Monster lovers can’t seem to get enough of Godzilla. Though some of his more recent outings on the big screen have left a bit to be desired, Toho’s King of the Monsters will likely always dominate the public imagination. The past year alone has only reaffirmed ‘Zilla’s enduring legacy, with two dueling portrayals of the character each reigning supreme. Warner Bros. and Legendary have steadily been carving out their MonsterVerse, positioning Godzilla as a ruthless anti-hero in a world full of kaiju. But the billion-dollar franchise now has some competition as Toho, the original stewards of Godzilla, reboots its own saga.
Toho came back in a big way with Godzilla Minus One, a reimagining of the classic Godzilla origin story. The Oscar-winning 2023 film was a much-needed return to form, especially in its portrayal of the title monster. Minus One brought the saga back in line with director Ishirō Honda’s original idea of Godzilla, positioning him as both a relentless force of destruction and the personification of Japan’s nuclear anxieties. Its strong story, paired with stellar special effects, made Minus One an instant classic — and it’s also paved the way for another film set in the Toho continuity.
