Mothra, King Ghidorah and Baragon defend Japan from Godzilla, who has been possessed by the souls of those who were killed during the Pacific War.

Once again acting as a direct sequel to the 1954 film (bar a direct reference to Roland Emmerich’s 1998 film – what?), the story depicts Godzilla re-landing in Japan approximately 50 years after his initial attack on Tokyo and incorporates Japanese folklore referencing a sacred beast that protects the country. The military are once again deemed arrogant and ineffective, and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces emerge as the true heroes of the day.

After working on the Gamera series, Shūsuke Kaneko took on Godzilla in this fiery, bombastic thrill ride. The frenetic pace culminates in a heart-in-the-mouth climax involving miniature submarines, a TV reporter gone rogue and an infusion by a self-sacrificing Mothra that brings the 3000-year-old King Ghidorah to the fore. Premiering at the 16th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2001, the film has been cited as a favourite of Godzilla Minus One director Takashi Yamazaki and a direct influence on his breakout Oscar-winning smash film from 2022.

“Has consistently stirring action sequences and tight pacing … Surely one of the best instalments in the franchise.” – Film Inquiry

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