How to Watch the Godzilla Movies in Order
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Godzilla, King of the Monsters, has been a pop culture icon for over half a century. Unfortunately, due to all sorts of distribution rights issues, many Western audiences have never been able to watch some of the original Toho films. For a long time, most of the movies were unavailable on streaming platforms, so hunting down pricey DVDs was your only option.
However, the age of streaming video has (mostly) solved this issue. You can now watch Legendary's MonsterVerse movies on Max, the original Godzilla film on The Criterion Channel, and more obscure entries on free streaming services like Pluto TV. It's never been a better time to marathon some of the best kaiju films around. Here's how to watch all the Godzilla films—both Japanese and American—in order.
How Many Godzilla Movies Are There?
Godzilla appears in many films, but how many exactly comes down to which movies you want to count. In total, there are 30 live-action, Japanese-produced films across four different "eras." The first 15 make up the Shōwa era, the next seven are from the Heisei era, the next six make up the Millennium era, and the Reiwa era includes two live-action films and three anime movies.
There are five American-made films as well. Several of the original Japanese films were also re-cut for American audiences, adding to the confusion of just how many films exist. It should be noted that continuity between the different eras becomes wonky with numerous reboots and relaunches. It's completely up to you whether or not any of this matters.
Considering these are kaiju movies that focus on monster fights and rampant destruction, continuity doesn't seem super important. If you want to enjoy Godzilla through the years, start from the beginning and work your way down. If you prefer something closer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, check out the MonsterVerse movies first—there are no rules here.
Shōwa Era (1954 - 1975)
Named after the reign of Japanese Emperor Hirohito, the Shōwa era is made up of the films produced between 1954 and 1975. That includes the original movie, as well as the subsequent kaiju films that introduced the likes of Mothra, Ghidorah, and Mechagodzilla.
Godzilla (1954)
In the movie that started it all, Japan must deal with the sudden appearance of a destructive monster following recent atomic bomb testing. An Americanized edit of the film also exists, titled Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
Crackle - Original & US re-edit
Criterion Channel - Original & US re-edit
Fubo - Original & US re-edit
Max - Original
Philo - Original
The Roku Channel - Original & US re-edit
Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
Godzilla returns to threaten Japan, engaging in a fierce battle against the giant Ankylosaurus named Anguirus. A re-edited and dubbed version of the film was released in the US, called Gigantis, the Fire Monster.
Fubo (US re-edit)
The Roku Channel (US re-edit)
King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
Decades before the MonsterVerse was born, Japan's Godzilla fought America's King Kong on top of Mount Fuji. The success of this film encouraged Toho to prioritize more Godzilla films. Unfortunately, the movie is not as readily available online as the other films of this era.
The Internet Archive - Original & English Dub
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
Following up on Toho's 1961 Mothra film, humanity turns to the insect god Mothra for help in order to stop Godzilla. There's also an Americanized version of the film, Godzilla vs. The Thing.
The Roku Channel (US re-edit)
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
When an extraterrestrial comes to Earth to warn humanity about the coming of the three-headed dragon King Ghidorah, Japan must bring together Godzilla, Mothra, and Rodan in order to save the world. This film was known as Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster in the United States.
Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)
Aliens from Planet X request the use of Godzilla and Rodan against the attacking King Ghidorah. However, these aliens have a different plan that includes all three monsters. Released in the US five years later, it was billed under the name Monster Zero.
The Roku Channel (English Dub)
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)
Set on a remote island controlled by a terrorist organization, this film sees Godzilla reawaken to fight against a giant lobster known as Ebirah. When the movie was released in the United States, it was titled Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster.
Son of Godzilla (1967)
As the title suggests, Godzilla becomes a father in this film. After hatching from an egg, Minilla is mentored by the King of the Monsters in the art of being Godzilla. The two must then fight giant praying mantises and spiders on a tropical island.
Crackle (English Dub)
Criterion Channel - Original & English Dub
Destroy All Monsters (1968)
In the near future, humanity has achieved world peace and giant monsters are relegated to Monster Island. When aliens mind-control Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, and others, they are sent to destroy the world's capitals. It culminates in an all-out battle against King Ghidorah.
Crackle (English Dub)
Criterion Channel - Original & English Dub
Amazon Prime Video (English Dub)
All Monsters Attack (1969)
A schoolboy learns to overcome his fear of bullies after dreaming about Godzilla and Minilla, and seeing the little monster overcome his own problems with an abusive monster. When the film was released in the United States, it was billed under the name Godzilla's Revenge.
Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)
When Hedorah appears on Earth, the shape-shifting monster that is powered by pollution proves to be more than a match for Godzilla. The film was released as Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster in the United States.
Crackle (US version)
Fubo (US version)
The Roku Channel (US version)
Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)
A race of cockroach aliens use Gigan and King Ghidorah in a plot to destroy humanity and take over the Earth. Only Godzilla and Anguirus stand in their way of world domination. When the film was released internationally five years later, it was known as Godzilla on Monster Island in the US and War of the Monsters in the UK.
Fubo (US version)
Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)
When an undersea civilization is disturbed by nuclear testing, they send their champion Megalon to get revenge. The film culminates in a tag-team battle between Godzilla and Jet Jaguar against Megalon and Gigan.
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)
The sudden appearance of a violent Godzilla imposter sees the true King of the Monsters team up with the guardian deity King Caesar to take on the powerful Mechagodzilla. This movie was released internationally as both Godzilla vs. the Bionic Monster and Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster.
Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)
Following directly on the events of the last film, Mechagodzilla is rebuilt and its alien creators work with a mad scientist to destroy the world. Godzilla must then defeat the mechanical doppelganger and Titanosaurus. This movie was released internationally as both Monsters From an Unknown Planet and The Terror of Godzilla.
Crackle (English Dub)
Criterion Channel - Original & English Dub
Heisei Era (1984 - 1995)
Following the financial disappointment of Terror of Mechagodzilla, Toho took a break from Godzilla movies before coming back and rebooting the series. These films, produced under the new emperor of Japan, returned Godzilla as a threat to mankind and focused on the biology of the mutated monster.
The Return of Godzilla (1984)
Ignoring all the other films after the original, The Return of Godzilla sees the monster resurface in the midst of the Cold War. With the world's superpowers at odds, Japan must defend against Godzilla's new attack. A heavily edited US version was released as Godzilla 1985.
Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
Following Godzilla's previous defeat, its genetic material is recovered for experimental purposes. A corporate battle for the control of the cells results in a fight between the monster and a human-plant-Godzilla hybrid known as Biollante.
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
Time travelers from the future plan to go back in time and prevent Godzilla from ever being created. However, they also plot to create King Ghidorah and destroy Japan. In the end, the two monsters battle to decide the fate of the world.
Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992)
When a meteoroid crashes to Earth and reawakens Godzilla, the monster becomes embroiled in a centuries-old conflict between Mothra and her counterpart Battra. The movie was named Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth for the direct-to-video release in the United States.
The Internet Archive - Original & English Dub
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)
In order to better defend against Godzilla, Japan creates a military task force to stop future attacks. After creating Mechagodzilla and discovering Baby Godzilla, the agency invokes the ire of Godzilla and an epic battle ensues.
The Internet Archive (English Dub)
Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)
When Godzilla's cells are irradiated in space, it creates SpaceGodzilla, a powerful clone of the monster. The real Godzilla must work together with Japan's M.O.G.U.E.R.A. mecha in order to prevent SpaceGodzilla from destroying the planet.
The Internet Archive (English Dub)
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995)
After years of absorbing radiation, Godzilla is on the verge of a nuclear meltdown that could destroy the entire planet. As Japan attempts to resolve the issue, Godzilla is attacked by Destoroyah and one final battle ensues.
The Internet Archive (English Dub)
Millennium Era (1999 - 2004)
Toho once again rebooted the Godzilla franchise with the Millennium series, using only the original Godzilla film and working from there. Most of the films in this era are standalone stories, creating something of an anthology series for the franchise.
Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999)
Now considered an unavoidable force of nature, Godzilla continues to terrorize Japan and all humanity can do is try and get out of the way. When a UFO is discovered on Earth, it uses Godzilla's regenerative properties to create Orga, a mutated monster that may be strong enough to kill Godzilla and take over the world.
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)
In an alternate timeline where Godzilla's initial attack was never stopped, nuclear power has been banned and Japan develops countermeasures to stop the monster. Unfortunately, those measures accidentally create a new kaiju—Megaguirus, a prehistoric dragonfly imbued with Godzilla's atomic power.
The Internet Archive (English Dub)
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
Desperate to stop Godzilla's onslaught, humanity unleashes the spiritual guardians Baragon, Mothra, and Ghidorah in order to finally put an end to the monster's attack once and for all.
The Internet Archive (English Dub)
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)
In order to stop a new Godzilla from destroying Japan, Mechagodzilla is built from the skeletal remains of the original monster. Believed to be the ultimate weapon to protect the country, controlling the mechanical Godzilla proves to be more difficult than expected.
The Internet Archive (English Dub)
Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)
Set one year after the previous film, it is the only entry of the Millennium era to share continuity with another movie other than the 1954 original. When Godzilla inevitably returns, Mechagodzilla and Mothra come together in order to take on the recurring threat.
Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the franchise, Toho throws waves of kaiju at the titular monster. In the midst of an alien plot to destroy the world, Godzilla fights Rodan, Anguirus, King Caesar, Mothra and others, culminating in an epic battle with the superpowered Monster X.
The Internet Archive (Original & English Dub)
Reiwa Era (2016 - Present)
After more than a decade without a Japanese-produced film, the Reiwa era began with the release of Shin Godzilla in 2016. Toho followed this release with a trilogy of anime films from Polygon Pictures. Additional live-action films connected in a Marvel-style cinematic universe are also being planned.
Shin Godzilla (2016)
A complete reboot of the franchise, Shin Godzilla follows Japan's attempts to deal with a mutating nuclear threat for the first time. This new Godzilla evolves into various forms during its destructive onslaught. The Japanese government must then find a solution before the rest of the world launches its own attack. The film was previously available to stream on Crunchyroll, but is now unavailable at the moment.
Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2017)
Godzilla's destruction ultimately forces humanity to leave Earth for a potential new home. However, when that new world proves to be unhospitable, mankind and its alien allies return 20,000 years later and attempt to kill Godzilla once and for all. Watch it on Netflix.
Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (2018)
The surviving members of the expedition to kill Godzilla try to reuse remnants of the Mechagodzilla nanotechnology to finally take down their enemy. However, when Mechagodzilla City shows to be more dangerous than expected, will the humans sacrifice their humanity to stop their ancient foe? Watch it on Netflix.
Godzilla: The Planet Eater (2018)
With Mechagodzilla City destroyed and their alien allies revolting, humanity is out of options in their war against Godzilla. In one final attempt, the destructive god Ghidorah is summoned to do battle with the monster, but is this what mankind really wants? Watch it on Netflix.
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Taking place before the original Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus One depicts a confrontation between Japan's military and a nuclear-powered, dinosaur-like creature. You can currently watch the film, subbed or dubbed, on Netflix.
American Productions
There have been many efforts to produce American-made Godzilla films over the years, but success has been limited. Tri-Star Pictures attempted to make a trilogy but only released one movie before calling it quits. The current MonsterVerse from Legendary Pictures has proven to be the most successful so far.
Godzilla (1998)
A reimagining of the Godzilla concept, this monster is a mutated iguana who comes to New York City in order to nest. After the US military proves unable to defeat the creature, it comes down to a ragtag team of New Yorkers who must stop Godzilla.
Godzilla (2014)
In the first film of Legendary's MonsterVerse, Godzilla arrives in San Francisco after spending decades evading a clandestine organization's attempts to destroy it. Godzilla ultimately battles two other monsters as the humans caught in the crossfire try to stay alive. Somehow this movie is not currently streaming anywhere.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
When a terrorist organization unleashes King Ghidorah and other monsters in an effort to cull the human population, Godzilla and Mothra must fight their enemy in order top stop the destruction and prove who is the true King of the Monsters.
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
During an attempt to return him to his ancestral home within the Earth's core, Kong is reunited with Godzilla, his ancient enemy. The crossover film see the two battle it out for supremacy before teaming up to fight Mechagodzilla.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
In the follow-up crossover film, Kong learns of the existence of other members of his species. In order to stop the Skar King from unleashing a second ice age, he must once again team up with Godzilla and fight back.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the first television series to be set in Legendary's Monsterverse and deals with the fallout of Godzilla's emergence as depicted in Godzilla (2014). At the same time, it also investigates the origins of the titular Monarch organization. Watch it on Apple TV+.
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