Godzilla Minus One: A Secret Remake of a Forgotten Godzilla Movie

The Secret Remake

Godzilla Minus One is the newest film in the Godzilla franchise, and while it has been receiving all kinds of praise, many don't realize that the film is actually a secret remake of another forgotten 22-year-old Godzilla movie. Much like the titular titan himself, the Godzilla franchise is absolutely massive, with it spawning all kinds of movies, TV shows, and spin-off projects since it was kicked off with the original 1954 movie. Due to how many Godzilla movies there are, it isn't surprising that some have fallen to the wayside as the franchise has gone on, allowing films like Godzilla Minus One to rework some of the most famous elements.

Godzilla Minus One poster

Godzilla Minus One is finally here, with the highly-anticipated Japanese Godzilla film releasing to critical acclaim and massive box office success. Despite many expecting the film to be overshadowed by Legendary's massive MonsterVerse franchise, Godzilla Minus One has broken all kinds of box office records, with Godzilla Minus One being the largest domestic debut for a Japanese live-action film ever. All of these successes have led to Godzilla Minus One undeniably being one of the most popular Godzilla movies of all time, but it still has connections to some of the franchise's other films, including this forgotten Godzilla entry from 22 years ago.

Repeated Defeat

Godzilla rampages through Japan several times throughout Godzilla Minus One, leading to much of the film revolving around a group of survivors attempting to figure out how to take the monster down. They quickly realize that artillery forces simply won't be enough to kill the beast, leading to a different approach. The main characters come up with a plan to forcefully plunge Godzilla underwater and then quickly bring him back up, with the sudden pressure changes hopefully being enough to kill Godzilla. However, this isn't enough, with Godzilla only dying after Shikishima flies an explosive plane into his mouth, as the atomic blast of Godzilla's breath causes him to explode.

godzilla stalks a boat in godzilla minus one

This method of killing Godzilla may seem familiar to fans of the franchise, as it is similar to how Godzilla is killed in the 2001 Toho film Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. The film explores the Japanese citizens as they attempt to take down a rampaging Godzilla, but the humans are aided by three other monsters: Mothra, King Ghidorah, and Baragon. The humans finally manage to kill Godzilla after the spirits of these monsters drag Godzilla under the sea, with the humans firing missiles at Godzilla in order to finish him off. Although the methods aren't exactly the same, they seem pretty close.

Borrowed Elements

One of the coolest parts of Godzilla Minus One is Godzilla's overpowered regeneration ability, but the 2023 film clearly isn't the first Godzilla movie to grant the monster this power. 2001's Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack also features this, with it making Godzilla an even more menacing threat. In Godzilla Minus One, the main characters realize that Godzilla's regenerative ability exists after detonating a bomb in his mouth, which the monster quickly heals from. A similar event happens in the 2001 film, with both movies establishing that it will take more than weaponry to kill the beast.

Godzilla Preparing Atomic Breath in Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One borrowing Godzilla's regeneration ability from Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack is a good thing, as it actually makes Godzilla a more interesting villain. If taking down Godzilla simply required hurling different types of missiles at him, the story of these Godzilla films wouldn't be nearly as interesting. However, the fact that the humans have to think of clever ways to stop Godzilla in the 2001 film makes the story much more engaging, which is why it is great news that Godzilla Minus One lifted this power from Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack.

Cliffhanger Ending

Godzilla Minus One is definitely a horror film, but one of the movie's scariest moments comes at the very end of the movie. After defeating Godzilla, the humans celebrate, believing that the threat that decimated their country is truly gone. However, the film ends with a mangled clump of Godzilla's body sinking to the seafloor. Before the film cuts to black, Godzilla's body begins to regenerate, hinting that the monster isn't finished wreaking havoc yet. It isn't known how long it will take Godzilla to fully regenerate, but the film makes it clear that he will be back to cause more trouble eventually.

Burning Godzilla obscured by smoke in Godzilla Minus One

This ending cliffhanger isn't present in every Godzilla movie, but it also isn't unique to Godzilla Minus One, as it also appears in Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. The 2001 film also ends with a look at Godzilla's remains, but this time it's his heart. The movie shows the bottom of the ocean, with Godzilla's heart having sunk to the depths of the sea. Godzilla's heart shockingly begins to beat before the film ends, also implying that the monster hasn't fully been defeated. This final twist works incredibly well in both movies, with it making Godzilla more powerful than he first appeared.