Whether you’re just getting into the Godzilla movies or are a longtime fan who’s eagerly awaiting Godzilla x Kong: Supernova or the Godzilla Minus One sequel, our general take is that anytime is a good time for a Godzilla franchise rewatch. But with so many films to pick from, (some of them which are worth skipping), it can be overwhelming to know which to watch. Here’s our curated shortlist of the best Godzilla movies in watch order.
What’s the best order to watch the Godzilla movies?
As of 2025, the Godzilla franchise spans 38 films, and there’s no sign of slowing down. Created by Japan’s Toho studio, Godzilla is one of the longest-running monster series in cinematic history. It’s a long enough-running franchise that there are empiric eras that run alongside it, starting with the original Godzilla (1954) and spanning the Showa, Heisei, Millennium, and Reiwa eras. There are more than a few standout entries in films like Shin Godzilla (2016) and the animated Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters trilogy (2017–2018).
The U.S. has also contributed to TriStar’s 1998 Godzilla and Legendary’s MonsterVerse, which includes Godzilla (2014), Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) continuing the saga.
That said, we could give you the complete release order and let you dive in, but to make this list truly useful for newcomers to the Godzilla universe, we’ve narrowed it down to the essential films. We’re splitting the picks into two groups: the Japanese-made movies and the American studio MonsterVerse.
Toho Co.
Godzilla (1954)
Ishirō Honda directed the original film that launched the Godzilla franchise. Serving as a metaphor for nuclear destruction in the aftermath of WWII, the movie follows a nuclear-modified Godzilla as it emerges from the depths to wreak havoc on Tokyo. While it satisfies the classic monster movie formula — think Creature from the Black Lagoon — it goes further, delivering truly haunting imagery that offers a stoic reflection on the atomic bombings. The result is a harrowing, unforgettable experience. Fun fact: Actor Haruo Nakajima wore a 200+ pound rubber suit in sweltering conditions, making filming physically grueling. The film’s iconic siren-like roar was created by composer Akira Ifukube rubbing a leather glove along the strings of a contrabass.
Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
In this fan-favorite kaiju showdown, Godzilla takes on Mothra, a giant moth deity revered by islanders. Giving us a story that combines both monster action and folklore, the film is a standout for themes of environmentalism, corporate greed, annihilation, and redemption. This is easily considered one of the best Godzilla movies ever made. If you’re a newcomer to the Godzilla franchise, this one is not to be missed.
The Return of Godzilla (1984)
Directed by Koji Hashimoto, The Return of Godzilla marks the start of the Heisei era and acts as a direct sequel to the original 1954 film, ignoring the later Showa-era continuity. The story begins with Godzilla emerging from a volcano near Hokkaido and immediately wreaking destruction on nearby towns. As Japan reels from the initial attacks, the military scrambles to stop the monster. Unfortunately for everyone, conventional weapons prove ineffective. Scientists and government officials race to develop a new weapon called the Super X. As you might expect for a 1980s monster movie with plenty of political plot points, this one is full of Cold War tension and metatheatrical commentary.
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
Set in the Heisei era, this film introduces time travel and aliens into the Godzilla mythos, when Godzilla faces the powerful three-headed dragon King Ghidorah. Again, we’ve got the high stakes of potential global destruction moving the plot forward. The story begins with a team traveling back to World War II to change history, which switches up the usual monster-versus-monster action. For the cinephile nerds, it is interesting to note the film’s effects were achieved by combining traditional suitmation with advanced miniatures and early CGI enhancements. In terms of quality, Ghidorah is one of the most visually complex kaiju of the era. Definitely worth a watch for this achievement in film alone.
Shin Godzilla (2016)
Shin Godzilla is one of the best-loved Godzilla films in the franchise and is arguably the best Godzilla film ever made. It begins with the Coast Guard investigating an abandoned yacht before a grotesquely evolving creature emerges, wreaking havoc. While the movie isn’t completely lacking in nuclear dino-action, it really centers its lens more heavily on the political sphere and the slow governmental response to the series of attacks. While politicians fumble through bureaucracy and the U.S. threatens nuclear intervention, a ragtag team of scientists and civil servants ultimately steps up to save Japan. Directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, with Anno also writing the script, Shin Godzilla earned critical acclaim in Japan for its sense of realism and homage to the 1954 original.
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus One is widely regarded as one of the best Godzilla films to date, and indeed the strongest recent entry. It is also the highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla film ever made. The story begins in 1945, when a kamikaze pilot lands on a remote island in need of repairs. That night, Godzilla attacks, leaving only two survivors. Haunted by survivor’s guilt, the pilot returns to a nuclear-ravaged Tokyo. The survivors in this war-torn city, now without a military presence, come together to make a final stand against the unstoppable monster. Beyond its record-breaking box office success, Godzilla Minus One became the first Godzilla film to win the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
MonsterVerse
Godzilla (2014)
After a ten-year hiatus from the big screen, Godzilla (2014) ignores the 1998 remake and reintroduces the King of the Monsters to a new generation. Thus, we get the launching of the MonsterVerse, a shared universe of Toho creatures produced by Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film opens in Japan with a mysterious nuclear meltdown that tears a family apart. Years later, the adult son (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) returns after his father (Bryan Cranston) is detained for trespassing in a quarantined zone, determined to uncover the truth behind the disaster.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
In the sequel to Godzilla (2014), the writers set up Godzilla to face multiple kaiju, including Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah. Our general stakes are driven up by the threat of titans and their ultimate face-off for supremacy. For this one, filmmakers consulted Toho to honor classic kaiju designs while adapting them for modern audiences. It’s a nice ode to the originals and manages to keep the spirit of the Japanese films alive, even as movie-making technology advances. There’s nothing worse than a movie feeling soulless, and fortunately, despite its box-office blockbuster quality, it still holds to the past nicely.
Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) is a scientist working with the eco-terrorist organization Monarch. She develops a device that can communicate with and awaken Titans. When her daughter is kidnapped, Emma’s device falls into the wrong hands and unintentionally awakens ancient monsters. This movie effectively gives us a very entertaining monster menagerie — Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and the fearsome three-headed King Ghidorah.
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
Directed by Adam Wingard, Godzilla vs. Kong finally gives us the long-awaited clash between these two iconic titans. This movie is very different than the 2014 Godzilla in terms of spectacle. Now, if you’re someone who likes spectacle, you’ll probably be very into this. We’d call it big, dumb fun.
This Gorilla against Godzilla story begins with Godzilla attacking human cities (a running theme here), which sparks global concern. This ultimately prompts the shadowy organization Apex Cybernetics to study the creatures. When a plan to transport Kong, who’s currently being kept on Skull Island — you can watch the 2016 monsterverse film Kong: Skull Island for more on that — to a safer location goes awry, he encounters Godzilla in a series of colossal battles that devastate major cities.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
The latest MonsterVerse entry, also directed by Adam Wingard, expands the shared universe with new threats and epic large-scale destruction. Set after the defeat of Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Kong, Kong is in the Hollow Earth searching for more of his kind. It’s hard to be a lonely, giant Gorilla. At the same time, Godzilla hangs out on Earth, carefully managing order between humanity and the colossal titans. That’s a big job for a big dinosaur. The balance is uneasy to say the least. When new monsters emerge from Hollow Earth and beyond, this balance is put to the test while Godzilla and Kong must rise together in an uneasy alliance to protect the fragile equilibrium.
