In the 14th instalment in the series (marking the 20th anniversary of Godzilla), an ‘alien superweapon’ threatens the planet.

“When a black mountain appears above the clouds, a huge kaiju will arise and try to destroy the world. But when the red moon sets and the sun rises in the west, two kaiju shall appear to save the people.” So goes an ancient prophecy displayed on the wall of a cave. In this film, aliens are at it again; they’ve been studying Godzilla closely and created Mechagodzilla as part of their plan to conquer Earth. Made with the same space metal that has just been discovered in a nearby cave, Mechagodzilla proves to be such a strong adversary that he is labelled an ‘alien superweapon’.

It’s up to Godzilla and his friend – or frenemy? – Anguirus, along with protective god King Shīsā, to battle Mechagodzilla while the film’s human protagonists fend off the mysterious aliens that, when wounded, reveal their Planet of the Apes–style appearance. Hugely inventive, ambitious and wildly fun, with an impressive score, Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla marked a substantial shift in the presentation of the franchise.

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