Godzilla (franchise)#Heisei era (1984–1995)

The Godzilla film series is broken into several different eras reflecting a characteristic style and corresponding to the same eras used to classify all kaiju eiga (monster movies) in Japan. The first, second, and fourth eras refer to the Japanese emperor during production: the Shōwa era, the Heisei era, and the Reiwa era. The third is called the Millennium era, as the emperor (Heisei) is the same, but these films are considered to have a different style and storyline than the Heisei era.

Over the series' history, the films have reflected the social and political climate in Japan.{{sfn|Kalat|1997|p=240}} In the original film, Godzilla was an allegory for the effects of nuclear weapons, and the consequences that such weapons might have on Earth.{{cite web|url=http://www.vqronline.org/vqr-portfolio/godzilla%E2%80%99s-footprint|title=Godzilla's Footprint|last=Ryfle|first=Steve|work=VQR Online| access-date=September 25, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2127-godzilla-poetry-after-the-a-bomb|title=Godzilla: Poetry After the A-Bomb|last=Hoberman|first=J.|work=Criterion|date=January 24, 2012}}Godzilla 1954 TohoThe Return of Godzilla 1984 Toho The radioactive contamination of the Japanese fishing boat Lucky Dragon No. 5 through the United States' Castle Bravo thermonuclear device test at Bikini Atoll on March 1, 1954, led to much press coverage in Japan preceding the release of the first film in 1954.{{sfn|Kennedy, et al.|2019|p=8}} The Heisei and Millennium series have largely continued this concept. Toho was inspired to make the original Godzilla film after the commercial success of the 1952 re-release of King Kong and the success of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), the first live-action film to feature a giant monster awakened following an atomic bomb detonation.{{cite journal|last1=Hendershot|first1=Cyndy|title=Darwin and the Atom: Evolution/Devolution Fantasies in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Them !, and The Incredible Shrinking Man|journal= Science Fiction Studies|date=July 1998|publisher=SF-TH Inc|location=Greencastle (Indiana)|pages=320}} The success of the Godzilla franchise itself would go on to inspire other giant monster films worldwide.

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The initial series of films are named after the Shōwa era (as all of these films were produced during Emperor Shōwa's reign).{{sfn|Solomon|2017|p=29}}{{sfn|England|2021|p=77}} This Shōwa timeline spanned from 1954, with Godzilla, to 1975, with Terror of Mechagodzilla.

The first Godzilla film initially began as a Japanese-Indonesian co-production titled {{nihongo|In the Shadow of Glory|栄光のかげに|Eikō no Kage ni}}.{{efn|Also known as Behind the Glory{{sfn|Godziszewski|1981|p=17}} and In the Shadow of Honor.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=19}}}} However, the project was cancelled after the Indonesian government denied visas to Toho's crew due to anti-Japanese sentiments and political pressure.{{sfn|Ragone|2007|p=33}} On his flight back to Japan after a failed attempt to renegotiate with the Indonesian government, film producer Tomoyuki Tanaka conceived an idea for a giant monster film inspired by The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms and the then-recent Daigo Fukuryū Maru incident.{{sfn|Ragone|2007|p=34}} Tanaka then succeeded in convincing executive producer Iwao Mori to replace In the Shadow of Glory with his monster idea, after special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya agreed to do the film.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=21}}

Tsuburaya initially proposed a giant octopus-like monster,{{sfn|Ragone|2007|p=34}} and later a gorilla-like or whale-like monster to reflect the creature's name Gojira, a combination of the Japanese words for {{Nihongo|gorilla|ゴリラ|gorira}} and {{Nihongo|whale|クジラ|kujira}}. But Tsuburaya settled on a dinosaur-like monster designed by Teizō Toshimitsu and Akira Watanabe under his supervision.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=23}} Tanaka handpicked Ishirō Honda to direct and co-write the film, feeling that his wartime experience was ideal for the film's anti-nuclear themes, despite Honda not being Toho's first choice.{{sfn|Ragone|2007|p=34}}{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2006|loc=00:06:05}} Principal photography ran 51 days, and special effects photography ran 71 days.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=30–31}}

Godzilla was first released in Nagoya on October 27, 1954,{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=103–104}} and released nationwide on November 3, 1954.{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=106}} Despite mixed reviews,{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=37}} it was a box office success. It became the eighth best-attended film in Japan that year,{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=34}} and earned {{¥|183 million}} (just under $510,000) in distributor rentals during its initial run,{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=105}} with total lifetime gross receipts of {{US$|2.25 million|long=no}}.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=34}}{{cite web |title=Godzilla |url=https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/godzilla_1954.htm |website=Toho Kingdom |access-date=19 April 2022}} The film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Special Effects at the Japanese Movie Association Awards, where it won the latter.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=47}}

Starting with Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, Godzilla began evolving into a friendlier, more playful antihero (this transition was complete by Son of Godzilla, where Godzilla is depicted as a more virtuous character) and, as years went by, it evolved into an anthropomorphic superhero. Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster was also significant for introducing Godzilla's archenemy and the main antagonist of the film series, King Ghidorah.

Son of Godzilla and All Monsters Attack were aimed at youthful audiences, featuring the appearance of Godzilla's son, Minilla. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla was notable for introducing Mechagodzilla, Godzilla's robot duplicate and the secondary antagonist of the film series. The Shōwa period loosely tied in a number of Toho-produced films in which Godzilla himself did not appear and consequently saw the addition of many monsters into the Godzilla continuity, three of which (Rodan, Varan, and Mothra) originated in their own solo films and another five (Anguirus, Manda, Baragon, Gorosaurus and Kumonga) appeared in their first films as either secondary antagonists or secondary kaiju.

Haruo Nakajima mainly portrayed Godzilla since 1954 until his retirement in 1972. However, other stunt actors have portrayed the character in his absence, such as Katsumi Tezuka, Yū Sekida, Ryosaku Takasugi, Seiji Onaka, Shinji Takagi, Isao Zushi, and Toru Kawai.{{cite video|people=Takeo Murata (writer) and Ishirō Honda (writer/director)|title=Godzilla|medium=DVD|publisher=DreamWorks Classics|date=2006}}{{cite video|people=Al C. Ward (writer) and Ishirō Honda, Terry Morse (writers/directors)|title=Godzilla, King of the Monsters!|medium=DVD|publisher=DreamWorks Classics|date=2006}} Eiji Tsuburaya directed the special effects for the first six films of the series. His protege Sadamasa Arikawa took over the effects work for the next three films (with Tsuburaya supervising), while Teruyoshi Nakano directed the special effects for the last six films of the series.

The Criterion Collection released the Shōwa era films as part of a Blu-ray box set in the United States and Canada on October 29, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/25/8930381/godzilla-criterion-collection-showa-era-films-release-date|title=Criterion reveals the collection's 1000th disc: the ultimate Godzilla set|last=Patches|first=Matt|date=July 25, 2019|website=Polygon|access-date=July 25, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217223541/https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/25/8930381/godzilla-criterion-collection-showa-era-films-release-date}}

File:Heisei Godzilla.jpg (1992).]]

Toho rebooted the series in 1984 with The Return of Godzilla, starting the second era of Godzilla films, known as the Heisei series.{{sfn|Solomon|2017|p=145}} The Return of Godzilla serves as a direct sequel to the original 1954 film and ignores the subsequent events of the Shōwa series. Despite being released within Japan's political Shōwa era five years before the new Emperor's reign, The Return of Godzilla is considered part of the Heisei series because it is a direct predecessor to Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), which came out in the first year of the new Emperor's reign.{{sfn|Lees|Cerasini|1998|p=12}}

The Heisei films are set in a single, continuous timeline that brings Godzilla back as a destructive force of nature that is feared by humans.{{sfn|Solomon|2017|p=145}} The biological nature and science behind Godzilla became more discussed in the films, showing an increased focus on the moral aspects of genetics. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah gave Godzilla's first concrete birth story, featuring a dinosaur named Godzillasaurus that was mutated by nuclear radiation into Godzilla. Godzilla was portrayed by Kenpachiro Satsuma for the Heisei films while the special effects were directed by Koichi Kawakita, with the exception of The Return of Godzilla, for which the effects were directed by Teruyoshi Nakano.

File:Millennium Godzilla Incarnations.jpg

Toho rebooted the franchise for a second time with the 1999 film Godzilla 2000: Millennium, starting the third era of Godzilla films, known as the Millennium series.{{sfn|Baker|2019|p=92}}{{sfn|England|2021|p=33}} The Millennium series is treated similarly to an anthology series where each film is a standalone story, with the 1954 film serving as the only previous point of reference. Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. are the only films in the Millennium era to share continuity with each other and are also connected to 1961's Mothra and to 1966's The War of the Gargantuas.

After the release of 2004's Godzilla: Final Wars, marking the 50th anniversary of the Godzilla film franchise, Toho decided to put the series on hiatus for another 10 years. Toho also demolished the water stage on its lot used in numerous Godzilla, kaiju and tokusatsu films.{{cite web |url=http://www.bucketmovies.com/bucket-hall-of-fame-the-toho-big-pool/ |title=Bucket Hall of Fame: The Toho Big Pool | access-date=February 16, 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229081538/http://www.bucketmovies.com/bucket-hall-of-fame-the-toho-big-pool/ |archive-date=December 29, 2010 }} Yoshimitsu Banno, who had directed 1971's Godzilla vs. Hedorah, secured the rights from Toho to make an IMAX 3D short film production, based on a story similar to his Hedorah film. This project eventually led to the development of Legendary's Godzilla. Tsutomu Kitagawa portrayed Godzilla for the majority of the Millennium films, with the exception of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, in which Godzilla was portrayed by Mizuho Yoshida. Unlike the Shōwa and later Heisei films, the special effects for the Millennium films were directed by multiple effects directors such as Kenji Suzuki (Godzilla 2000, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus), Makoto Kamiya (Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack), Yuichi Kikuchi (Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla), and Eiichi Asada (Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., Godzilla: Final Wars).

File:Toho's New Godzilla's.jpg

In December 2014, Toho announced plans for a new Godzilla film of its own for a 2016 release.{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/japans-toho-produce-new-godzilla-754751|title=Japan's Toho to Produce New 'Godzilla' for 2016, First in 12 Years|last=Blair|first=Gavin |work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 7, 2014|access-date=November 12, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=November 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112191720/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/japans-toho-produce-new-godzilla-754751/}} The film was Toho's reboot of the Godzilla franchise, after Legendary Pictures' reboot in 2014, and was co-directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi (both of whom collaborated on the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion), with the screenplay written by Anno and the visual effects directed by Higuchi.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/asia/hideaki-anno-and-shinji-higuchi-to-direct-tohos-godzilla-2016-1201464017/|title=Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi to Direct 'Godzilla 2016'|last=Frater|first=Patrick|work=Variety|date=March 31, 2015| access-date=March 31, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://augustragone.blogspot.com/2015/03/evangelion-creator-helms-new-godzilla.html|title="EVANGELION" CREATOR HELMS NEW "GODZILLA" Hideaki Anno & Shinji Higuchi Revive the King!|last=Ragone|first=August|work=The Good, The Bad, and Godzilla|date=March 31, 2015| access-date=March 31, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-03-31/evangelion-hideaki-anno-is-new-japanese-godzilla-film-chief-director-writer/.86598|title= Evangelion's Hideaki Anno Is New Japanese Godzilla Film's Chief Director, Writer|work=Anime News Network|date=March 31, 2015| access-date=March 31, 2015}} Principal photography began in September of 2015 and ended in October of the same year, with the special effects work following in November.{{cite web |url=https://dreadcentral.com/news/123136/new-japanese-godzilla-movie-filming-this-weekend-in-tokyo/ |title=New Japanese Godzilla Movie Filming This Weekend in Tokyo |last=Rigney|first=Todd|work=Dread Central|date=September 1, 2015| access-date=September 2, 2015}}{{cite web |publisher=scified.com |url=http://www.scified.com/godzillamovies/shin-godzilla-wraps-shooting-begins-fx-work |title=Shin-Godzilla Wraps Shooting, Begins FX Work |date=November 1, 2015 | access-date=November 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103194841/http://www.scified.com/godzillamovies/shin-godzilla-wraps-shooting-begins-fx-work |archive-date=November 3, 2015 }} Shin Godzilla was released in Japan on July 29, 2016, in IMAX, 4DX, and MX4D to positive reviews and was a box office success.{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/japan-box-office-tohos-godzilla-916071|title=Japan Box Office: Toho's 'Godzilla Resurgence' Opens With $6.1 Million|last=Blair|first=Gavin J.|work=Hollywood Reporter|date=August 1, 2016| access-date=August 1, 2016}}

After the release of Shin Godzilla, Toho established a "Godzilla Room", a group consisting of 14 individuals that were tasked with studying all the previous films that involved the character and to ensure that further movies would avoid damaging the brand. The group wrote up a new set of mandated guidelines that all feature films and merchandise had to follow, which involved the prohibition of permanently killing off the character and keeping him from preying on "people or things" to ensure that every appearance remained authentic.{{Cite web |title=Godzilla: Toho Exec Reveals the Rules the Kaiju Can Never Break |first=Nick|last=Valdez|date=June 19, 2024|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/godzilla-rules-explained/ |access-date=June 22, 2024|website=Comicbook |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2024|first=Griff|last=Griffin|title=Godzilla Can Never Break These Movie Rules, Says Toho Exec |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/godzilla-never-break-movie-rules-200000418.html |access-date=June 22, 2024|website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}}

In August 2016, Toho announced plans for a trilogy of anime Godzilla films with Polygon Pictures animating the films and Netflix distributing the trilogy worldwide, except in Japan where each film will be given a theatrical release by Toho.{{cite web|url=https://animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-25/godzilla-anime-is-film-trilogy-starring-mamoru-miyano/.113950 |title=Godzilla Anime Is Film Trilogy Starring Mamoru Miyano|publisher=Anime News Network |date=March 21, 2017 | access-date=March 27, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-13/godzilla-anime-film-to-stream-on-netflix-globally-this-year/.113347|title=Godzilla Anime Film to Stream on Netflix Globally This Year|date=March 13, 2017|website=Anime News Network| access-date=March 13, 2017}} The first film, titled Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, was released on November 17, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2017/07/30/godzilla-planet-of-the-monsters-press-notes-from-toho/|title=Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters Press Notes from Toho|work=SciFi Japan|date=July 30, 2017|access-date=July 30, 2017|archive-date=March 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330183707/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2017/07/30/godzilla-planet-of-the-monsters-press-notes-from-toho/}} The second film, titled Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle, was released on May 18, 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2018/04/28/godzilla-city-on-the-edge-of-battle-press-notes-from-toho/|title=Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle Press Notes From Toho|work=SciFi Japan|access-date=April 28, 2018|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726001434/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2018/04/28/godzilla-city-on-the-edge-of-battle-press-notes-from-toho/}} The third and final film in the trilogy, titled Godzilla: The Planet Eater, was released on November 9, 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2018/10/12/godzilla-the-planet-eater-press-notes-trailer-and-pics-from-toho/|title=Godzilla: The Planet Eater Press Notes, Trailer and Pics From Toho|work=SciFi Japan|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331092705/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2018/10/12/godzilla-the-planet-eater-press-notes-trailer-and-pics-from-toho/}}

In January 2018, Toho announced its plans to invest {{Yen|15 billion}} ({{USD|135 million}}) for the next three years beginning in 2019 to co-produce content with Hollywood and Chinese studios who have licensed Toho's properties, such as Godzilla, Your Name and Pokémon. Toho would invest 25% in production costs and would earn a higher share in revenue and manage creators rights, so its creative input would be reflected in each work.{{cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Japan-Update/Godzilla-studio-Toho-to-co-produce-content-with-foreign-filmmakers|title='Godzilla' studio Toho to co-produce content with foreign filmmakers|first=|last=|work= Nikkei Asia|date=January 13, 2018|access-date=December 31, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=December 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203084307/https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Japan-Update/Godzilla-studio-Toho-to-co-produce-content-with-foreign-filmmakers}} In May 2018, Toho's Chief Godzilla Officer Keiji Ota revealed that a sequel to Shin Godzilla would not happen, but expressed interest in a potential shared cinematic series between Godzilla and other Toho monsters akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.{{cite web|url=https://comingsoon.net/movies/news/947139-toho-shared-universe-future-godzilla-films|title=Toho Planning Their Own Shared Universe For Future Godzilla Films|last=Musnicky|first=Sarah|work=ComingSoon|date=May 21, 2018| access-date=May 21, 2018|url-status=live|archive-date=November 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112193518/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/947139-toho-shared-universe-future-godzilla-films}}

In 2019, Toho invested {{Yen|15.4 billion}} ({{USD|140 million}}) into its Los Angeles-based subsidiary Toho International Inc. as part of its "Toho Vision 2021 Medium-term Management Strategy", a strategy to increase content, platform, real-estate, surpass {{Yen|50 billion}} in profits, and increase character businesses on Toho intellectual properties such as Godzilla. Hiroyasu Matsuoka was named the representative director of the project.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/asia/japan-godzilla-toho-expansion-in-hollywood-1203192294/|title='Godzilla' Owner Toho Poised for Expansion in Hollywood|first=Patrick|last=Frater|work=Variety|date=April 18, 2019|access-date=April 18, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418100048/https://variety.com/2019/film/asia/japan-godzilla-toho-expansion-in-hollywood-1203192294/}} In 2019, Toho launched the first official English-language website and the first official English-language Twitter and Instagram accounts for the franchise.{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/godzilla-site-first-official-monsterpedia/|title=Godzilla Site Launches With The Franchise's First Official Monsterpedia|first=Daniel|last=Alvarez|work=Screen Rant|date=May 14, 2019|access-date=July 22, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722082006/https://screenrant.com/godzilla-site-first-official-monsterpedia/}}{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/godzilla-joins-instagram-twitter/|title=Godzilla Joins Instagram & Twitter For The First Time|first=Daniel|last=Alvarez|work=Screen Rant|date=July 16, 2019|access-date=July 22, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722082220/https://screenrant.com/godzilla-joins-instagram-twitter/}}

In June 2019, Toho revealed plans to present the Toho Godzilla at San Diego Comic-Con for the first time to commemorate the franchise's 65th anniversary, as well as being part of its plan to expand the franchise in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/godzilla-comic-con-booth/|title=Toho Studios is Giving 'Godzilla' an Entire Booth at San Diego Comic-Con|first=Ethan|last=Anderton|work=Slash Film|date=June 27, 2019|access-date=July 22, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722082619/https://www.slashfilm.com/godzilla-comic-con-booth/}} At San Diego Comic-Con, Akito Takahashi, the project manager of Toho's Godzilla Strategic Conference, revealed Toho's intentions to have the Toho and Legendary Godzilla films expand together. He also revealed that the option to reintroduce political themes and old or new monsters would be available to filmmakers, should they choose to pursue it. Akito also expressed interest in re-introducing Mechagodzilla and Jet Jaguar in the future.{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/tohos-godzilla-hits-comic-con-with-its-first-booth-part-of-the-japanese-studios-master-plan|title=Toho's Godzilla hits Comic-Con with its first booth, part of a master plan|first=Jordan|last=Zakarin|work=Syfy Wire|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=July 22, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722082439/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/tohos-godzilla-hits-comic-con-with-its-first-booth-part-of-the-japanese-studios-master-plan}}{{cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/57875-godzilla-at-san-diego-comic-con-interview|title=Godzilla Creator Teases the Next Movie After 'Godzilla vs. King Kong'|first=Jake|last=Kleinman|work=Inverse|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=July 22, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722084136/https://www.inverse.com/article/57875-godzilla-at-san-diego-comic-con-interview}}

In October 2020, Toho announced plans for an anime series titled Godzilla Singular Point released on Netflix in 2021, revealing artwork for Godzilla and its principal characters. The project was directed by Atsushi Takahashi, with music by Kan Sawada, written by Toh Enjoe, character designs by Kazue Kato, and animations by Eiji Yamamori. The series was produced by Bones Inc. in partnership with Orange Co., Ltd., featured hand-drawn and CG animation, and had no relation to Polygon's anime film trilogy.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/godzilla-anime-series-netflix-1234794916/|title=Godzilla Anime Series Set at Netflix|first=Joe|last= Otterson |work=Variety|date=October 6, 2020|access-date= October 6, 2020|url-status=live|archive-date= October 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007043721/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/godzilla-anime-series-netflix-1234794916/}}

On November 3, 2022, during the franchise's 68th anniversary known as "Godzilla Day", Toho announced plans to release a new live-action Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus One, on November 3, 2023, to commemorate the franchise's 70th anniversary. Toho also stated that Takashi Yamazaki was the director, writer, and visual effects supervisor for this new film and that it had entered post-production after recently completed filming.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/new-toho-godzilla-movie-release-date-2023/|title=Toho Announces a New Godzilla Film Coming on Godzilla Day 2023|first=Aidan|last=King|work=Collider|date=November 3, 2022|access-date=November 3, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=November 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103232508/https://collider.com/new-toho-godzilla-movie-release-date-2023/}} According to Collider, Minus One became the most commercially successful Japanese film in the series and "helped the Godzilla series become more popular than ever before".{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/highest-grossing-godzilla-movies/|title=The 10 Highest-Grossing Godzilla Movies, Ranked|website=Collider|date=February 25, 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240225204707/https://collider.com/highest-grossing-godzilla-movies/%2339-godzilla-minus-one-39-2023|archive-date=February 25, 2024|access-date=March 22, 2024}} In 2024, Minus One won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, becoming the first Godzilla film to win an Academy Award, as well as the first Japanese film to win Best Visual Effects.

On November 1, 2024, Toho announced plans to move forward with a new Godzilla film with Yamazaki returning to direct, write, and handle visual effects.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/godzilla-sequel-new-movie-minus-one-director-1236197482/|title=New ‘Godzilla’ Movie From ‘Godzilla Minus One’ Director Greenlit by Toho|first=Jordan|last=Moreau|work=Variety|date=November 1, 2024|access-date=November 2, 2024|url-status=live|archive-date=November 2, 2024|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/yAtGm}}

{{Main|Godzilla Raids Again#American version}}

The producers of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! – Harry Rybnick, Richard Kay, Edward Barison, Paul Schreibman, and Edmund Goldman – purchased the North American rights to the 1955 sequel Godzilla Raids Again but rather than localize or dub the film in English, they chose to produce a new film that would repurpose the effects footage from Godzilla Raids Again; filming was expected to begin in June 1957. Rybnick hired Ib Melchior and Edwin Watson to write a script, titled The Volcano Monsters, that focused on a new story with American characters centered around the effects footage. Toho approved of the idea in early 1957 and shipped the Godzilla and Anguirus suits for additional photography to be shot at Howard A. Anderson's special effects studio. Rybnick and Barison originally made a deal with AB-PT Pictures Corp. to co-finance the film but plans for The Volcano Monsters were cancelled after AB-PT Pictures folded. Schreibman, Goldman, and new financier Newton P. Jacobs, decided to dub Godzilla Raids Again into English instead.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=67–68}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tapedreality.com/the-first-hollywood-attempt-to-reimagine-godzilla-happened-back-in-1957/|title=The First Attempt to Reimagine Godzilla Happened Back in 1957|first=|last=|work=Taped Reality|date=October 20, 2021|access-date=June 17, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=June 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617164158/https://www.tapedreality.com/the-first-hollywood-attempt-to-reimagine-godzilla-happened-back-in-1957/}}

[[File:Steve Miner's Godzilla.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Storyboard by William Stout for Steve Miner's unproduced 3D Godzilla film. Stout chose to reinvent his Godzilla design as an amalgam between a Tyrannosaurus and Toho's original design.{{cite web|url=http://www.williamstout.com/news/journal/?m=201404|title=My Top Ten Dinosaur Films – Part Two|first=William|last=Stout|work=William Stout's Journal|date=April 28, 2014|access-date=July 3, 2018}}

]]

{{Main|Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 3D}}

In 1983, director Steve Miner pitched his idea for an American 3D production of Godzilla to Toho, with storyboards by William Stout and a script written by Fred Dekker, titled Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 3D, which would have featured Godzilla rampaging through San Francisco in an attempt to find its offspring.{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-godzilla-movie-you-never-saw/|title=The Godzilla Movie You Never Saw|first=Mike|last=Cecchini|work=Den of Geek|date=August 24, 2017|access-date=July 1, 2018|url-status=live|archive-date=October 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005161036/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-godzilla-movie-you-never-saw/}} Various studios and producers expressed interest but passed it over due to high budget concerns.{{sfn|Kalat|2010|p=153}} The film would have featured a full scale animatronic Godzilla head built by Rick Baker, stop motion animation executed by David W. Allen, an articulated stop motion Godzilla figure created by Stephen Czerkas, and additional storyboards by Doug Wildey.{{cite web|url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/hollywoods-first-go-at-godzilla-abandoned-1983-film-98170407904.html|title=Hollywood's First Go At Godzilla: Abandoned 1983 Film Revealed|first=Ben|last=Bussey|work=Yahoo! Movies|date=September 22, 2014|access-date=January 28, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/your-love-hate-relationship-with-mondo-can-flourish-at-1625205287|title=Your Love Hate Relationship With Mondo Can Flourish At MondoCon|first=John|last=Struan|work=Kotaku|date=August 21, 2014|access-date=January 28, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=January 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129034936/https://kotaku.com/your-love-hate-relationship-with-mondo-can-flourish-at-1625205287}} The production design would have been overseen by William Stout.{{cite web|url=http://www.williamstout.com/news/journal/?p=3549|title=My Top Ten Dinosaur Films Part Two: Godzilla in 3D (1982–83)|last=Stout|first=William|work=William Stout.com|date=April 28, 2014| access-date=September 21, 2015}}

{{Main|Godzilla (1998 film)|Godzilla: The Series}}

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| footer = TriStar's Godzilla (left) and Legendary's Godzilla (right). The 1998 film's depiction of Godzilla received wide criticism from fans, critics, and journalists for its drastic departure from its source material.{{cite web|url=http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/worst-godzilla-ever-why-japan-hated-and-murked-the-1-1573686109|title=Worst Godzilla Ever: Why Japan Hated (And Murked) The '98 U.S. Remake|last=Breihan|first=Tom|work=The Concourse|publisher=Deadspin|access-date=April 11, 2018|date=May 12, 2014|archive-date=June 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619165255/https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/worst-godzilla-ever-why-japan-hated-and-murked-the-1-1573686109|url-status=live}}{{indent|3}}{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/godzilla-1998-what-went-wrong-with-the-roland-emmerich-movie/|title=Godzilla 1998: What Went Wrong With the Roland Emmerich Movie?|first=Jim|last=Knipfel|work=Den of Geek|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=June 17, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=June 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617185611/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/godzilla-1998-what-went-wrong-with-the-roland-emmerich-movie/}}{{indent|3}}{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/godzilla-1998-movie-toho-hated-reason-millennium-series/|title=Why Toho Hated The 1998 Godzilla Movie (& What Happened After)|first=Charles Nicholas|last=Raymond|work=Screen Rant|date=March 5, 2020|access-date=June 17, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=June 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617185705/https://screenrant.com/godzilla-1998-movie-toho-hated-reason-millennium-series/}} In comparison, the 2014 film and its depiction of Godzilla received a more positive response, with praise to its respect to the source material and being more favorably compared against the 1998 film.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/05/breaking-down-the-monster-the-best-worst-of-godzilla-85707/|title=Breaking Down The Monster: The Best & Worst of Godzilla|work=IndieWire|date=May 19, 2014|access-date=March 12, 2017|url-status=live|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114034052/https://www.indiewire.com/2014/05/breaking-down-the-monster-the-best-worst-of-godzilla-85707/}}{{indent|3}}{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 15, 2014 |access-date=May 15, 2014 |last=Scott |first=A. O. |title=Still Radioactive and Spoiling for a Fight: Godzilla, Grandaddy of Movie Monsters, Stomps Back |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/movies/godzilla-grandaddy-of-movie-monsters-stomps-back.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1 |archive-date=May 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517115449/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/movies/godzilla-grandaddy-of-movie-monsters-stomps-back.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1 |url-status=live }}{{indent|3}}{{cite web |publisher=richardroeper.com |title=Godzilla |url=http://www.richardroeper.com/reviews/godzilla.aspx |date=May 14, 2014 |access-date=May 15, 2014 |first=Richard |last=Roeper |archive-date=May 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521023923/http://www.richardroeper.com/reviews/godzilla.aspx |url-status=live }}{{indent|3}}{{cite web|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-05-14/entertainment/ct-godzilla-review-20140514_1_godzilla-max-borenstein-director-gareth-edwards|title=Godzilla review|last=Phillips|first=Michael|work=Chicago Tribune|date=May 14, 2014|access-date=January 16, 2015|archive-date=January 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110013557/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-05-14/entertainment/ct-godzilla-review-20140514_1_godzilla-max-borenstein-director-gareth-edwards|url-status=dead}}

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In October 1992, TriStar Pictures acquired the rights from Toho with plans to produce a trilogy.{{cite news|title=TriStar lands monster of deal with 'Godzilla'|url=https://variety.com/1992/film/news/tristar-lands-monster-of-deal-with-godzilla-100893/|last=Frook|first=John Evan|work=Variety|date=October 29, 1992|access-date=January 28, 2020|url-status=live|archive-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128192603/https://variety.com/1992/film/news/tristar-lands-monster-of-deal-with-godzilla-100893/}} Director Jan de Bont and writers Terry Rossio and Ted Eliott developed a script that had Godzilla battling a shape-shifting alien called "the Gryphon". De Bont later left the project after budget disagreements with the studio.{{cite web|url=https://vulture.com/2014/05/history-of-the-terrible-1998-american-godzilla.html|title=A History of the Disastrous Last Attempt to Make an American Godzilla|last=Abrams|first=Simon|work=Vulture|date=May 15, 2014| access-date=March 4, 2015}} Roland Emmerich was hired to direct and co-write a new script with producer Dean Devlin.

A co-production between Centropolis Entertainment, Fried Films, Independent Pictures, and TriStar Pictures, Godzilla was theatrically released on May 20, 1998, to negative reviews{{cite web|url=http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/worst-godzilla-ever-why-japan-hated-and-murked-the-1-1573686109|title=Worst Godzilla Ever: Why Japan Hated (And Murked) The '98 U.S. Remake|last=Breihan|first=Tom|work=Concourse|date=May 12, 2014| access-date=June 22, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.scifijapan.com/godzilla-toho/godzilla-unmade-the-history-of-jan-de-bonts-unproduced-tristar-film-part-4-of-4|title=Godzilla Unmade: The History of Jan De Bont's Unproduced TriStar Film – Part 4 of 4|last=Aiken|first=Keith|work=Scifi Japan|date=May 31, 2015| access-date=March 8, 2016|url-status=live|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140106/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2015/05/31/godzilla-unmade-the-history-of-jan-de-bonts-unproduced-tristar-film-part-4-of-4/}} and grossed $379 million worldwide against a production budget between $130–150 million.{{cite Box Office Mojo|id= 0120685 |title= Godzilla (1998)|accessdate= November 24, 2021}}{{sfn|Lichtenfeld|2007|p=218}} Despite grossing nearly three times its budget,{{cite web |date=May 20, 2013 |last=Mendelson |first=Scott |author-link= |title=15 Years Ago, 'Godzilla' Was A Flop. By Today's Standards, It Would Be A Hit. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2013/05/20/15-years-ago-godzilla-was-a-flop-by-todays-standards-it-would-be-a-hit/ |website=Forbes |access-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227064250/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2013/05/20/15-years-ago-godzilla-was-a-flop-by-todays-standards-it-would-be-a-hit/ |url-status=live }} it was considered a box office disappointment.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/26/movies/godzilla-roars-in-but-fails-to-devour.html|title='Godzilla' Roars In But Fails To Devour|last=Sterngold|first=James|work=The New York Times|date=May 26, 1998|access-date=August 7, 2016|url-status=live|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129102845/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/26/movies/godzilla-roars-in-but-fails-to-devour.html}}{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/philly.com-the-philadelphia-inquirer-historical-archive-1860-1922|title=It's Big, All Right - A Big Flop 'Godzilla' Takes A Stomping At The Box Office And In The Stores|last=DeWolf|first=Rose |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=June 12, 1998|access-date=August 7, 2016}} Two planned sequels were cancelled and an animated TV series was produced instead.{{cite web|url=https://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2007/01/10/godzilla-2-rumors-unfounded/|title=Godzilla 2 Rumors Unfounded|author=Keith Aiken|work=SciFi Japan|date=January 10, 2007|access-date=April 14, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029080506/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2007/01/10/godzilla-2-rumors-unfounded/}} TriStar let the license expire in 2003. In 2004, Toho began trademarking new iterations of TriStar's Godzilla as "Zilla", with only the incarnations from the 1998 film and animated TV series retaining the Godzilla copyright/trademark.{{cite web|url=http://www.pennyblood.com/godzilla2.html |title=Godzilla Stomps into Los Angeles |last=Schaefer |first=Mark |work=Penny Blood |date=November 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050203181104/http://www.pennyblood.com/godzilla2.html |archive-date=February 3, 2005 }}

{{Main|Monsterverse}}

In 2004, director Yoshimitsu Banno acquired permission from Toho to produce a short IMAX Godzilla film. In 2009, the project was turned over to Legendary Pictures to be redeveloped as a feature film.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm52Zlk_6vU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/Bm52Zlk_6vU |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Godzilla 2014: Brian Rogers (Producer) On Legendary Pictures Film Plans |work=Zennie62 Youtube channel |date=19 September 2010 | access-date=July 20, 2015}}{{cbignore}} Announced in March 2010, the film was co-produced with Warner Bros. Pictures and was directed by Gareth Edwards.{{cite journal|last=McNary |first=Dave |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/markets-festivals/godzilla-stomps-back-to-screen-1118017027/ |title='Godzilla' stomps back to screen |journal=Variety |date=March 29, 2010|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629191339/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118017027 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite journal |last=Kit |first=Borys |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/heat-vision/monsters-director-stomps-gozilla-68246|title=EXCLUSIVE: 'Monsters' Director Stomps to 'Godzilla' |journal=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 4, 2011 | access-date=February 9, 2011}}

Godzilla was theatrically released on May 16, 2014, to positive reviews{{cite web|url=https://vulture.com/2014/05/godzilla-review-roundup-cranstons-terrible-wig.html|title=Review Roundup: One of the Scariest Things in Godzilla Is Bryan Cranston's Wig|last=Silman|first=Anna|work=Vulture|date=May 16, 2014| access-date=February 26, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/godzilla-2014-details-reviews-previews/|title='Godzilla': First Audience Reactions Promise a Slow Reveal|last=Shaw-Williams|first=H.|work=Screen Rant|date=May 2, 2014| access-date=February 26, 2016}} and was a box office success, grossing $529 million worldwide against a production budget of $160 million.{{cite web|url =https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Godzilla-(2014)#tab=summary|title = Godzilla|publisher=The Numbers|access-date = March 13, 2020}} The film's success prompted Toho to produce a reboot of their own and Legendary to proceed with sequels and a shared cinematic franchise dubbed the Monsterverse:{{cite press release|url=http://www.legendary.com/legendary-and-warner-bros-pictures-announce-cinematic-franchise-uniting-godzilla-king-kong-and-other-iconic-giant-monsters/|title= Legendary and Warner Bros. Pictures Announce Cinematic Franchise Uniting Godzilla, King Kong and Other Iconic Giant Monsters|publisher=Legendary Pictures|date=October 14, 2015| access-date=October 14, 2015}} with Godzilla: King of the Monsters released on May 31, 2019;{{cite press release|url=https://www.warnerbros.com/studio/news/warner-bros-pictures-and-legendary-pictures-monsterverse-kicks-gear-next-godzilla|title=Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse Kicks Into Gear as the Next Godzilla Feature Gets Underway|website=Warner Bros.|date=June 19, 2017}} Godzilla vs. Kong released on March 24, 2021;{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/godzilla-vs-kong-clip/|title='Godzilla vs. Kong' Clip: Whoever Wins, Boats Lose|author=Ben Pearson|work=/Film|date=February 26, 2021|access-date=March 2, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303031752/https://www.slashfilm.com/godzilla-vs-kong-clip/}}{{cite web|url=https://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2021/03/10/godzilla-vs-kong-taiwan-theater-exclusives/|title=Godzilla vs. Kong Taiwan Theater Exclusives|author=|work=SciFi Japan|date=March 10, 2021|access-date=March 10, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=March 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311062505/https://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2021/03/10/godzilla-vs-kong-taiwan-theater-exclusives/}} the TV series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters released on November 17, 2023, on Apple TV+; and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire released on March 29, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1326494-godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-release-date-pushed-back|title=Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Release Date Pushed Back|first=Tyler|last=Treese|work=Comingsoon.net|date=August 24, 2023|access-date=August 25, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=August 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825042749/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1326494-godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-release-date-pushed-back}}

In 2007, a CGI Godzilla appeared in the Toho slice of life film Always: Sunset on Third Street 2.{{cite book|title=Godzilla Dictionary [New Edition]|date=August 7, 2014|publisher=Kasakura Publishing|isbn=9784773087253|page=368}} In an imaginary sequence, Godzilla destroys part of 1959 Tokyo, with one of the main protagonists getting angry that Godzilla damaged his car showroom. The making of the sequence was kept a secret. Godzilla has been referenced in, and has briefly appeared in, several other films.{{cite web

|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2007/11/12/always-sunset-on-third-street-2/ |publisher=SciFiJapan.com |title=ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- 2 | access-date=May 16, 2011}}{{cite news

|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/abraham/detail?entry_id=88399 |title=Star Wars Day And Godzilla 2012 At Comic Con? | access-date=May 16, 2011 | work=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=May 4, 2011}} Godzilla guest starred in the show Crayon Shin-chan as an antagonist.{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2016/07/03/godzilla-invades-the-animated-world-of-crayon-shin-chan|title=Godzilla Invades the Animated World of "Crayon Shin-Chan"|work=crunchyroll.com|access-date=2016-08-20|archive-date=2023-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527124142/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2016/07/03/godzilla-invades-the-animated-world-of-crayon-shin-chan|url-status=dead}} Godzilla also appears in cave paintings (alongside Rodan, Mothra and King Ghidorah) in a post-credits scene in Kong: Skull Island. In 2019, Godzilla made an appearance in the anime film Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Movie: Mirai Kara Kita Shinsoku no ALFA-X.{{cite web |title=Shinkalion Anime Film's 1st 3 Minutes Streamed With Hatsune Miku vs. Godzilla Battle|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-01-17/shinkalion-anime-film-1st-3-minutes-streamed-with-hatsune-miku-vs-godzilla-battle/.155463 |website=Anime News Network|first= Rafael |last= Pineda |date= January 17, 2020|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

In 1956, Jewell Enterprises Inc., released Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, an American localization of Godzilla (1954). This version removed most of the political themes and social commentaries, resulting in 30 minutes of footage from the Japanese version replaced with new footage featuring Raymond Burr interacting with Japanese actors and look-alikes to make it seem like Burr was a part of the original Japanese production. In addition, the soundtrack and sound effects were slightly altered and some dialogue was dubbed into English. This release is referred to as an "Americanization" or the "Americanized" version by some sources.{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2014/03/31/classic-media-reissues-the-original-godzilla-on-dvd/|title=Classic Media Reissues the Original GODZILLA on DVD|publisher=Scifi Japan|access-date=September 1, 2014|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403215520/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2014/03/31/classic-media-reissues-the-original-godzilla-on-dvd/}}{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters-american-anniversary-japanese-original|title=65 Years Ago, Godzilla: King of the Monsters Did (Mostly) Right By the Japanese Original|first=James|last=Grebey|work=Syfy Wire|date=April 27, 2021|access-date=January 28, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=January 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129020755/https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters-american-anniversary-japanese-original}}{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/godzilla-king-of-monsters-why-its-bad/|title=How the Americanized Version of the Original 'Godzilla' Film Missed the Whole Point|first=Erin|last=Brookins|work=Collider|date=March 8, 2022|access-date=January 28, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=January 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129020412/https://collider.com/godzilla-king-of-monsters-why-its-bad/}} Similar localizations (or Americanizations) occurred for the U.S. releases of The Return of Godzilla, released in the U.S. as Godzilla 1985, the latter which had Burr reprising the role of Steve Martin from Godzilla, King of the Monsters!.

In 1957, the same American producers of Godzilla, King of the Monsters! attempted to produce The Volcano Monsters, a new film that would have repurposed the effects footage of Godzilla Raids Again around a new story with American characters. However, funding from AB-PT Pictures collapsed after the company closed down and Godzilla Raids Again was instead re-cut, dubbed in English, and released in 1959 by Warner Bros. as Gigantis the Fire Monster.

In 1976, Italian director Luigi Cozzi intended to re-release Godzilla in Italy (known by fans as "Cozilla"). Facing resistance from exhibitors to showing a black-and-white film, Cozzi instead licensed a negative of Godzilla, King of the Monsters from Toho and created a new film in color, adding much stock footage of graphic death and destruction and short scenes from newsreel footage from World War II, which he released as Godzilla in 1977. The film was colorized using a process called Spectrorama 70, where color gels are put on the original black-and-white film, becoming one of the first black-and-white films to be colorized. Dialogue was dubbed into Italian and new music was added. After the initial Italian run, the negative became Toho's property and prints have only been exhibited in Italy from that time onward. Italian firm Yamato Video at one time intended to release the colorized version on a two-disc DVD along with the original Godzilla.{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/05/31/talking-cozzilla-an-interview-with-italian-godzilla-director-luigi-cozzi/|title=Talking COZZILLA: An Interview with Italian GODZILLA Director Luigi Cozzi|first=John|last=DeSentis|work=SciFi Japan|date=May 31, 2009|access-date=November 7, 2019|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108023002/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/05/31/talking-cozzilla-an-interview-with-italian-godzilla-director-luigi-cozzi/}}

This list includes American versions of Toho originals. There are no critic scores for Return of Godzilla, however the recut American version of the film Godzilla 1985 does.