Few genres are more associated with Japan than that of kaiju, an epic style of filmmaking focused on giant monsters. While most viewers will immediately think of the cinematic icon that is Godzilla, that city-destroying villain-turned-hero was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the litany of movie monsters created by the Japanese studio Toho and its competitors. Although some viewers might think of American productions like Rampage, Pacific Rim, or the MonsterVerse franchise, strictly speaking, a true kaiju film should be Japanese in origin.
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When looking at the greatest kaiju movies ever made, many will inevitably feature the father of them all, Godzilla, in one form or another. Another figure who was absolutely essential in understanding the legacy of the genre was the director Ishirō Honda, who made dozens of kaiju movies. However, those in the know will also point to other legendary creatures such as Rodan, Mothra, and even Mechagodzilla when it comes to highlighting the best this genre has to offer.
You are watching: 10 Best Kaiju Movies Of All Time
10
Gamera, The Giant Monster (1965)
Directed by Noriaki Yuasa
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Gamera, The Giant Monster
Fantasy
Sci-Fi
Monsters
Kaiju
Release Date
November 27, 1965
See more : 10 Unconventional Rom-Coms That Changed Up The Genre
Runtime
80 minutes
Cast
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-
Eiji Funakoshi
Dr. Hidaka
-
Harumi Kiritachi
Nobuyo Sakurai
-
Junichiro Yamashita
Kyoke Yamamoto
-
Michiko Sugata
Mr. Sakurai
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Following the incredible success of the Godzilla franchise during the 1950s and 1960s, Japanese film studios were eager to create their own kaiju franchise that could rival the city-destroying monster. This led to the creation of Gamera for Daiei Film, an iconic monster who has appeared in 12 feature films and various novels, mangas, video games, and more. As a giant prehistoric turtle unleashed in the Arctic by an atomic bomb, Gamera, the Giant Monster borrowed heavily from the mythos of Godzilla.
Gamera, the Giant Monster followed the same narrative trajectory as the film that inspired it, as Gamera was unleashed from his slumber and caused shocking environmental damage as he fed on fossil fumes. As the character develops in later films, Gamera becomes more of a heroic figure for humanity and seeks to protect people rather than pursue destruction. Gamera, the Giant Monster was just the beginning for this kaiju monster, who has become an icon in his own right.
9
Rodan (1956)
Directed by Ishirō Honda
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Rodan
PG
Horror
Science Fiction
Release Date
December 26, 1956
See more : 10 Unconventional Rom-Coms That Changed Up The Genre
Runtime
72 minutes
Cast
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-
Kenji Sahara
Shigeru Kawamura
-
Yumi Shirakawa
Kiyo
-
Akihiko Hirata
Professor Kyuichiro Kashiwagi
-
Minosuke Yamada
Mining Chief Osaki
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Rodan was yet another kaiju monster created by Toho Studios, who would later go on to appear in movies alongside Godzilla. However, in order to fully appreciate the legacy of this colossal, prehistoric, flying pterodactyl-like creature, it’s important to check out his origins in the standalone movie Rodan. As a creature released from the depths of the mining village of Kitamatsu, Rodan has become a kaiju media staple and even appeared in the American MonsterVerse franchise.
With the standard setup of a prehistoric creature on the loose, Rodan took its campy concept to the absolute extreme and, as a terrifying flying creature, acted as a unique alternative to Toho’s more famous monster, Godzilla. As Rodan’s only standalone film, for kaiju fans, it’s always exciting to see this monster pop up in later releases like Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster and Godzilla: Final Wars. With memorable iconography and dated but endearing special effects, it’s well worth going back and checking out Rodan.
8
The War Of The Gargantuas (1966)
Directed by Ishirō Honda
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The War of the Gargantuas
G
Action
Horror
Science Fiction
Release Date
July 31, 1966
See more : 10 Unconventional Rom-Coms That Changed Up The Genre
Runtime
88 minutes
Cast
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-
Kenji Sahara
Dr. Yuzo Mamiya
-
Kumi Mizuno
Akemi Togawa
-
Russ Tamblyn
Dr. Paul Stewart
-
Jun Tazaki
General Hashimoto
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The War of the Gargantuas signaled the increased connection between classic kaiju cinema and American releases as film producer Henry G. Saperstein arranged for the inclusion of American actors in this film. Along with the other releases, Invasion of Astro-Monster and Frankenstein vs. Baragon, this unique collaboration represented Toho’s interest in tapping further into the American market. The results were successful as this kaiju classic starred American actor Russ Tamblyn as Dr. Paul Stewart, whose voice was dubbed in Japanese by Gorō Mutsumi.
With a plot involving scientists investigating the sudden appearance of two giant hairy humanoid monsters, this shocking turn of events culminated in an epic battle in Tokyo city. Featuring a giant octopus, Frankenstein’s monster, and underwater volcanic eruptions, The War of the Gargantuas included every kind of chaotic carnage a kaiju lover could ask for from a film. As a film that even inspired aspects of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill (via Huff Post), The War of the Gargantuas was a must-watch kaiju release.
7
Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)
Directed by Jun Fukuda
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Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
PG
Sci-Fi
Action
Adventure
10/10
Release Date
March 21, 1974
See more : 10 Unconventional Rom-Coms That Changed Up The Genre
Runtime
84 Minutes
Cast
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-
Masaaki Daimon
-
Kazuya Aoyama
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One noticeable development as kaiju began to develop over the decades was that the genre got increasingly wild and outrageous as the years went on. By the 1970s, things had reached truly extreme proportions, and ridiculous releases like Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla became the norm. As the title suggests, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla saw the classic Toho monster face off against a gigantic, mechanical doppelganger of himself.
This was a campy and offbeat entry to the Godzilla franchise that introduced new characters like King Caesar and Mechagodzilla for the first time. The introduction of this mechanical alien weapon was a hit with viewers and even led to the direct sequel, Terror of Mechagodzilla, the following year. While the franchise had become quite formulaic by this point, the introduction of increasingly bombastic foes kept things fresh and interesting.
6
Invasion Of Astro-Monster (1965)
Directed by Ishirō Honda
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Invasion of Astro-Monster
G
Science Fiction
Action
Release Date
December 19, 1965
See more : 10 Unconventional Rom-Coms That Changed Up The Genre
Runtime
96 minutes
Cast
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-
Akira Takarada
Astronaut K. Fuji
-
Nick Adams
Astronaut F. Glenn
-
Keiko Sawai
Haruno Fuji
-
Kumi Mizuno
Miss Namikawa
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While Invasion of Astro-Monster was yet another entry in the long-running Godzilla franchise, by this point, so many kaiju monsters had been added to the series that they felt more akin to Avengers-style team-up movies. In this entry, aliens plead with humanity to let them borrow Godzilla and Rodan, as they are needed to defeat Ghidorah, a three-headed foe introduced the year before in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster.
While this sounded like a standard enough setup for an epic kaiju battle, the aliens betrayed humanity and unleashed the monster on Earth. With American actor Nick Adams among the cast, Invasion of Astro-Monster was the first of three films made in collaboration with U.S. film distributor Henry G. Saperstein. With a healthy dose of campy, kaiju movie fun, director Ishirō Honda continued to add to his vast repertoire of movie monsters with Invasion of Astro-Monster.
5
Destroy All Monsters (1968)
Directed by Ishirō Honda
While previous Toho kaiju movies had started to include an increased level of movie monsters, this reached its pinnacle with Destroy All Monsters. From kaiju filmmaking legend Ishirō Honda, this epic adventure brought together eleven monster characters, including Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, Anguirus, and Minilla. Destroy All Monsters was set in an imagined version of the year 1999, where humanity had achieved world peace, and all of the giant monsters were confined to the area known as Monsterland.
However, Destroy All Monsters saw the creatures being set free and, under mind control from aliens known as Kilaaks, sent to destroy major cities. With impressive action sequences and a simple story that was both compelling and epic, Destroy All Monsters was truly one of the most over-the-top kaiju movies of all time. While the huge amount of monsters on display sometimes overwhelms the film, nobody can argue that Destroy All Monsters wasn’t a lot of fun.
4
Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Directed by Ishirō Honda
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Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Not Rated
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Release Date
December 20, 1964
See more : 10 Unconventional Rom-Coms That Changed Up The Genre
Runtime
85 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Yôsuke Natsuki
Naoko Shindo
-
Yuriko Hoshi
Detective Shindo
-
Hiroshi Koizumi
Mas Selina Salno
-
Akiko Wakabayashi
Malmess, Chief Assassin
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Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra all came together to fend off a new foe in the kaiju classic Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. What begins with an extraterrestrial from Venus possessing the body of a princess to warn about the threat of Ghidorah soon turns into an epic face-off between some of the most iconic kaiju monsters of all time against this terrifying three-headed threat. With the stakes reaching planet-saving proportions, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster was a turning point in Godzilla’s transformation from a villain into a hero.
With a well-written story that also marked the first ensemble monster movie for Godzilla, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster was an important moment in the Toho franchise as it signaled the future for kaiju filmmaking. With an ever-increasing roster of monsters to contend with, Toho sought to bring them together in ever larger battles that start to transcend planet Earth itself.
3
Mothra (1961)
Directed by Ishirō Honda
Toho Co., Ltd unleashed their Mothra franchise with this iconic kaiju release. As an ancient moth-like deity, this gigantic flying creature was second only to Godzilla when it came to Japanese giant monsters. The original Mothra movie was one of the greatest kaiju films ever made and told of the horrific consequences when a team enters a seemingly uninhabited ecosystem, only to encounter hieroglyphs hinting at a vast and unknowable threat with a rich, layered mythology.
This exciting turn of events becomes more engrossing as the two twin priestesses of Mothra are introduced and abducted by the greedy Rolisican businessman Clark Nelson. The girls’ predicament spurred Mothra into action, and she came to their help via telepathy. As a unique and interesting addition to the ever-expanding canon of kaiju movies, Mothra added mysticism and lore to Toho productions that was carried forward in her later encounters with Godzilla.
2
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki
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Godzilla Minus One
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Horror
Sci-Fi
8/10
9.7/10
Release Date
December 1, 2023
See more : 10 Unconventional Rom-Coms That Changed Up The Genre
Runtime
125 Minutes
Cast
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-
Ryûnosuke Kamiki
-
Minami Hamabe
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In recent years, Japanese kaiju movies have not had nearly the same cultural impact as the releases of earlier decades, and the focus appeared to shift to American giant monster productions like Rampage or the MonsterVerse films. While releases like 2016’s Shin Godzilla did well commercially, it was not until Godzilla Minus One that there was a Japanese kaiju film that could truly live up to the glory days of the franchise.
Not only was Godzilla Minus One a return to form, but it actually turned out to be one of the greatest kaiju films of all time. With astounding visuals, genuinely compelling characters, and terrific utilization of kaiju origins as a form of social critique, Godzilla Minus One was a modern triumph that showcased the continued relevance of these types of films. With an Oscar win for Best Visual Effects, Godzilla Minus One encapsulated everything a modern Godzilla movie could achieve.
1
Godzilla (1954)
Directed by Ishirō Honda
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Godzilla
NR
Thriller
Horror
Science Fiction
8.3/10
Release Date
November 3, 1954
See more : 10 Unconventional Rom-Coms That Changed Up The Genre
Runtime
96 minutes
Cast
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Akira Takarada
Hideto Ogata
-
Momoko Kôchi
Emiko Yamane
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There’s no way of discussing the greatest kaiju movies of all time without going back to where it all began. The original Godzilla movie from 1954 not only featured the debut of the most iconic Japanese giant monsters there have ever been but was literally the starting point for the genre itself. With clever underlying themes exploring the traumatic legacy of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Godzilla was about far more than simple chaos and destruction and had some truly thought-provoking thematic subtext.
Godzilla kickstarted a franchise that continues to this day, and its influence can be felt in every giant monster movie that’s been subsequently released. From facing off with his American counterpart King Kong to taking the sky to fight a litany of alien threats, none of this would have occurred if not for the astounding accomplishment that was Ishirō Honda’s original kaiju Godzilla. With a legacy that’s practically unmatched in cinema history, Godzilla is about as iconic as it gets.
Source: Huff Post
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment