Godzillahas been a representative of the nuclear holocaust from Japan’s perspective since the creature’s introduction in the 1954 movie that started the longest-running franchise in film history. So,Godzilla has been evil in most of its movies, and one of the biggest surprise hits of thelast decade, which turned out amazing despite low expectations, isGodzilla Minus One(2023), because it brings back the original interpretation of Godzilla, and serves as a poignant war drama. However, during the nearly seven-decade-long gap between the two films, the character has been reinterpreted and gone on many adventures involving other kaijus.
Godzilla’s encounters with other creatures introduce an interesting shift in Godzilla’s traditional role in movies – it has become a hero in a few films now. There is an entire series of Godzilla movies today where it has played the traditionally heroic role, fighting an ever-growing list ofGodzilla movie villains. The character may have been created to symbolically represent the impact of the nuclear holocaust on Japan, but has often turned intoa protector of the very people one would expect it to terrorize. Attacks by other kaijus and extraterrestrial creatures give Godzilla the opportunity to become a hero.
Directed by Ishirō Honda
Invasion of Astro-Monster
Invasion of Astro-Monster is set in a futuristic landscape where astronauts Glenn and Fuji explore Planet X and meet alien Xiliens. Tasked with fighting “Monster Zero” using Godzilla and Rodan, the Xiliens propose a cure for cancer. Tensions rise as Glenn discovers their hidden agenda amid his growing relationship with Miss Namikawa.
The imaginative goofiness of some Godzilla movies may turn the stories into laughable affairs, but they are still exciting to watch because the funny shenanigans pair well with the looming presence that the monster has. The perfect example of a goofy Godzilla storyline from the earliest days of the franchise is found in Ishirō Honda’sInvasion of Astro-Monster, where Godzilla is mind-controlled by aliens after humans agree toextend Godzilla’s help in exchange for a cure for cancer.
This whimsical premise of the sequel toGhidorah, the Three-Headed Monstersets up one of Godzilla’s biggest triumphs as a hero. It fends off the aliens' mind control and fights against them after wreaking havoc for a while under their influence. This establishes beyond a doubt that Godzilla has officially become a protector of humanity against all sorts of threats. It also depicts how Godzilla isn’t vengeful, and is willing to fight for humanity, even though the danger was created by their actions in the first place.
Terror of MechaGodzilla (1975)
Among Godzilla’s iconic villains is the man-made mech suit, Mechagodzilla, which can confront Godzilla and hold its own in battle against the kaiju. It is one of Godzilla’s recurring villains, and bringsa new level of threat every time it appears in a film. Not only did it come back after Godzilla defeated it, it even joined hands with another monster to fight Godzilla inTerror of Mechagodzilla.
One of the most memorableGodzilla villain team-upshappens between Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus inTerror of Mechagodzilla. After a disgraced biologist salvages the remains of the defeated Mechagodzilla, he discovers a way to control the dinosaur-like kaiju, Titanosaurus. Unfortunately, by the time he realizes the mistake in his ways, there is no stopping his creations, and the responsibility falls upon Godzilla to prevent the destruction of humanity.
Directed by Jun Fukuda
Godzilla vs. Megalon
Godzilla vs. Megalon, released in 1973, follows inventor Goro Ibuki, whose humanoid robot, Jet Jaguar, is seized by the undersea Seatopians. They deploy Megalon to unleash vengeance on humanity for nuclear testing, prompting a clash that draws Godzilla into the conflict.
Not only does Gigan continue facing off against Godzilla inGodzilla vs. Megalon, he has teamed up with the beetle god Megalon. Megalon was introduced as a villain against Godzilla after the Seatopians sent him to respond to the disturbance caused by nuclear testing on the surface world. Megalon also teams up with Jet Jaguar, a human robot who is supposed to guide Megalon through the surface world.
However, Jet soon realizes the stakes and approaches Godzilla for help, who is more than happy to come back and fight Gigan.Godzilla and Jet Jaguar vs Megalon and Giganis one of the best fights in the franchise, an epic showdown that belongs in the Kaiju Hall of Fame.Godzilla vs. Megalonintroduced viewers to the character of Megalon, and also showed how Godzilla, as a protector, is willing to take help from and offer help to other kaiju in need.
Godzilla vs. Gigan
Godzilla vs. Gigan, released in 1972, involves Godzilla uniting with Anguirus to defend Earth from the evil space monsters Gigan and King Ghidorah. Directed by Jun Fukuda, the film follows manga artist Gengo Kotaka, who uncovers an alien plot to conquer Earth using the extraterrestrial creatures. The film is a part of the Shōwa era of the Godzilla franchise and features special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano.
Godzilla hasn’t lost many fights with villains, but King Ghidorah has managed to defeat the monster twice, although both victories are debatable. However, Ghidorah, while a major threat to Godzilla, loses more fights than it wins, andthe best example is its unsuccessful team-up with Gigan, another recurring major Godzilla villain. Godzilla and Anguirus team up to confront Ghidorah and Gigan inGodzilla vs. Gigan.
Godzilla and Anguirus also heard the signal and showed up with a strong defense against the duo.
The introduction of Gigan is based on an interesting premise – a person working at an amusement park discovers a tape emitting a signal. His employer’s reassurance doesn’t help, and he is soon proved right about his reservations as the signal has called Ghidorah and Gigan to Tokyo. Fortunately for the humans, Godzilla and Anguirus also heard the signal and showed up with a strong defense against the duo.
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, released in 1974, introduces a dual threat to Earth with the emergence of Godzilla and a mechanical doppelgänger. As Godzilla’s destructive rampage begins, it becomes evident that this mechanical version, Mechagodzilla, poses a significant challenge, following an ancient prophecy of Earth’s potential destruction.
Jun Fukuda’s time directing Godzilla movies permanently changed the franchise and introduced some of the kaiju’s most iconic villains. However, none of them has a bigger significance than Mechagodzilla, introduced inGodzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. After humans discover a rare metal whose origins seem extraterrestrial, the protector Godzilla suddenly turns on the people, to everyone’s despair.
However, the real Godzilla soon emerges to fight this creature, revealing that it is a man-made replica. With the aid of King Caesar, Godzilla finally beats Mechagodzilla after a grueling battle that proves once again how far Godzilla is willing to go to protect people. The interesting thing aboutGodzilla vs. Mechagodzillais that Godzilla becomes the hero against a monster resembling it, sent by beings from another planet. It suggests the aliens who sent Mechagodzilla areexploiting people’s fear that Godzilla could turn on them.
Directed by Gareth Edwards
Godzilla
Godzilla, released in 2014, follows Navy bomb expert Ford Brody as he aids his estranged father, Joe, in Japan amid a crisis involving ancient creatures. These titanic beings emerge to confront adversaries, leaving massive destruction in their path, culminating in a climactic confrontation in San Francisco.
The HollywoodGodzillamovies may not hold up to the standards of the classic vintage Japanese kaiju films, but they are strong stories with interesting reinterpretations. The first of them, made in the modern era, a little over a decade ago,reinvents the kaiju as a protector of the people. He’s not even an anti-hero, let alone a villain, as he makes every effort to reduce loss of humanity and human infrastructure when hunting down his villains.
Gareth Edwards’Godzillais a classic creature feature, a beautifully made blockbuster that explores the helplessness of humans in the face of destruction brought by creatures later branded by the Monsterverse as Titans. Its focus on the very human story of a man trying to uncover the truth behind his wife’s mysterious death provides a perspective that adds a level of reliability to an otherwise large-scale film with stakes that usually feel too big to comprehend.
4Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)
Directed by Yoshimitsu Banno
One of themost horrifying Godzilla moviesof all time isGodzilla vs. Hedorah, which introduced an intriguing villain who has a symbolic significance in the relationship between humans and Godzilla. Hedorah was a microscopic extraterrestrial entity when it entered Earth, but it gradually fed on the pollution caused by humans to turn into a gigantic monster that kills more humans in its wake than one can count.
Symbolically, Godzilla is fighting the consequences of human actions to protect humanity from itself. There is no better evidence to prove Godzilla’s new role as the protector of humanity. In fact, he has to rely on help from the humans, resulting in a humorous moment when the latter fails to come through in a timely manner.
Directed by Takao Okawara
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II is a 1993 Japanese kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara. The film features Godzilla facing off against Mechagodzilla, a robot created by the United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Center. As the battle between the two giants unfolds, humanity finds itself caught in the crossfire. The film stars Masahiro Takashima, Ryoko Sano, and Megumi Odaka in key roles.
Rodan is now a villain in the Monsterverse, but ever since his first introduction, Rodan has been an ally of Godzilla. The biggest moment of allyship came in the form of his sacrifice that helped Godzilla beat Mechagodzilla inGodzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II.Rodan has one of the most powerful arcs in the 1993 film, as he is driven by his wish to protect his brother in the face of a seemingly certain fatality. Moreover,Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla IIflips the script on the original dynamic between Godzilla and humans, as humans steal the egg of Godzilla, thus providing a rare justification for his invasion of Japan.
If not for Rodan, Godzilla would have succumbed to this version of Mechagodzilla.
Not only doesGodzilla vs. Mechagodzilla IIreintroduced Rodan and Mechagodzilla in the ’90s, but it also rewrote the backstories of both iconic characters. The humans recover the remains of Mecha-King Ghidorah to create Mechagodzilla, in the monster’s strongest form until then. This culminates in a surprisingly emotional finale involving Rodan, Godzilla, and Mechagodzilla.
Destroy All Monsters
Destroy All Monsters is a 1968 science fiction film directed by Ishirō Honda. Set at the turn of the century, it depicts Earth’s iconic monsters, contained on Monsterland, unleashed by the alien Kilaaks, instigating chaos worldwide. The narrative includes appearances by Godzilla and other well-known kaiju figures.
It is a rare phenomenon for a classic-era Godzilla film to depict not just Godzilla but also most kaiju monsters in the franchise as heroes. 1968’sDestroy All Monstersintroduced a premise where every kaiju on Earth turns into a hero after initially being relocated to a secure island where they can live in peace and leave humans out of their scuffles.
However, after a group of aliens unleashes various monsters at important locations in the world to initiate a hostile takeover, all the monsters on the island enter residential areas to fight off the extraterrestrial monsters. Moreover,they choose to return to the islandafter they have successfully rid the Earth of the attacking monsters, thus proving that they have actually changed their view of humanity, and have become protectors.
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster is a 1964 Japanese kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda. The film features Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra teaming up against the titular three-headed space dragon, King Ghidorah. Belonging to the Godzilla franchise, this movie marks Ghidorah’s first appearance. The storyline intertwines extraterrestrial threats with political intrigue, as Japan faces cataclysmic danger from the monstrous battle.
Ishirō Honda forever changed Godzilla in 1964 after introducing the new monster, the three-headed King Ghidorah, whose existence gives Godzilla its first arc as a hero. Not only does Godzilla take on a heroic role, it joins hands with one of its iconic villains, Mothra. Mothra, Rodan, and Godzilla all unite to fight away King Ghidorah, who threatens to destroy the Earth as we know it.
Rodan and Godzilla put aside their differences after Mothra makes an impassioned plea to them to unite and face King Ghidorah. Godzilla is expected to behave like a villain, but Mothra is able to convince him to reconsider, sincethe planet that King Ghidorah threatens is home to Godzilla, as well as humans. It’s been over six decades sinceGhidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, but the trend it started of featuring Godzilla as a hero is far from finished today.
