Summary
TheGodzillamovies are part ofone of the longest running film franchises of all time, so it’s only logical that there is a lot of variance in their quality. Of course, there are goodGodzillamovies and there are badGodzillamovies, but on the other hand, there are also many great entries that were unfairly judged by most viewers.
Whether they were received poorly because they reused characters from a previous movie, or they were ignored because their ideas didn’t seem interesting enough to most people, this is a list of different films from theGodzillafranchise that deserve a second opportunity from general audiences and G-Fans alike.
6Invasion Of Astro-Monster
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
1964’sGhidorah, the Three-Headed Monsterwas a monumental film for the franchise,since it marked the first appearance of Godzilla’s longtime rival, King Ghidorah. A year later,Invasion of Astro-Monstercame out, a direct sequel in which Godzilla has to join forces with Rodan in order to fight King Ghidorah yet again. Because of the similar concept and reuse of the same monsters, this film is often ignored by most fans.
It’s unfortunate, because the plot ofInvasion of Astro-Monsteris very different from its predecessor, and it feels quite refreshing in comparison. This is a quintessential alien invasion movie, with an intriguing mystery and a thrilling espionage plot woven in, so even the human characters are memorable. It also features some solid action and memorable scenes – like Godzilla’s victory dance – that turn it into a worthwhile entry in this series.
5Godzilla Vs Hedorah
IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
There’s no shortage ofGodzillamovies that are so bizarre that they end up being accidentally entertaining, likeGodzilla vs. GiganorGodzilla vs. Megalon.The film that kick-started this trend,Godzilla vs. Hedorah, is often grouped with those two, when it’s actually a really creativeand more serious project that has a lot to say.
DirectorYoshimitsu Banno’ssurreal style may seem shocking at first, but it’s truly unique, and it helps this movie stand out from the rest of the franchise. While the titular kaiju,Hedorah,has an extravagant design,it’s actually one of Godzilla’s most dangerous foes, and it gave the King of the Monsters a rough time. This movie is also very iconic for featuring a scene of Godzilla flying with his own radioactive breath. Not to mention that this filmhas a solid anti-pollution message that has aged extremely well.
4Terror Of Mechagodzilla
Another one of Godzilla’s most legendary enemies,Mechagodzilla, was introduced in 1974 with the excellentGodzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. Similarly to King Ghidorah, this villain immediately reappeared in a sequel that was released the following year, but this second film is often seen as a cheap rehash of the same monster, when it’s actually one of the most emotional entries in the entire franchise.
Terror of Mechagodzillahas what might be one of the most gripping human narratives in the series, thanks to the tragic tale of Dr. Mafune and his cyborg daughter, Katsuna. The monster elements were also stepped up a notch, withTitanosaurusjoining Mechagodzilla in the fight against Godzilla, which resulted in one of the most entertaining and violent monster brawls in the franchise. This was such a perfect way to end the Showa Era.
3Godzilla Vs Megaguirus
IMDb Rating: 6/10
The Millennium Era ofGodzillafilms is quite odd, sincemost of the movies are disconnected from one anotherand rely on bringing back classic characters, like Mechagodzilla or King Ghidorah. But the second entry of this era, known asGodzilla vs. Megaguirus, is undoubtedly one of the most forgotten and severely underappreciated releases in the franchise.
The titularMegaguirusmay not be as intimidating as other kaiju, but she and her swarm of Meganula pose a significant threat to Godzilla. This results in some really fun and goofy fight scenes that are reminiscent of the classic Showa Era films, which was a breath of fresh air when compared to the more serious movies from the Millennium Era. On top of that, the subplot of humans trying to defeat Godzilla by firing a black hole at him was actually very interesting.
2Godzilla: King Of The Monsters
Legendary Pictures’Monsterversehas received mostly positive reviews from general audiences, but there’s one movie in this cinematic universe that has not resonated with most people: 2019’sGodzilla: King of the Monsters.It’s a shame because this feels like a movie that was made forGodzillafans, byGodzillafans. For once, an American studio got the rights for the iconic monstersRodan,MothraandKing Ghidorah, and they managed to create some of the most impressive visual incarnations of these characters, with a great amount of respect for their legacies.
The design of Godzilla himself was also greatly improved, and the giant monster action is a big step up from the previous entry, 2014’sGodzilla. Even the soundtrack is filled to the brim with clever references and homages to previous films. While some of the human characters are uninteresting, as they’re there to mainly expand on the intriguing lore of this universe, and are not enough to take away from all the good elements of this movie.King of the Monstersis an underappreciated movie that deserves another look.
1Godzilla: The Planet Eater
IMDb Rating: 5.1
The trilogy of animatedGodzillafilms are disliked by a lot of series fans, as they’re weird, experimental, and don’t put much of their focus on the monsters themselves. While there’s some truth in these criticisms, the third and final entry, known asGodzilla: Planet Eater, deserves more appreciation, because it is one of the most mind-blowing movies in the entire franchise.
The previous films establishedGodzilla Earthas this gigantic creature that took over the Earth and was literally impossible to defeat, so this one reintroduces King Ghidorah as a terrifying eldritch horror that exists between dimensions. It’s a really fascinating concept that pays off in some chilling horror scenes and an epic giant battle during the climax. While there are some questionable plot points on the human side of things, this entry is way more interesting than the other two films. The entire anime trilogy may be divisive, butThe Planet Eaterdeserves to be remembered as one of the most distinctive Godzilla movies ever made.
