Godzilla: The 5 Best 'King of the Monsters' Movies of All Time

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Godzilla, the legendary giant monster known as the "King of the Monsters," has long been a global pop culture icon since his debut in 1954.

In most of his stories, Godzilla is depicted as a colossal, amphibious prehistoric reptile, awakened and strengthened by exposure to nuclear radiation and nuclear testing.

Godzilla's birth is deeply rooted in Japan's historical trauma following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the Lucky Dragon 5 incident, making him a potent metaphor for the dangers of nuclear weapons.

His films not only feature epic monster battles but also often contain profound social and political messages.

The latest film, Godzilla Minus One (2023), achieved the highest IMDb score of 8.4/10, placing it among the best Godzilla films.

Set in devastated post-war Japan, the film tells the story of Koichi Shikishima, a former kamikaze pilot plagued by guilt over surviving the war and his first encounter with Godzilla.

Upon returning to devastated Tokyo, Shikishima forms a makeshift family with Noriko Oishi and an orphaned baby named Akiko.

However, their peace is disrupted when a nuclear test at Bikini Atoll awakens and mutates Godzilla, who then launches a devastating attack on Japan.

Gojira (1954), the first film in the Godzilla franchise, holds an IMDb score of 7.5/10 and is an original work by Ishirō Honda.

The film depicts the sudden appearance of a giant monster, Godzilla, mutated by nuclear bomb testing.

After a fishing boat is destroyed near Odo Island, reports of an ancient creature known as "Godzilla" begin to emerge.

Godzilla attacks Tokyo, causing mass destruction and triggering a deep-seated fear of radiation among the public.

Scientist Dr. Serizawa develops the superweapon "Oxygen Destroyer" as the only hope of defeating Godzilla, despite the enormous sacrifices he must make.

Also known as GMK, this 2001 film has an IMDb score of 7.0/10 and is the 26th film in the Godzilla franchise.

It serves as a direct sequel to the 1954 original, ignoring the events of the other films in the series, and offers a unique interpretation of Godzilla.

In GMK, Godzilla is depicted as an undead creature possessed by the souls of those who died during World War II, returning to punish Japan for its sins.

To combat this evil Godzilla, three ancient guardian monsters—Baragon, Mothra, and King Ghidorah—must be awakened to protect Japan.

Shin Godzilla (2016), with an IMDb score of 7.0/10, directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, marks the third reboot of the Toho franchise and the first film of the Reiwa era.

The film centers on the struggles of bureaucratic Japanese politicians to deal with the sudden appearance of a giant monster, Godzilla, who evolves with each attack.

The film was inspired by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, with Godzilla serving as a metaphor for natural disasters and nuclear crises.

The film highlights the government's slow and bureaucratic response to an unprecedented threat.

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) is the 22nd film in the Godzilla franchise, with an IMDb score of 6.9/10.

The film features Godzilla suffering an internal nuclear meltdown, known as "Burning Godzilla," threatening to explode and destroy the Earth.

Simultaneously, a colony of prehistoric organisms mutated by the Oxygen Destroyer (the weapon used to kill the first Godzilla in 1954) awakens and coalesces into a deadly monster called Destoroyah.

Humanity must find a way to stop both threats, with the hope that Destoroyah can defeat Godzilla before he melts down, or vice versa.