Few genres are more associated with Japan than that ofkaiju, an epic style offilmmaking 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 theJapanese studio Tohoand its competitors. Although some viewers might think of American productions likeRampage,Pacific Rim, or the MonsterVerse franchise, strictly speaking, a true kaiju film should be Japanese in origin.
When looking at thegreatest kaiju moviesever 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 thedirector 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.
Following the incredible success of theGodzillafranchiseduring 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 Monsterborrowed heavily from the mythos ofGodzilla.
Gamera, the Giant Monsterfollowed 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 Monsterwas just the beginning for this kaiju monster, who has become an icon in his own right.
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 movieRodan. 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,Rodantook its campy concept to the absolute extremeand, 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 likeGhidorah, the Three-Headed MonsterandGodzilla: Final Wars. With memorable iconography and dated but endearing special effects, it’s well worth going back and checking outRodan.
The War of the Gargantuassignaled the increased connection between classic kaiju cinema and American releases asfilm producer Henry G. Saperstein arranged for the inclusion of American actors in this film. Along with the other releases,Invasion of Astro-MonsterandFrankenstein 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 Gargantuasincluded every kind of chaotic carnage a kaiju lover could ask for from a film. As a film that even inspired aspects of Quentin Tarantino’sKill Bill(viaHuff Post),The War of the Gargantuaswas a must-watch kaiju release.
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 likeGodzilla vs. Mechagodzillabecame the norm. As the title suggests,Godzilla vs. Mechagodzillasaw the classic Toho monster face off against a gigantic, mechanical doppelganger of himself.
This was a campy and offbeat entry to theGodzillafranchise thatintroduced new characters like King Caesar and Mechagodzillafor 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.
WhileInvasion of Astro-Monsterwas yet another entry in the long-runningGodzillafranchise, by this point, so many kaiju monsters had been added to the series that they felt more akin toAvengers-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 inGhidorah, 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. WithAmerican actor Nick Adams among the cast,Invasion of Astro-Monsterwas 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 withInvasion of Astro-Monster.
5Destroy 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 withDestroy 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 Monsterswas 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 Monsterssaw 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 Monsterswas 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 thatDestroy All Monsterswasn’t a lot of fun.
Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra all came together to fend off a new foe in the kaiju classicGhidorah, 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 Monsterwas a turning point in Godzilla’s transformation from a villain into a hero.
With a well-written story that also markedthe first ensemble monster movie for Godzilla,Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monsterwas 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.
Mothra
Cast
Mothra is a 1961 Japanese film about shipwreck survivors leading a scientific expedition to Infant Island. They discover native inhabitants and the Shobijin, twin fairy priestesses of Mothra, a mythical deity. When the fairies are kidnapped by businessman Clark Nelson, Mothra embarks on a mission to rescue them.
Toho Co., Ltd unleashed theirMothrafranchise 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 originalMothramovie was one of the greatest kaiju films ever madeand 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,Mothraadded mysticism and lore to Toho productions that was carried forward in her later encounters with Godzilla.
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 likeRampageor the MonsterVerse films. While releases like 2016’sShin Godzilladid well commercially, it was not untilGodzilla Minus Onethat there was a Japanese kaiju film that could truly live up to the glory days of the franchise.
Not only wasGodzilla Minus Onea 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 Onewas a modern triumph that showcased the continued relevance of these types of films. With an Oscar win for Best Visual Effects,Godzilla Minus Oneencapsulated everything a modernGodzillamovie could achieve.
There’s no way of discussing the greatest kaiju movies of all time without going back to where it all began. The originalGodzillamovie 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 cleverunderlying themes exploring the traumatic legacy of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,Godzillawas about far more than simple chaos and destruction and had some truly thought-provoking thematic subtext.
Godzillakickstarted 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 originalkaijuGodzilla. With a legacy that’s practically unmatched in cinema history,Godzillais about as iconic as it gets.
