular Level), nor any of the appearances in media outdoors the worlds of movie and tv. Godzilla is endlessly partaking and a timeless monster/collection, and Godzilla and his (in impact) eras is an efficient strategy to spotlight how and why he’s endured.

It’s not that each collection is completely distinct from the others, or, like, that one period is all severe, and one period is all goofy, as a result of it tends to be a bit extra difficult than that. However a few of the eras do successfully inform an entire and coherent story a few explicit model of Godzilla, whereas some eras are made of films which have a thematic tie. After which a pair present some type of character arc for Godzilla, too, which could be neat to see. It may be enjoyable to attempt to resolve which period of Godzilla is the perfect one, even when it’s finally going to be fairly a subjective endeavor. There are 4 official Japanese eras, with one nonetheless ongoing, however the anime movies that belong to that ongoing period have been counted as their very own period/collection/factor under, for current functions. Then, there’s one American period of Godzilla that’s not precisely known as an period, however it capabilities like one, and that, as of 2026, can also be ongoing. The one large Godzilla movie that matches into no period is Godzilla (1998), which is horrible and didn’t should be an era-starting factor. It’s an excellent factor there weren’t any films inside that exact continuity (although it did spawn the two-season-long animated Godzilla: The Sequencewhich is admittedly considered extra favorably than the 1998 movie).

6

The Anime Trilogy/Period (2017–2018)

Since this one is not actually an official period, and likewise as a result of it’s made up of movies that aren’t superblet’s simply hold issues temporary whereas going over the Godzilla anime films. In truth, they get off to an nearly promising begin, as a result of 2017’s Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters has an excellent prologue that entails people being kicked off Earth, mainly. Monsters reign supreme, and Godzilla does certainly reign supreme over the monsters. However then a lot of the film turns into concerning the survivors of humanity going again to Earth to reclaim it.

This trilogy squanders a newly large Godzilla, and likewise doubtlessly fascinating new takes on Mechagodzilla and King Ghidorah.

As soon as they arrive again on Earth, issues decelerate and weaknesses begin displaying, quality-wise. Nonetheless, you get an ending the place an excellent bigger Godzilla emerges, being the most important proven in any film or present up till that time, however then the 2 subsequent movies, Godzilla: Metropolis on the Fringe of Battle and Godzilla: The Planet Eater (each launched in 2018) squander this large Godzilla. Additionally they waste doubtlessly fascinating new takes on Mechagodzilla and King Ghidorah. Aside from some promising elements within the first film, you are finest off simply pretending this trilogy doesn’t exist, even in the event you’re an enormous Godzilla fan. It’s disconnected narratively, thematically, and stylistically from the Reiwa period, although typically included as a part of it, however this rating’s going to depend the Reiwa period (and the live-action movies inside it) as its personal factor.

5

The Monsterverse (2014–)

There was all the time going to be a wholesome quantity of skepticism surrounding the announcement of a brand new American Godzilla filmsince that aforementioned one in 1998 was not superb (to place it mildly). However 2014 did convey with it a brand new blockbuster-sized (and English-language) Godzilla film, once more simply known as Godzillaand it was fairly good. It would’ve gone a bit of far in teasing the king of the monsters greater than truly displaying up, however when one thing spectacular or action-focused went down, the products had been certainly delivered.

Since then, the collection that’s adopted has been dubbed the MonsterVerseand it’s been enjoyable, if a bit of shallow. King Kong received in on the motion, and so the final two MonsterVerse films have had the pair sharing the title(s): Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024). It’s nonetheless going, and Godzilla x Kong: Supernova is deliberate for 2027. The MonsterVerse is a pleasant distinction to the additionally ongoing Japanese Reiwa period of Godzilla films. Not pretty much as good or stylish, no, however capable of ship the goofier aspect of the Godzilla collection fairly reliably, and a lot of the movies have been decently enjoyable, at the least to this point.

4

The Millennium Period (1999–2004)

The Millennium period of Godzilla has in all probability been the messiestand is sort of positively the toughest to outline. That’s type of by design, as a result of the purpose right here, for every film, was to do one thing totally different with the titular character and probably not observe occasions from movie to movie. Millennium period films do, nevertheless, acknowledge a few of the older Japanese Godzilla films (normally at the least the primary), after which there have been two Millennium period movies that advised one steady story: Godzilla Towards Mechagodzilla (2002) and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003).

Nonetheless, when the Millennium movies had been nice, they had been worthy of being thought-about among the many all-time finest Godzilla films, or perhaps even simply a few of the finest large monster movies, typically talking. 2001’s Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Big Monsters All-Out Assault is very phenomenal and exhausting to fault, placing fantastical parts on the forefront, having Godzilla be really menacing, and that includes King Ghidorah in a heroic function. Extra divisive is the completely gonzo Godzilla: Ultimate Warswhich concluded the Millennium period whereas additionally being a celebration of the primary half-century of Godzilla films. It’s so very messy, but in addition a blastand fairly probably the most relentlessly-paced and action-packed kaiju movie ever made.

3

The Reiwa Period (2016–)

Once more, discounting these anime movies, there’s the least that may be stated concerning the Reiwa period, because it solely actually (on the time of writing) consists of two films. On the time of writing, although, there may be additionally Godzilla Minus Zero in improvementwith a scheduled launch for close to the top of 2026, which is thrilling, because it’s going to be a sequel to 2023’s wonderful Godzilla Minus One. That one revitalized the collection, despite the fact that the collection had been going fairly sturdy all through the 2010s and early 2020s… so perhaps it’s higher to say that it very clearly demonstrated how a lot gas there was left within the tank that’s Godzilla.

However the Reiwa period additionally began fairly fantastically, with 2016’s Shin Godzilla, which was deliberately very totally different (and arguably extra hanging) than 2014’s Godzilla. The Reiwa period is 2 for 2, for now, so far as the live-action Godzilla films are involved, and if Godzilla Minus Zero could be of a comparable high quality to Godzilla Minus Onethen inserting the Reiwa period on this spot ranking-wise might be seen as underrating/under-appreciating it.

2

The Showa Period (1954–1975)

Clearly, if historic significance mattered greater than anythingthen you definately’d should crown Godzilla’s Showa period as the perfect one, because it was the primary, and all of it kicked off with that past vital 1954 movie. It’s additionally important for being, on the time of writing, the longest period within the historical past of the Godzilla collection, working for over 20 years all up. Additionally, it simply has essentially the most entries inside any period of Godzillawith 15 in whole (so truthfully not too far off from one movie per 12 months).

The Showa period has a terrific arc for Godzilla as effectively, even when it won’t have been meant on the time. Godzilla’s a tragic villain within the unique 1954 movie, after which turns into a hero by round concerning the mid-Nineteen Sixties, and is then one thing of a (principally) kid-friendly defender of the Earth for the previous few movies within the Showa period. You get Godzilla being terrifying right here, after which additionally, you get him at his cuddliest (effectively, not actually, however he’s fairly adorable-looking in Godzilla vs. Megalonfor instance). And but all of it works and principally impresses as a collection/period, even when there are a few Showa period movies that aren’t notably good on their very own ( you, inventory footage-heavy All Monsters Assault).

1

The Heisei Period (1984–1995)

The Heisei period of the Godzilla collection has essentially the most by means of continuity, with The Return of Godzilla kicking off a narrative that does certainly finish very memorably 11 years later, with Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. All up, there are seven films on this period, and none are outright misses, even when technically, Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla is not wonderful. However truthfully, that one’s not even unhealthy, and even when it had been, it wouldn’t do a lot to remove from the greatness of all-timers like Godzilla vs. Biollante and the aforementioned grand finale that’s Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.

The arc for Godzilla won’t be as dramatic right here, because it was within the Showa period, however Godzilla does go from being harmful and considerably villainous to extra of an anti-hero as issues progress. The Heisei period additionally advantages from having sure human characters present up in multiple filmin order that provides to the sense of continuity, as does the inclusion of Godzilla Junior, who’s launched in 1993’s Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla IIgrows extra in Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzillaand is then not far off full-size in Godzilla vs. Destoroyahthroughout which Godzilla Junior performs an important narrative function. All the things’s well-balanced all through the Heisei period, and although there are such a lot of different nice Godzilla films that exist outdoors this explicit string of moviesin the event you’re judging every period or assortment of films as its personal factor, then the Heisei period is probably going the strongest general (Reiwa’s wanting good, although, so it might effectively stand up the rankings after sufficient time… we will see).