The genre of “weird animals” films known as “kaiju” first appeared in Japan in the early 1950s. In these, enormous creatures face off against either people, machinery, or other animals. These movies frequently touch with post-World War II Japan’s socioeconomic problems, especially the threat posed by nuclear weapons. In the West, kaiju films rose to popularity in the 1950s and 1960s before losing favor by the 20th century’s conclusion. However, interest in kaiju has increased during the past ten years.
The success of Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim in 2013 gave the genre a boost. A new installment in the Godzilla franchise, which was previously reinvented three times in the 2010s, will be published this year. All of this means that mutant creatures and creatures that can demolish cities will continue to appear on our televisions for many years to come.
‘Big Man Japan’ (2007)
Big Man Japan is suggested by u/stanthebat for a different perspective on the kaiju tale; u/UltimateD123 also thought it was “wildly underappreciated.” Masaru (Hitoshi Matsumoto), a man who can turn into a big monster to defend Japan from other giant monsters, is the subject of this humorous take on the genre. The public starts making fun of him after his battles are broadcast on television, implying that he is not as heroic as Japan’s earlier heroes.
Masaru battles personal problems at the same time, particularly his tense connection with his wife and child. Big Man Japan has been regarded as a critique of contemporary Japan, particularly in light of how it interacts with its past. Because of its original, funny attitude and mockumentary style, it has developed a cult following.
‘Destroy All Monsters’ (1968)
If you’re searching for silly, cheesier monster combat, you should check out Destroy All Monsters, according to u/kyrgrat08. As one of the most iconic entries in the genre, it stars a who’s who of monsters, including Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and many more.
The main plot of the movie is an alien invasion of Earth, and the monsters band together to fight back against the invaders. It was a rare delight to see all the giant kaiju gathered onscreen, and it has since gained popularity among viewers.
‘Gamera: Guardian of the Universe’ (1995)
Gamera is a flying, fire-breathing turtle who serves as the universe’s protector, according to u/Chaos20X6. He produced a trilogy of films in the 1990s that, along with Gojira, are among the best instances of kaiju films that are genuinely good, if not great.
Gamera is tasked with protecting the Earth from an ancient extraterrestrial entity that has reemerged after thousands of years in the first movie. The action-packed movie’s spectacular effects were remarkable (for the time) and served to revive the kaiju subgenre and introduce it to a new audience of enthusiasts.
‘Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster’ (1964)
Fifth in the Godzilla series is Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. It debuted the golden draconic beast, which later made appearances in several movies. Three of the most well-known kaiju, Godzilla, Mothra, and Rodan, are also included in the film. Multiple creatures were there, and four years later, Destroy All Monsters would be an all-out monster mash.
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster stands remarkable because, unlike the original movie, it portrays Godzilla as a hero. u/Chaos20X6 reported, “It features all the exciting action of a Godzilla movie while yet maintaining a high level of writing and production value. Observe the subtitles, that is all.”
‘Godzilla’ (1954)
Reddit users unanimously agree that the first Godzilla, also known as Gojira, is the best kaiju film ever produced. Like Superman and Batman are to comic books, the [Godzilla] franchise is the most historically significant to the genre, according to u/Chaos20X6. The first Godzilla movie established the genre’s fundamentals, which still have an impact on modern kaiju movies.
The American recut, which has a lot of extraneous explanation, is worse than the Japanese original. In addition to being action-packed, the movie also examines themes related to nuclear weapons’ hazards and environmental degradation. It has been specifically seen as a reaction to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic explosions that had occurred just nine years earlier. Godzilla immediately became a cultural staple because to the iconic monster design and its straightforward, potent story.
‘Mothra’ (1961)
Another kaiju classic, Mothra, featured the huge moth with the same name. Two fairies are captured by rapacious businesspeople who have found a remote island that is home to fairies. The guardian of the island, Mothra, goes out to save them. Mothra may have a friendlier appearance than the other monsters, but it still has the ability to blast energy beams from its antennae and lay eggs if it feels threatened.
The film has become a well-liked entry in the genre thanks to its themes of environmentalism and the perils of greed. Not to add that Mothra’s unique appearance immediately gained notoriety. It is referred to as “a good standalone kaiju movie in the manner of Gojira” by user chaos20x6.
‘Rodan’ (1956)
This early kaiju film was selected by u/ThaNotoriousNIC as one of their favorites. It happens on a Japanese island where a number of missing miners have been reported. The adventurers continue their exploration and come across weird things, including enormous insects, deep under the mine. But they rapidly realize that the true danger is a Pteranodon, a flying dinosaur that has managed to remain on the island for eons.
Rodan may not appear impressive today, but its visual effects—particularly the use of miniatures—were avant-garde at the time. As a result, the titular dinosaur emerged as one of the creatures that defined the genre and was featured in numerous motion pictures.
‘Shin Godzilla’ (2016)
Hideaki Anno, the creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion, is the director of the Godzilla reboot Shin Godzilla. It’s “in the spirit of the original Gojira (Godzilla), with Goji being more of a disaster than a villain,” according to Redditor u/Chaos20X6. Shin Godzilla depicts the tale of a huge monster that emerges from the ocean’s depths and goes on the attack in Japan, just like the original. It differs from its predecessors due to its original interpretation of the Godzilla legend.
For instance, the monster’s appearance and capabilities have significantly changed from earlier editions. The Japanese government’s poor response to the crisis serves as a criticism on contemporary politics, and the movie also contains aspects of political satire. In fact, it appears that Anno was inspired by the Fukushima nuclear plant accident in 2011 in the same manner that Ishiro Honda was inspired by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
‘The Beast from 20, 000 Fathoms’ (1953)
Despite being an American film rather than a Japanese one, u/JC-Ice referred to The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms as one of “the founding fathers of kaiju flicks.” Warner Bros. produced it, and Eugène Lourié served as the director. The practical special effects used in the movie were ground-breaking at the time and were produced by Ray Harryhausen, who is well-known for his work on Jason and the Argonauts and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.
It has a narrative that is characteristic of kaiju: a huge creature appears from the Arctic Circle and unleashes chaos on a human community. But it’s remarkable for being the first film to use a nuclear test-awakened monster, a plot device that would end up becoming commonplace in the genre.
‘The War of the Gargantuas’ (1966)
This movie was voted as one of user u/Bobinct’s top three all-time favorite kaiju movies, and he described it as “solid” yet “somewhat strange.” Two enormous creatures, one brown and one green, produced by a botched scientific experiment are the focus of The War of the Gargantuas. The two engage in a titanic conflict that has terrible repercussions for humans.
Notably, the movie is a precursor to “suitmation.” In this method, the performers play the monsters by donning suits rather than puppets. Quentin Tarantino claimed it was the inspiration for the combat scene between The Bride (Uma Thurman) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) in Kill Bill. Del Toro ranked it among the top five kaiju movies of all time.
