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Godzilla (Franchise)

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Background

Godzilla is a long-running franchise of giant monster films, games, comics, toys, and any licensed products featuring the character Godzilla. Starting in 1954, the Godzilla series is among the longest-running film series in history.

The first film, Godzilla, was first released in the United States in 1955 in Japanese-American communities only. In 1956, it was adapted by the American company Jewell Enterprises into Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, edited and with added principal scenes featuring actor Raymond Burr. This version became an international success and gave rise to Godzilla's popularity outside of Japan.

Since then, Godzilla has been featured in 29 live-action films produced by Toho, three anime films produced by TOHO Animation and animated by Polygon Pictures, four American-made Hollywood adaptations, and countless books, comics, television shows, video games, toys, and other merchandise. Legendary Pictures' 2014 film adaptation launched a media franchise dubbed the Monsterverse also featuring King Kong, and was followed by a sequel and a crossover film, with another installment scheduled for release in 2024. Toho, meanwhile, released its own reboot to the series titled Shin Godzilla in 2016 to enormous critical and box office success. In addition, an animated Godzilla film was released in Japanese theaters in 2017, with two sequels following in 2018. The next mainline installment in the series was released in November 2023.

The original Godzilla was greatly inspired by the commercial success of the 1952 re-release of King Kong, and the 1953 success of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. Godzilla would go on to inspire other giant monster films such as Gorgo, Gamera the Giant Monster, Yongary, Monster from the Deep, Cloverfield, and many others. The Godzilla series is responsible for pioneering the tokusatsu style of filmmaking in Japan, as well as popularizing the daikiaju eiga (Japanese giant monster films) genre of movies. Godzilla is frequently referenced or parodied in popular culture around the world, reflecting his status as a well-known cultural icon.

Timeline

The Godzilla timelines is split into different continuities and eras, while some Godzilla films may be in the same era, this does not mean they are in the same universe. The list goes as follows:

Showa era

  • Godzilla (1954)
  • Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
  • King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
  • Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
  • Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
  • Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)
  • Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)
  • Son of Godzilla (1967)
  • Destroy All Monsters (1968)
  • All Monsters Attack (1969)
  • Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)
  • Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)
  • Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)
  • Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)
  • Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)

Heisei era

  • The Return of Godzilla (1984)
  • Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
  • Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
  • Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992)
  • Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)
  • Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)
  • Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995)

Millennium era

  • Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999)
  • Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)
  • Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
  • Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)
  • Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003)
  • Godzilla Final Wars (2004)

Reiwa era

  • Shin Godzilla (2016)
  • GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters (2017)
  • GODZILLA: City on the Edge of Battle (2018)
  • GODZILLA: The Planet Eater (2018)
  • Godzilla Minus One (2023)

American films

TriStar Pictures

  • GODZILLA (1998)

Legendary Pictures' Monsterverse

  • Godzilla (2014)
  • Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
  • Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
  • Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

Terms

  • Kaiju: The most popular aspect of the Godzilla franchises are the kaijus ("giant monsters"), these are gigantic sized monsters that are normally threats to humanity and the planet Earth, though some Kaijus server as protectors. Godzilla himself varies on what side he's on depending on the movie or era.
  • Earth Defenders: Earth Defenders tolerate humans but do not make a point to defend them. They see the Aliens as a blight on Earth and destroying them is their primary goal. They protect the world and their home from any foreign threat, including humans.

Knowledgeable Members

Characters

Japanese Media


Showa Era
Kaiju

Heisei Era
Kaiju

Millennium Era
Kaiju

Reiwa Era
Shin Godzilla Godzilla Minus One

American Media


MonsterVerse
Kaiju

TriStar Series
Kaiju
IDW Comics
Kaiju
Hanna-Barbera
Kaiju