Godzilla Movies: Essential Classics

1954 - 19748 Films12h 8m4.1 Average

This watch list contains the most important and acclaimed Godzilla films from the classic Showa Era. The curated selection includes the 1954 original that established Godzilla as cinema's king of monsters, plus the most beloved kaiju battles that defined the series' golden age.

These eight films feature the introduction of legendary monsters like King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Mechagodzilla while capturing the franchise's shift from horror to heroic defender. Great for newcomers who want to understand why Godzilla became a global phenomenon without the commitment of watching the entire Showa Era.

There are 11 other watch orders available – see the links up above.

1
Godzilla poster

Godzilla

19541h 36m4.6
Original Title: ゴジラ
Director: Ishirō Honda
Cast: Akira Takarada, Momoko Kôchi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura, Fuyuki Murakami

When ships begin mysteriously sinking near a Japanese island, an expedition discovers a massive 50-meter tall monster called Gojira. The ancient creature emerges to terrorize Japan in this groundbreaking kaiju film that launched the legendary Godzilla franchise.

ThrillerHorrorScience Fiction
2
King Kong vs. Godzilla poster

King Kong vs. Godzilla

19621h 37m4
Original Title: キングコング対ゴジラ
Director: Ishirō Honda
Cast: Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, Yū Fujiki, Ichirō Arishima, Jun Tazaki

When a pharmaceutical company captures King Kong for publicity purposes, the giant ape must face off against the awakened Godzilla in an epic battle between two legendary monsters.

Science FictionComedyAdventureFantasyAction
3
Mothra vs. Godzilla poster

Mothra vs. Godzilla

19641h 29m4.1
Original Title: モスラ対ゴジラ
Director: Ishirō Honda
Cast: Akira Takarada, Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, Yū Fujiki, Kenji Sahara

When greedy entrepreneurs claim a giant egg found after a typhoon, Mothra's tiny fairies plead for its return with the help of sympathetic journalists. As Godzilla emerges to threaten Japan, the nation must seek help from the very creature whose egg they refused to return.

DramaActionScience Fiction
4
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster poster

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

19641h 32m4
Original Title: 三大怪獣 地球最大の決戦
Director: Ishirō Honda
Cast: Yōsuke Natsuki, Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, Takashi Shimura, Emi Ito

When a meteorite brings the destructive three-headed space monster Ghidorah to Earth, Japan's legendary kaiju Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra must join forces to defend the planet from this extraterrestrial threat.

Science FictionActionFantasyThriller
5
Invasion of Astro-Monster poster

Invasion of Astro-Monster

19651h 36m3.9
Original Title: 怪獣大戦争
Director: Ishirō Honda
Cast: Nick Adams, Akira Takarada, Keiko Sawai, Kumi Mizuno, Jun Tazaki

Astronauts discover mysterious aliens on Planet X who request to borrow Godzilla and Rodan to fight a monster threatening their world, offering a cure for cancer in return. However, the aliens' true motives prove far more sinister than they initially appear.

Science FictionAction
6
Destroy All Monsters poster

Destroy All Monsters

19681h 29m3.9
Original Title: 怪獣総進撃
Director: Ishirō Honda
Cast: Akira Kubo, Jun Tazaki, Yukiko Kobayashi, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Chōtarō Tōgin

In this classic kaiju film, Earth's monsters are contained on a remote island until alien invaders take control of them and unleash them upon major cities around the world.

Science FictionAction
7
Godzilla vs. Hedorah poster

Godzilla vs. Hedorah

19711h 25m3.9
Original Title: ゴジラ対ヘドラ
Director: Yoshimitsu Banno
Cast: Akira Yamanouchi, Toshie Kimura, Hiroyuki Kawase, Keiko Mari, Toshio Shiba

When an alien life-form arrives on Earth and begins consuming pollution while spewing toxic acid, Godzilla must face off against this corrosive menace that threatens both humanity and the King of Monsters himself.

Science FictionActionHorror
8
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla poster

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

19741h 24m4.1
Original Title: ゴジラ対メカゴジラ
Director: Jun Fukuda
Cast: Masaaki Daimon, Kazuya Aoyama, Reiko Tajima, Akihiko Hirata, Hiroshi Koizumi

When Godzilla seemingly returns to his destructive ways and attacks his ally Anguirus, the appearance of a second Godzilla reveals that an impostor mechanical weapon has been masquerading as the real King of the Monsters.

ActionAdventureScience Fiction