Movies
RANKING THE GODZILLA ERAS: Giant Monster Greatness, Time After Time
Leaving a screening of Godzilla: Minus One late last year, the same usual conversations of our favorite Godzilla films ripped through my friend group as we processed the spectacle we had just seen (and lamented that Minus One would never win an Oscar, since I had very little faith in the Academy, but I stand corrected).
We praised the film’s incredible cinematography, performances, and all it had managed to do on a reported budget of $15 million. But in my mind, I was starting to think back through the many years and years of Godzilla films that had been made, and wondered: if this was how the current era of Godzilla was shaping up, how did the others? Was the best yet to come, or has it already happened?
Every Godzilla Era RANKED
Today is an attempt to try and organize my thoughts on them, by ranking each of the four major eras: Showa, Heisei, Millenium, and Reiwa.
If you’re curious why they’re designated this way, it’s because each era is named after a corresponding political period in Japan, with each period itself named after the posthumous name of Japan’s emperor.
Except for Millenium, they just call it that because the first film was Godzilla 2000: Millenium.
Weird.
I’ll also include a “Highlight of the Era” for each that details the films I believe best capture the spirit of the time and are just fun films to watch in isolation. So, let’s start with an…
Honorable Mention: THE LEGENDARY ERA
The Legendary Studios films, dubbed the Monsterverse for marketing purposes, are not great. With the exception of Godzilla (2014), they have some truly atrocious writing and world-building. But they are undeniably very fun to watch if you can disregard quality and just love ridiculous monster fights, so I felt obliged to mention it.
They may deserve a whole article of their own just trying to decipher how they ended up that way, but that is not this article.
4. THE MILLENIUM ERA
Home of arguably the best Godzilla suit design, the Millenium era was marked as a bold venture into the 2000s with a series of six standalone movies, each one branching off as an independent continuation of the original 1954 Godzilla. The Millenium Era is home to many good Godzilla films and has no poorly made ones. But it does come in last because it doesn’t have any truly great films in its ranks. There are no showstopping Millenium era entries, despite all the fun that is to be had here.
On top of that, the Millenium films were intended as more of a Godzilla anthology than a line of sequels. Still, that concept is abandoned halfway through since there is a duology in the middle of the era with Against Mechagodzilla and Tokyo S.O.S.. The last film, Final Wars, feels much more like a Heisei or Showa era tribute film that is even more disconnected. Though the Millenium Era has plenty to offer in its many parts, a lack of cohesion makes it less enjoyable as a whole.
Highlight of the Era: A much younger version of myself would say Godzilla: Final Wars was the end-all-be-all of Godzilla films. It’s the “cereal and Saturday morning cartoon” of Godzilla films that will make you feel like a child again. And though that is very appealing, cereal doesn’t have the most complex flavor profile. So, in retrospect, the most balanced and well-made of the Millenium films to introduce someone to is Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. This is kind of a crazy sentence when you read that title, but it is the best of the era.
3. THE REIWA ERA
The fledgling of the list, the Reiwa Era has only really just begun. It might seem strange to rank this above the Millenium films, which are fully developed as an era, but Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One are both solidly top ten Godzilla movies of all time right out the gate, and I can confidently say it has nothing to do with recency bias. That is a real marker of quality, and a great sign of things to come.
They are truly compelling stories that utilize Godzilla perfectly, both as a player on the stage and as a strong thematic core to the narrative. Like the Millenium Era, however, it’s lacking a strong backbone that will have to be built up over time. The animated Netflix features that accompany this era is a trilogy of films that feel fairly far off from any conventional Godzilla film, with some sci-fi plots and creature designs that felt flat at release and upon rewatch.
Takashi Yamazaki, director of Godzilla: Minus One, has expressed in interviews that he has an interest in following up on his phenomenal work in that film. If the sequel is to happen, there’s supposedly going to be a stronger focus on “[pulling] off a more serious tone of kaiju-versus-kaiju with human drama”. If the Reiwa era belongs to him, and more passionate filmmakers with clear direction like him and Hideaki Anno, then it’s safe to say this era is in good hands.
Highlight of the Era: All of it I guess? Again, only two live-action films. I will give a cheat answer and say that the animation and character designs in the Godzilla: Singular Point series are pretty great, so you should also check that out if you haven’t yet.
2. THE SHOWA ERA
The longest-running of all the eras with an astounding fifteen films, it’s incredibly hard to encapsulate a period of Godzilla history as sprawling as this one. Steered by the on-and-off direction of Ishirō Honda, 21 years of Godzilla history seem to blur together in the mind’s eye if you haven’t seen any of these recently. Details mix, and sometimes plots repeat. But this is the quintessential era for viewing Godzilla and understanding how the icon evolved from an avatar of cultural memory and the atrocities of war into children’s favorite monster.
Though the period saw diminishing financial returns at the box office, almost every movie of the Showa Era became a staple through their television releases and engrained themselves into the minds and hearts of everybody who came across them. The period gets a lot of flak for the handful of films that reuse footage and only show sparing creativity, but the hit rate for the Showa Era when it comes to films that are both successful and enjoyable films is uncanny. Few franchises are as reliable as Godzilla, and only one era is consistently better in quality.
Highlight of the Era: The very obvious answer is to say the original Godzilla (1954), but saying it’s a highlight would be like saying the Taj Mahal is a “highlight” of international architecture, it’s an understatement. I will instead go with Godzilla vs Hedorah. I didn’t vibe with it in the past, but can now appreciate it for its very out-there visuals, laying the groundwork of unique environmental conservation themes that resurface in later films, and for having some of the best special effects of the era.
1. THE HEISEI ERA
But the Heisei Era? The Heisei Era is a different animal altogether. Running for a paltry 9 years compared to its predecessor, the cycle that began with The Return of Godzilla followed through to its bloody, wonderful end in Godzilla vs Destoroyah with some of, if not the best, kaiju movies to ever grace our screens.
Getting a high-quality sequel to a monster movie, let alone a trilogy that works well is hard. But there has never been a back-to-back seven-movie hot streak in horror like the Heisei era’s. The cinematography got better with each film, and the effects flounce every other era with ease. The writing is solid and captures all the fun of the Showa era while giving it some emotional weight; it even manages to pull off the especially difficult task of giving Godzilla and his cohorts some real personality and life to them.
Of course, I’d be remiss not to talk about the effects here more. The kaiju designs of Koichi Kawakita are the best to grace the series and played no small part in making the Heisei era a visual powerhouse. His work brought us a score of new creatures, automatic fan favorites like Battra, Moguera, Biollante, and, of course, the menace that is Destoroyah. It’s hard to overstate how influential these designs and the art direction of the films were, since they affect every other movie that comes after them. Heisei is at the head of the pack, and like Godzilla himself, it’s going to be hard to unseat the king of the monsters.
Highlight of the Era: Now, Godzilla fans will know the objectively right answer here is Godzilla vs Destoroyah. It’s a masterpiece, it’s the only film that feels like it’s really closing out an era, and it serves as a satisfying finisher to the insanely good series that precedes it. It’s incredible, no arguments here.
…But I have to choose Godzilla vs Space Godzilla, because it has the best enemy kaiju in all regards. A good friend of mine once said, “Space Godzilla is the most frightening villain of any Godzilla film because he’s the only one to attack Godzilla psychologically”.
I know that sounds ridiculous but trust us. Godzilla vs Space Godzilla is the way.
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My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time watching my favorite app. Luckily, Shudder is not taking it easy on us this holiday season, so I may meet my quota this January. The streamer is bringing in the new year with quite a few bangers. We have classics from icons, a new title from the first family of indie horror, and a couple of lesser-known films that have finally found a home. So, I am obviously living for this month’s programming and think most of you will too. I have picked the five films that I believe deserve our collective attention the most. Get into each of them and start your 2026 off on the right foot.
The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month
Carrie (1976)
A sheltered teen finally unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated for the last time. Carrie is the reason I thought proms might be cool when I was a kid. This Brian De Palma adaptation is one of my favorite Stephen King adaptations. It is also an important title in the good-for-her subgenre. I cannot help rooting for Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) when I watch her snap at this prom and then head home to accidentally deal with her mom. The only tragedy of this evening is that Carrie had to die, too. I said what I said, and I will be hitting play again while it is on Shudder. This recommendation goes out to the other recovering sheltered girls who would be the problem if they had powers. I see you because I am you.
You can watch Carrie on January 1st.
Marshmallow (2025)
A shy 12-year-old gets sent to summer camp and finds himself in a living nightmare. While Marshmallow did not land for me, I know plenty of people who love it. Which makes this the perfect addition to the Shudder catalogue. I am actually excited to see more folks fall in love with this movie when it hits the streamer. If nothing else, it will help a few folks cross off another 2025 title if they are still playing catch-up with last year’s movies. It also gets cool points from me for not taking the easy route with the mystery it built. I hope you all dig it more than I did, and tell your friends about it. Perhaps you could even encourage them to sign up for the app.
You can watch Marshmallow on January 1st.
Chain Reactions (2024)
Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre cemented his horror legacy over fifty years ago. So, it is long overdue for a documentary where horror royalty can discuss its impact on them and their careers. I have been waiting for a couple of years to hear Karyn Kusama and Takashi Miike talk about Hooper’s work and how he inspired them. So, I am super geeked that Shudder is finally giving me the chance to see this film. The streamer is also helping the nerds out by adding The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986) this month. If you are also an overachieving couch potato, I will see you at the finish line next week.
You can watch Chain Reactions on January 9th.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
An insurance investigator discovers the impact a horror writer’s books have on people. I love chaos, and John Carpenter chaos happens to be one of my favorite kinds of chaos. While we talk about The Thing and Halloween all the time, this maestro has given us plenty of horror to celebrate. In the Mouth of Madness is very much one of those titles vying for a top spot among the best of his filmography. To sweeten the batshit pot, this movie features Sam Neill. You know that he only shows up in our genre if the movie is going to be legendary. You cannot tell me this is not a Shudder priority this month.
You can watch In the Mouth of Madness on January 10th.
Mother of Flies (2025)
A terminally ill young woman and her dad head to the woods to seek out a recluse who claims she can cure her cancer. The Adams Family has been holding court on Shudder for years, so it feels right that Mother of Flies is a Shudder Original. More importantly, this fest favorite has one of the best performances of 2025. Which makes it a great time for people to finally get to see it and get in line to give Toby Poser her flowers. Whatever you think your favorite Poser role is, it is about to change when you see her as Solveig. I am being serious when I say that this movie might be the first family of indie horror at their best.
You can watch Mother of Flies on January 23rd.
New year, but same Shudder. I would not want to go into 2026 any other way, personally. I hope these horrific recommendations bring you the good kind of anxiety. Or at least distract you from the state of the world for a bit.
I’m happy Netflix knew I would be back on my bull shit. Now that we’re in January, and the end-of-year lists are done, I’m trying to cram as many 2025 titles into my eyeballs as I possibly can. I know it sounds backwards, but it’s sadly a yearly tradition now. No matter how many titles you cram into a year, there are always a ton more you missed. Because I am broken, I need to know if I missed anything that should have been on my lists ASAP. Then I can drag myself for not getting my eyeballs on things sooner. Or worse, seeing titles that came out after my deadline and would have definitely been on there. I need to feel resentment for their schedules not letting me be great.
Luckily for me, the streamer has dropped quite a bit of new stuff recently. This includes movies and shows that I put off, or that legitimately premiered a couple of weeks ago. So, now I can spiral in the comfort of my own home as I binge all of these titles like a maniac. If you are also trying to walk into the new year stressed out, then maybe this streaming guide is for you, too.
City of Shadows (2025)
When a burned body is put on display on the facade of an iconic building, two inspectors must work together to solve the crime. I don’t know much about this Spanish thriller, but I know winter is the time for an unsettling mystery. The show is based on the first book of the Milo Malart tetralogy written by Aro Sáinz de la Maza. So, if it’s as good as I hope it is, there is a whole world with this inspector awaiting us in print. I’m ready to take all six of these episodes in one setting if the streaming Gods allow.
Frankenstein (2025)
Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Christoph Waltz are among the names in this newest adaptation of the beloved Gothic horror classic. Guillermo del Toro’s take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is clearly one of the top priorities this month. While I skipped it in festivals because of the runtime, I knew I would have a date with it on Netflix this winter. While it has been on the streamer for a minute, I wasn’t able to dedicate two and a half hours to it. I also had watched my friends’ mixed reviews come in, and couldn’t take another disappointment last year. So, I saved this treat for the holiday. Fingers crossed, it is better than people are saying it is.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)
A new group of friends is tormented by a new stalker in this sequel to Kevin Williamson’s other ’90s slasher. I’m indifferent to the I Know What You Did Last Summer movies. Some are less awful than others, and I think this one was fine, but I know the original source material. Which means I know just how far they stray from what the original author, Lois Duncan, was about. So, I look at these movies and the flimsy premise they repeat differently than a lot of my friends. I think it’s an interesting look at how IP gets handled in Hollywood, but I don’t usually get much out of these. Which is another reason I’m kinder to this Jennifer Kaytin Robinson film than some people. While I won’t be rewatching it this January, I think a lot of people who missed it in theaters are going to have fun with some of these kills now that it’s on Netflix.
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025)
The long-awaited conclusion to Stranger Things is finally upon us! Will Vecna take out some of this ridiculously large cast on the way out? I hope so. Will we pretend to be surprised when Eddie Munson gets a few seconds of screentime? I refuse to play this game. However, are we all going to tune in to see how this epic ride ends? You betcha! I hate that they’re breaking this final season up into three chunks, but I will be sitting for all of them.
The first four episodes hit in November. The next three landed on Netflix on December 25, and the finale premiered on December 31. I don’t know what to expect, but I know I am so ready to close this chapter of my relationship with Netflix and the Duffer Brothers. If it is even half as good as season four, then I will be a very happy nerd.
Troll 2 (2025)
A new troll awakens, causing Nora, Andreas, and Captain Kris to find new allies to take it down. This Norwegian monster flick almost got by me, so I’m happy Netflix dropped the trailer for this one. I’m using this as an excuse to finally watch the first one. I’m thinking a double feature is in order, so I can spend a whole day with these trolls. This is not my usual type of party, but after Troll Hunter won me over, I figure anything can happen. So, I will not judge you if you’re not feeling this out of left field pick. Just know that I’m running at it with an open mind and hoping to see some carnage as a reward.
These are just the Netflix titles I’m prioritizing. This is in no way a complete overview of all of the new shows and movies they’ve added this winter. We also know that they usually have a ton of international bangers that they refuse to advertise. So, I end up stumbling over Korean titles every January and then trying to tell people we missed some really excellent stuff. So, pick up your remote and turn your phone off. It’s time to Netflix and Chill in the less sexy and more nerdy way.
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