"Godzilla Minus Zero Night" At Dodger Stadium Announced

Baseball and Godzilla have had an odd relationship over the years.

In Japan, where baseball is a popular sporting pastime, Godzilla has appeared in Japanese baseball stadiums over the years for different promotions.

Now, Godzilla is being feted at Dodger Stadium.

According to MLB.com:

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers will host Godzilla Minus Zero Night, presented by TOHO, for the team’s regular-season home finale on Thursday, September 24 against the San Diego Padres.

The first 40,000 fans at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium for the 7:10 p.m. contest will receive a special Godzilla Minus Zero bobblehead (one giveaway item, per person, per valid ticket upon entering the stadium), and all fans will be treated to a Godzilla-themed drone show after the game. In the days leading up to Godzilla Minus Zero night, several in-stadium activations will promote the event. The themed activities are in celebration of the upcoming highly anticipated new Godzilla feature, Godzilla Minus Zero, the thrilling follow up to the critically-acclaimed winner for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards® Godzilla Minus One.

To read more, go here. 

CBN: "Godzilla Minus Zero" The End For The Franchise Era

Godzilla Minus Zero is set to be released this fall. It is the direct sequel to Godzilla Minus One.

The latest edition of Toho's Godzilla franchise will be shot entirely in IMAX (I'll have to check to see if there's an IMAX-equipped theater in Albuquerque). 

According to CBR: 

The Godzilla franchise is about to change forever, thanks to the upcoming release of Godzilla Minus Zero. The towering Japanese icon of the silver screen is set to return to theaters later this year, following up on the award-winning success of Toho's Godzilla Minus One. The new film will take place two years after the 2023 wartime epic, telling the tale of yet another post-WWII clash with the scale-backed titan.

While Godzilla: Minus Zero is exciting for many reasons, one of the most enticing is how exactly it will be released when it does eventually arrive in theaters. It has been revealed that Minus Zero was shot entirely in IMAX, the first Japanese Godzilla movie to accomplish such a feat. Godzilla: Minus Zero's IMAX status signals the end of an era for the character, whose IMAX adventures were previously exclusive to his American-produced Legendary MonsterVerse films.

 To read more, go here.

2nd "Godzilla Minus Zero" Teaser Trailer Released

The new (or second) teaser trailer was released this morning by Toho Co., Ltd. for Godzilla Minus Zero. It is the sequel to Godzilla Minus One.

Here it is:

"Godzilla Minus Zero" First Look Teaser Trailer

The "First Look Teaser" trailer for the upcoming Godzilla Minus Zero has been released. It looks interesting.

It is a sequel to and takes place two years after Godzilla Minus One.

"Godzilla Minus Zero" Getting Worldwide IMAX Release

For those who are Godzilla fans as well as also being IMAX fans, a big treat is coming this fall.

Godzilla Minus Zero will be seeing a worldwide IMAX release.

According to JoBlo: 

One of the biggest surprises in recent years was the impact Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One made worldwide. I think it was tempting for non-Godzilla devotees to write it off as just another Godzilla movie (although the faithful would wonder what exactly is wrong with that), but it ended up being perhaps the greatest installment of the franchise to date. It earned critical raves (with even Steven Spielberg hailing it), and the box office was outstanding, grossing a huge $57 million in North America. It also won a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, beating out movies with budgets that eclipsed it by hundreds of millions. As such, the sequel, Godzilla Minus Zero, is a major event.

Befitting how anticipated the movie is, word leaked today that Toho and their North American subsidiary, GKIDS, are giving the film a global IMAX release. Godzilla Minus One came out on IMAX screens in Japan and eventually played a limited run in North America in that format, but it looks like it will be getting a more robust IMAX release right off the bat. It hits North American theaters on November 6th, which is only three days after its Japanese release.

To read more, go here. 

Jeff Goldblum On "King Kong vs. Godzilla"

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Actor Jeff Goldblum's favorite movie as a kid was King Kong vs. Godzilla. It was released by Toho in 1962 and the edited American version was released in 1963 by Universal Pictures.

Interestingly, his excitement about going to see the movie echoed what neighborhood kids and I felt in Los Angeles. 

My parents took me and two friends to the Balboa Theater in the Vermont Avenue/Manchester Blvd. area of Los Angeles. The movie was paired with the John Wayne South Seas light comedy Donovan's Reef.

We can laugh about King Kong vs. Godzilla now, especially the gawd-awful King Kong suit. 

The Japanese version was played as a satire on big business. Unfortunately, that aspect was muddied up in the American version. 

Still, for pre-teens back in 1963, the movie was fun to watch. 

Godzilla and Kong Unite Against SpaceGodzilla

Above, the SpaceGodzilla from Toho's 1994 Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla. Photo by Toho Co., Ltd.

The next entry in Legendary's Godzilla franchise, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova had a test screening on February 9.

As such, it has been revealed that the main villain in the movie will be SpaceGodzilla. 

According to Maxblizz:

The test screening for Godzilla x Kong: Supernova was reportedly held on February 9, 2026. It is reported that reactions after the screening are mostly positive, with some negative responses.

It is confirmed that SpaceGodzilla is the main villain in the movie. The character is described as being pretty recognizable compared to the original design.

Godzilla is the main focus of the film and has the most screen time, but Kong still has more screen time compared to Godzilla’s role in 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

SpaceGodzilla is created by a greater threat, which is teased at the end of the film. Despite that, SpaceGodzilla still has his own free will and is not controlled by it.

To read more, go here.

Toho Steps Out Into the World With New Confidence

Above, Toho Studios in the Setagaya section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Two years ago, Godzilla Minus One won an Academy Award for Special Effects, the first Japanese movie to accomplish this.

Toho Co., Ltd. is hoping that lightning will strike twice as they are pushing for another Academy Award. They are doing so with new confidence this time. 

According to Nikkei Asia:

TOKYO -- The COVID pandemic may be long over but Americans have yet to resume going to the movies nearly as often as they used to. Could a three-hour, subtitled, behind-the-scenes drama about the careers of two Kabuki actors turn things around?

Hiroyasu Matsuoka thinks it is worth a shot. Toho, the Japanese entertainment and real estate company he heads, put on a week of showings of "Kokuho," Japan's most popular local live-action movie in decades, in Los Angeles and New York in November ahead of a planned general release next month that is to reach at least 100 screens across North America.

Virtually every one of the November screenings sold out. Actor Tom Cruise kicked off one Los Angeles showing by telling the audience, "This is a very, very special movie, and one that you must see on the big screen."

Next week, Matsuoka and Toho will learn whether "Kokuho," Japan's official nominee, has been shortlisted for the Academy Award for best international feature film. Two years ago, he and the company celebrated "Godzilla Minus One" becoming the first Japanese movie to win the Oscar for best visual effects.

To read more, go here. 

"Shin Godzilla" Stomping Back Into Theaters

Above, Shin Godzilla. Toho Co., Ltd photo.

If you haven't seen Shin Godzilla on the big screen, you will have a chance to do so this summer. It is going to be re-released and tickets are now going on sale.

MSN reported:

GKIDS has officially announced the theatrical return of Shin Godzilla, the critically acclaimed 2016 entry in the long-running kaiju franchise directed by Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion) and co-directed by Shinji Higuchi (Shin Ultraman). Tickets are now on sale for the film’s nationwide release onAugust 14, with select screenings available in 4DX and D-BOX, giving fans a fully immersive experience as the monstrous terror resurfaces in Tokyo Bay, along with a new trailer for the epic take on the legendary monster.

Shin Godzilla is decidedly a quirky entry. Many Godzilla fans didn't like it at first, but some (like me) have grown to like it. It is a take on the kaiju that is definitely different than what fans are used to.

To read more, go here.

"Godzilla Minus Zero" Opens November 6

Above, the teaser poster for Godzilla Minus Zero.

Two Godzilla movies are on the horizon. One from the U.S. (Legendary Pictures) will arrive in 2027 and one from Japan (Toho Co., Ltd.) this year.

The Legendary Pictures feature is titled, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and the Toho feature is titled, Godzilla Minus Zero.

According to Variety:

“Godzilla Minus Zero,” the upcoming sequel to the successful “Godzilla Minus One,” will open in North America on Nov. 6 from Toho and GKids. The release comes just three days after the Japanese release, which Toho says is a rare near-simultaneous bow for a Japan-produced Godzilla movie.

The Nov. 3 Japanese release marks the same day the original “Godzilla” opened in theaters in 1954, now observed as Godzilla Day. “Godzilla Minus One” also opened Nov. 3 in Japan in 2023, going on to become the highest-grossing Japan-produced Godzilla film and winning the Oscar for visual effects.

To read more, go here. 

"Godzilla -0.0" Is Toho's Next

Above, the official logo. Image by Toho Co., Ltd.

The next Godzilla movie's title has been announced. It is a sequel to Godzilla Minus One.

Variety reported:

Toho has officially revealed the title of its next “Godzilla” feature: “Godzilla -0.0” (Godzilla Minus Zero). The announcement was made at the annual Godzilla Fest in Tokyo and confirmed via Toho’s official X account.

And, from The Wrap:

Earlier this year it was announced that “Godzilla Minus One” director, screenwriter and visual effects supervisor Takashi Yamazaki would return for a new installment in the franchise.

Now, at Godzilla Fest 2025, held Monday on Godzilla Day at Tokyo’s Kanadevia Hall, the title for the new film was revealed – “Godzilla Minus Zero.” The official logo was also revealed, drawn by Yamazaki himself (see above).

As to what “Godzilla Minus Zero” means, considering “Godzilla Minus One” referred to the fact that it took place before 1954’s “Godzilla,” well, the official release said, simply, “Stay tuned for further updates.”

Could it be a remake of the original film? Only time will tell.

To read more, go here.

Godzilla's Legendary Comeback

Above, the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in Setagaya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is remarkable that Godzilla is as popular, if not more so, than ever these days.

This can be attributed to the Legendary Pictures series of movies and of Toho's recent movies, one of which won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects.

MSN has posted an article on Godzilla's legendary (a pun?) comeback.

It begins with:

At one time, the Godzilla franchise seemed like outdated science fiction with limited future cinematic prospects. Not only did Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse change those perceptions, but Toho’s Godzilla Minus One proved the 50-meter-tall radioactive dinosaur could deliver an Oscar-worthy performance. Toho recently announced a sequel to Minus One, demonstrating that an “old, outdated” subgenre can still score big - a $116 million global gross on a $15 million budget - in international theaters. 

To read more, go here. 

Godzilla Is Coming To Tokyo's Haneda Airport

 

Above, an artist rendering of the Godzilla display at Haneda Airport.

Godzilla will be greeting travelers at Tokyo's largest airport.

The Big G will be on display at Haneda Airport from December 2025 to December 2026 according to Gizmodo.

They reported: 

The Haneda Airport in Japan is getting a kaiju-sized new feature in the form of a big-ass Godzilla installation. The King of the Monsters is packing his bags to move into position at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 as part of a partnership between Toho Co., Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd., and the Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Visitors Top Over 30 Million

Above, the Godzilla mural at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is funny how Japan had pushed for more tourism in recent years and the result in many areas is overtourism. It seems Japan is the "victim" of their own success.

Kyoto, for example, is hiking its hotel room taxes to supposedly fight overtourism. 

This year, foreign tourism has topped over 30 million visitors, the fastest pace ever. 

According to the Japan Times:

The number of foreign visitors to Japan in January to September exceeded 30 million, passing the line at the fastest pace ever, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday.

The figure jumped 17.7% from the same period last year to a little over 31.6 million.

It crossed the 30-million mark one month earlier than in the previous year, when the annual total hit a record high of 36.87 million, according to the JNTO

This year, the figure may exceed 40 million for the first time, with the autumn foliage season and winter holidays coming up.

To read more, go here. 

Godzilla and "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms"

Above, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms rampages in New York City. Warner Bros. photo.

Godzilla fans, a more sophisticated bunch than average movie fans, are aware that the inspiration for Tomoyuki Tanaka's and Ishirō Honda's Godzilla (1954) had its inspiration by The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms in 1953.

The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms was the first giant monster movie that mixed a monster with the then-new nuclear bomb.

Collider posted an article on the "forgotten" (definitely not by giant monster fans) sci-fi monster movie that came before Godzilla and inspired it.

The article begins with:

When audiences think of kaiju cinema, the image that towers above all else is Godzilla rising from the sea in 1954, a monstrous embodiment of the terrors of nuclear power. Yet one year earlier, American audiences had already seen a giant reptilian beast awaken and wreak havoc on a coastal city. Eugène Lourié’s The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) was more than a creature feature — it was a prototype, laying down the DNA that Godzilla would refine into legend.

Adapted loosely from Ray Bradbury’s short story The Fog Horn, 20,000 Fathoms gave cinema its first modern giant monster born from atomic power. The titular Rhedosaurus, a stop-motion marvel animated by Ray Harryhausen, stomped through New York City with a destructive force unlike anything audiences had seen on the big screen. By merging Cold War anxieties with prehistoric terror, the film provided the kaiju formula: mankind’s hubris awakens a monster, cities tremble and fall, and survival depends on desperate human ingenuity.

To read the full article, go here. 

Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Celebrates Godzilla's 70th

One may ask, what does Godzilla and beer have in common?

Up to now, not much. But Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer is joining forces with Godzilla in celebrating the "King of the Monsters" 70th anniversary. 

According to Bloody Disgusting:

It’s been a big year for cool beverages this Halloween season, with Fanta partnering with horror icons including Chucky and Michael Myers, Angry Orchard bringing Jason Voorhees back to life, and original Goosebumps artist Tim Jacobus doing spooky artwork for Garage Beer.

Now, Pabst Blue Ribbon is celebrating Godzilla and his iconic Kaiju pals!

The adult beverage brand has joined forces with artist Attack Peter for a special collection of collectible 25oz cans featuring Godzilla, Mechagodzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah!

To read more, go here.

Filming Starts On "Godzilla Minus One" Sequel

Good news from Japan!

Spread the good news!! The #GodzillaMinusOne sequel has officially started filming!

We wish Takashi Yamazaki and everyone involved the best of luck during production! 🙏🎬 https://t.co/smWFmVgtsH pic.twitter.com/cHa5ZOCRfr

— Godzilla Movies (@GodzillaMovies) September 1, 2025

Godzilla: The Monster That Defined Japan’s Pop Culture

Above, Godzilla peers over Shinjuku buildings in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's pop-culture has numerous characters to choose from.

They run the gamut from giant monsters, anime, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Ultraman and others. But the one character that started it all was the King of the Monsters: Godzilla.

According to an article by Takashi Nagaya at Vocal Media's Geeks website, Godzilla defined Japanese pop-culture starting in 1954. Last year, Japan celebrated Godzilla's 70th anniversary.

The article begins with:

How a Nuclear-Age Beast Became a Global Icon

Few movie monsters are as instantly recognizable as Godzilla. For over seven decades, the towering kaiju has stomped through cities, battled rival creatures, and captured the imagination of audiences worldwide. But Godzilla is more than just a movie monster—it is a cultural phenomenon that reflects Japan’s history, anxieties, and creativity.

Above, yours truly with the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in 2010.

To read more, go here. 

40 Years of "Godzilla 1985"

It is hard to believe that 40 years has passed since the release of the Americanized Godzilla 1985 (an edited version of Return of Godzilla (1984) by Toho Co., Ltd.) was released to U.S. theaters. The U.S. release was on August 23, 1985 by the now-defunct New World Pictures.

It featured Raymond Burr reprising his role as Steve Martin from Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956). 

It was in August 1985 that I was house-sitting a friend's condo in Canoga Park. I found that Godzilla 1985 was being shown at the Van Nuys Drive-In. So, I headed there to see it during its 10:00 PM screening. It was the first Godzilla movie that I saw in a theater since I saw King Kong vs.Godzilla in 1963. The rest I saw on television.

Since then, the Van Nuys Drive-In has been demolished in the late 1990s.

As for Godzilla 1985, it has not seen a video release since VHS days as the rights to the movie are in limbo. It was released in VHS format several times and paired with Bambi Meets Godzilla, an animated short. I have a copy of one of these versions. It has never seen a DVD or Blu-ray release.

"Shin Godzilla" Beat Its Original Opening Weekend

Above, a Shin Godzilla one-sheet in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I visited Japan was in October 2015. At that time, Shin Godzilla was in production by Toho Studios. It was released on a limited basis to U.S. theaters in July 2016. 

At first, I didn't like Shin Godzilla much. It was a vastly different Godzilla movie and, as I thought at the time, too talky. It has since grown on me.

Presently, Shin Godzilla is out in U.S. theaters after being updated into 4K. It has already surpassed it's 2016 box office take.

According to ComicBook.com:

Godzilla continues roaring onto the box office with its latest re-release. The Godzilla film franchise has always been one of the most enduring pop culture icons in cinemas ever since the King of Monsters graced our screens in 1954. The series has achieved a new level of cultural reprisal from the mainstream, with recent entries in the franchise delivering a new level of awareness it hasn’t had in decades. GKIDS, an American film and television distributor, recognized Godzilla’s films’ growing reproximation and decided to help re-release one of the franchise’s most popular motion pictures. On August 14th, GKIDS re-released Shin Godzilla in North American theaters.

Shin Godzilla was the brainchild of Hideaki Anno, one of the lead creators of Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Shinji Higuchi, opening in Japanese cinemas in July 2016. Funimation initially gave the film a limited North American run, grossing only $1.9 million in its entire run. GKIDS re-released the film to promote the new 4K upscale of the film, which is heading to home media. Within only four days of GKIDS’ re-release, Shin Godzilla opened to $1.6 million per Deadline, which quickly rose to $2.4 million at the end of the fourth day. The film opened 11th in the North American box office weekend.

The nearest theaters in New Mexico where Shin Godzilla is screening is Albuquerque. I have a copy of the movie on Blu-ray.