#15 - King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)

Director: Ishirô Honda

Synopsis: A UN reporter broadcasts a report on the appearance of a prehistoric monster that emerges from hibernation while a pharmaceutical company seeks publicity with a monster of their own. (US Version)

Toho waited seven years to produce the third movie in the Godzilla franchise, their first in color. After watching King Kong vs. Godzilla, I wonder if they might have waited a bit longer. Oh well, at least there are brighter days ahead for our mighty green monster.

PROTIP: For some odd reason, the original Japanese version of King Kong vs. Godzilla is included on the supplemental disc of this Criterion collection, which may cause confusion for some viewers.

#14 - All Monsters Attack (1969)

Director: Ishirô Honda

Synopsis: A latchkey child living in the industrial city of Kawasaki confronts his loneliness through his escapist dreams of Monster Island and friendship with Minilla.

The kid-friendliest movie of the bunch, All Monsters Attack and its tale of youthful empowerment is also one of the lower-budget Godzilla flicks. Unfortunately this results in loads of recycled battle footage, an issue which is prevalent throughout the late '60s/early '70s Godzilla movies and is painfully apparent when watching them in sequence. Aside from this, All Monsters Attack is acceptable Saturday matinee fare, a good one to watch with the kids.

#13 - Son of Godzilla (1967)

Director: Jun Fukuda

Synopsis: A reporter stumbles upon weather experiments on a tropical island, discovering giant mantids, a castaway woman, and an infant monster that Godzilla must adopt and learn to raise as one of his own.

If you're a fan of Godzilla films, you already know that the human drama subplots are nearly as essential as the kaiju battles. After all, they take up the majority of screen time in every movie!  Son of Godzilla features a compelling subplot, but the kaiju action is mostly focused on the child-like Minilla, which means less Tokyo trampling and more appealing to the youngsters.

#12 - Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)

Director: Jun Fukuda

Synopsis: An inventor creates a humanoid robot that is seized by the undersea nation of Seatopia. Using the robot as a guide, the Seatopians send the creature Megalon ashore as vengeance for the nuclear tests that have devastated their society.

This film is probably best known for the introduction of the fan favorite Jet Jaguar, who was intended to be Toho's answer to the super-popular Ultraman. Aside from that, Godzilla vs. Megalon is a mixed bag. There's a brilliant destruction set piece at a dam, an amusing subplot and a decent tag-team kaiju finale. But those Seatopians... ouch.

#11 - Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)

Director: Jun Fukuda

Synopsis: A manga artist becomes suspicious of his employers when a garbled message is discovered on tape. As he forms a team to investigate, Godzilla and Anguirus set out to help defeat the invaders.

A departure from the kid-friendly appeal of previous films and a welcome return to the series' more mature roots, Godzilla vs. Gigan features the familiar James-Bond-meets-Lost-In-Space subplot and a great tag-team battle conclusion. Gigan is one of the more menacing kaiju designs, with his Cyclopian eye and abdominal blade. And of course, the appearance of King Ghidorah makes every Godzilla flick that much better.

#10 - Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Director: Ishirô Honda

Synopsis: At the turn of the century, Earth's monsters have been safely rounded up and studied on Monsterland. Chaos erupts when a race of she-aliens known as the Kilaaks unleashes the monsters across the world.

Destroy All Monsters features a decent alien subplot and an all-star cast of inspired Toho creations, you just wonder if the kaiju could have stuck around a bit longer in this movie.

#9 - Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)

Director: Jun Fukuda

Synopsis: An Okinawan prophecy appears to foretell Earth's destruction at the hands of Godzilla, only for the true Godzilla to reveal his doppelganger as a mechanical alien weapon.

Both Mechagodzilla films are great fun, and the mecha-beast himself is another all-time classic kaiju design. The intensity and brutality of the battles is kicked up a notch, and the night-time set pieces are a definite highlight.

#8 - Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)

Director: Ishirô Honda

Synopsis: Astronauts investigate Planet X and encounter the Xiliens, who ask Earth's people to help save their world from Monster Zero. As one astronaut forms a romance with a mysterious woman, he uncovers the Xilien's true intentions.

Similar to Destroy All Monsters with its campy outer space subplot, but more enjoyable. If you love the retro appeal of classic '50s sci-fi such as Forbidden Planet, you'll feel right at home here.

#7 - Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)

Director: Ishirô Honda

Synopsis: Attempts to salvage Mechagodzilla are thwarted, causing an investigation that uncovers the work of a shunned biologist and his daughter, whose life becomes entwined with the resurrected alien machine.

Terror of Mechagodzilla was the last of the Showa-era Godzilla flicks, after its release the franchise went on hiatus until the 1984 reboot The Return of Godzilla. Like its predecessor, Terror features epic battle scenes and eye-popping destruction set pieces.

I should also take time to mention that the original Japanese Godzilla poster art is simply breathtaking.

#6 - Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)

Director: Jun Fukuda

Synopsis: A teen searching for his brother stows away on a boat that shipwrecks on Letchi Island, where terrorists have enslaved the natives. A large, lobster-like creature prevents them from escaping by sea. Discovering Godzilla asleep on the island, they decide to awaken him to liberate the natives.

Wow, what a sleeper! Ebirah features a terrific subplot and appearances by Godzilla and the majestic Mothra, to think I actually skipped over this movie when going through this set for the first time. It's curious that Godzilla's name is completely absent from the original Japanese title, but apparently this film was originally intended as a King Kong spinoff.

#5 - Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)

Director: Yoshimitsu Banno

Synopsis: An ever evolving alien life-form from the Dark Gaseous Nebula arrives to consume rampant pollution. Spewing mists of sulfuric acid and corrosive sludge, neither humanity or Godzilla may be able to defeat this toxic menace.

Why would one of the worst-rated Godzilla flicks show up this high on the list? Because I love just about everything about this movie, from the psycho-delic direction to the overt eco-messaging to the unforgettable sludge beast Hedorah (renamed The Smog Monster here in the States). Seems like kaiju devotees would rather sweep Godzilla vs. Hedorah under the rug, but with Godzilla movies I find it's often better to lose yourself in the moment and surrender to the insanity. There's plenty to be found here.

#4 - Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

Director: Ishirô Honda

Synopsis: Mothra's egg washes ashore and is claimed by greedy entrepreneurs, who refuse to return it to her fairies. As Godzilla arises near Nagoya, the people of Infant Island must decide if they are willing to answer Japan's own pleas for help.

The original Mothra is one of my all-time favorite kaiju designs. With separate solo movies already under their respective belts, Mothra vs. Godzilla would have been a dream match-up in its time. And of course, the island goddess (and her larvae) would end up appearing in numerous Godzilla movies.

#3 - Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)

Director: Ishirô Honda

Synopsis: A detective is assigned to protect a princess who prophecies the Earth's end with the arrival of a powerful space monster. Mothra and her twin fairies must persuade Godzilla and Rodan to set aside their differences or face the invader alone.

Many fans proclaim King Ghidorah as the best Godzilla villain ever, and it's really hard to argue. In this movie, which features Ghidorah's very first appearance, three super-popular kaiju with their own movies to their name (Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan) team up to take on the mighty golden one.

#2 - Godzilla Raids Again (1955)

Director: Motoyoshi Oda

Synopsis: Fishing scout-pilots are startled to discover a new monster named Anguirus alongside a second Godzilla. The monsters make their way toward Osaka as Japan can only brace for tragedy and relive the horror of Godzilla once more.

Toho's second Godzilla movie—Godzilla Raids Again—immediately followed the successful first film and features the debut of long-time Godzilla ally Anguiris. It would be another seven years until Toho made a third Godzilla movie, but after that they came rolling out in short order for the next 13 years.

Godzilla Raids Again is only the second Godzilla movie and here we have Toho already recycling kaiju footage from previous films, but it's a classic nonetheless.

#1 - Godzilla (1954)

Director: Ishirô Honda

Synopsis: American nuclear weapons testing results in the creation of a seemingly unstoppable, dinosaur-like beast.

The closest thing to arthouse cinema in this collection, this is the 1954 classic that set the kaiju eiga genre in motion (you could actually argue that the first was RKO’s King Kong in 1933, but I digress). My only complaint is that this particular transfer of Godzilla looks a bit dark and muddy. Apparently Toho has a newer 4K restoration that didn’t make it into this collection for whatever reason.

P.S.: If you're looking for the original Godzilla on your favorite streaming service, steer clear of the American version with Raymond Burr, Godzilla, King of the Monsters. It's hardly the same film.

P.P.S.: Other personal kaiju favorites such as Rodan, Mothra, Godzilla 2000 and the epic Shin Godzilla aren't included in this collection and therefore are not on this list.