Godzilla Movies in Order
Before you jump into the Godzilla universe and start watching the movies in order, here’s a piece of advice for you; Simply skip all the films and watch only these ones;
- Godzilla (1998)
- Godzilla (2014)
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
- Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
- Godzilla Minus One (2023)
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
Outside these six movies, the rest are trash, and you should simply avoid them.
Since 1954, the Godzilla franchise has roared through cinemas, telling the tale of an enormous, ancient creature unleashed from the depths.
Watching the movies in order offers a look at how filmmakers have reimagined this iconic monster over the decades. Starting with the original 1954 Japanese film, Godzilla became more than just a monster—it represented fears of nuclear destruction and environmental catastrophe.
As new titles emerged, they introduced legendary kaiju like Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah, expanding Godzilla’s universe and his role as both villain and reluctant hero.
The series spans multiple timelines, from the “Showa” era’s classic low-tech battles to the “Heisei” and “Millennium” eras’ more intense creature clashes, and the latest MonsterVerse films, which have brought Godzilla into the digital age with awe-inspiring visuals.
Watching Godzilla movies in order is a journey through the evolution of visual effects and themes, from thrilling battles and survival stories to epic showdowns that address the ongoing struggles between humanity and nature.
Whether you’re a new fan or revisiting old favorites, the chronological progression of Godzilla films offers something for every fan of cinematic history and monster mayhem.
Godzilla (1998)
In the 1998 movie Godzilla, a nuclear test in the Pacific Ocean awakens something monstrous, a giant creature that quickly makes its way to New York City. Dr. Niko Tatopoulos, a scientist studying radiation’s effects on wildlife, is called in by the government to help figure out what this creature is and how to stop it. As New York City braces for the unknown, people start realizing that this creature is no ordinary animal—it’s a towering, dinosaur-like monster with an appetite for destruction.
With each step, Godzilla brings chaos, smashing buildings and creating widespread panic. The military launches an all-out attack, but the creature’s size, strength, and agility make it nearly impossible to control. As the destruction spreads, Dr. Tatopoulos and his team race against time to discover Godzilla’s weaknesses. But in their pursuit, they uncover an even bigger problem—a hidden threat that could spell disaster for the city on a scale no one could imagine.
Godzilla (2014)
In the 2014 movie, seismic disturbances and mysterious incidents draw scientist Joe Brody into a dangerous investigation years after a tragic nuclear plant accident in Japan. His son Ford, now a U.S. Navy officer, reluctantly joins him as they uncover the existence of a massive, ancient creature hidden away for decades by a secretive organization called Monarch. When Godzilla finally emerges from the depths of the ocean, it’s clear this is no ordinary creature—it’s a massive force of nature, powerful beyond belief.
But Godzilla isn’t alone. Other ancient creatures, known as MUTOs (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms), have awakened, and their destructive paths threaten entire cities. As they tear through the landscape, the military mobilizes to contain the chaos, yet the world soon realizes that only Godzilla might be strong enough to restore balance. Ford and his family are caught in the middle, racing to survive as Godzilla confronts the MUTOs in a brutal showdown that leaves the fate of humanity hanging by a thread.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
In Godzilla: King of the Monsters, scientists at the secretive Monarch organization are facing a global crisis as ancient creatures, called “Titans,” begin to awaken from their slumber. Chief among them is Godzilla, but he’s not alone—monstrous beings like the three-headed dragon King Ghidorah, the fiery Rodan, and the massive Mothra emerge from around the world. Each of these Titans has unique powers, and their battles create catastrophic destruction.
Monarch’s Dr. Emma Russell develops a device called the “Orca” to communicate with the Titans, hoping to control or calm them. However, an eco-terrorist group led by Alan Jonah steals the device, unleashing Ghidorah to bring a twisted “natural order” to the planet. As Ghidorah challenges Godzilla for dominance, the fate of humanity hangs on a brutal showdown among these powerful creatures. With chaos spreading across the globe, it’s a race against time to see if Godzilla can restore balance or if the world will be overrun by these colossal beasts.
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
In Godzilla vs. Kong, humanity finds itself caught between two of Earth’s mightiest monsters: Godzilla, the ancient guardian, and Kong, the colossal protector of Skull Island. After Godzilla begins a series of unexplained attacks, a team of scientists turns to Kong, hoping he can help stop Godzilla’s rampage. But as soon as Kong is transported across the ocean, Godzilla senses him, leading to a brutal clash between these legendary titans.
Meanwhile, scientists uncover clues about an ancient rivalry between these two species, suggesting that their battle may have been inevitable. As they explore further, a hidden realm known as the “Hollow Earth” reveals more about Kong’s origins and might hold the key to humanity’s survival. With powerful forces manipulating events from behind the scenes, Godzilla and Kong are pushed into an epic showdown, one that will decide which of them truly deserves the title of King.
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Set in post-World War II Japan, Godzilla Minus One (2023) tells the story of Koichi Shikishima, a former kamikaze pilot haunted by his past failures. Now working in a dangerous minesweeping job to support a family he’s reluctantly taken in, he finds himself once again facing terrifying destruction as a mutated Godzilla, empowered by American nuclear tests, emerges. Godzilla’s relentless advance toward Japan leaves a path of devastation, intensifying Shikishima’s feelings of guilt and forcing him to confront the monstrous creature he once encountered on Odo Island.
As Godzilla begins its assault on Japan’s mainland, Shikishima and his fellow crewmates, including a former navy engineer with a bold plan, band together in a desperate attempt to stop the beast. Facing political tensions and limited resources, they plan a high-stakes operation involving explosives and decommissioned warships. With Tokyo’s survival hanging by a thread, Shikishima’s personal journey merges with the broader struggle against this unstoppable force, bringing him face-to-face with his past and the monster terrorizing his country.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
In Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the fragile balance between the massive Titans Godzilla and Kong faces a new threat. Three years after their battle with Mechagodzilla, Kong has made a home for himself in the Hollow Earth, while Godzilla continues to protect Earth’s surface. However, a mysterious signal from deep below triggers disturbances in both realms, pulling them back together. The signal leads Dr. Ilene Andrews and her team into the depths of Hollow Earth, where they uncover ancient secrets linking human history with the Titans’ own legacies. As the humans learn more about these giants’ pasts, they also discover an old adversary threatening both Titans and the world they inhabit.
The signal warns of the arrival of a new enemy, the Skar King, a ruthless leader with ties to Kong’s lineage and a destructive ice-breathing Titan under his command. With the future of both species and humanity at stake, Godzilla and Kong must join forces to confront this powerful force. As they prepare for an epic showdown, aided by allies like Mothra, they face off against the Skar King in a battle spanning from Hollow Earth to cities on the surface, escalating into a fight to prevent global devastation.
And there you have them, folks, all Godzilla movies released to date, sorted and arranged in order for anyone who wants to dive head-first into the Monsterverse.