Most sports fan would argue that Godzilla ’s peak geezerhood were the   15 films in the Shōwa earned run average ( 1954 - 1975 ) and seven films in the Heisei epoch ( 1984 - 1995 ) . However , the franchise has imposingly draw out even beyond those 22 films . There was also the six - moving picture Millennium epoch , which did n’t really have any standout films , and the Reiwa era , which gave audiencesShin Godzillaand a trilogy of revivify Netflix movies .

Then there were the two major attempt at starting a franchise , one of which was successful . First , there was Roland Emmerich ’s critically - pannedGodzilla(1998 ) , which disappointed devoted fans just as much by straying almost totally from the source cloth . However , even that film has its virtue . Then there was the slightly more successfulGodzilla(2014 ) , which give to nearly $ 100 million before slowing down quite a number , ending up with a whisker over $ 200 million domesticated .

Godzilla 1985 (1985) - 31

1984’sThe Return of Godzilla , a franchise reboot released most a tenner afterTerror of Mechagodzilla(1975 ) , ranks amongstthe best Godzilla moving-picture show of all meter . However ,   the variation released to American audience , Godzilla 1985 , had a lot of the best Godzilla footage scratch in favour of awkwardly placed English linguistic process scenes feature Raymond Burr reprising his persona as the overtly stoical newsman , Steve Martin .

The Americanized interpretation receive a Metascore of 31 , which is just over one-half of what it receive from general audiences , who were more miscellaneous with a 6.0 .

Godzilla (1998) - 32

Roland Emmerich’sGodzillais notoriously different from the original Nipponese celluloid , and the drastic familiarity that were take away rubbed fans the wrong way .

However , critics like it even less , as Emmerich ’s calamity film take on the attribute only received a Metascore of 32 in comparison to its user score of 5.1.Godzilla(1998 ) is a sport moving-picture show in its own right that ’s come to assist as a prissy late-90s horologe , specially now that Hollywood ’s give fans   several more close adjustment with the Monsterverse .

King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1963) - 40

Before Adam Wingard ’s waste and fun take on the skirmish with 2021’sGodzilla vs. Kong , there wasKing Kong vs. Godzilla , the third installment of the enfranchisement as a whole . The inferior Americanized rendering , released to U.S. audiences one year after the Japanese version , tossed its hat into the Metacritic tintinnabulation , but response varied . On one hand , its user score of 6.1 is supporting , while its Metascore of 40 is less so .

The first   movie with either Godzilla or King Kong to be show in color , the roll is also stacked with some of the franchise ’s most darling repetition performer . It was the Godzilla movies finding their footing , as its timbre is a little off from the remainder of the serial . Even still , it was a footprint in the right direction after the confused and action - lackingGodzilla Raids Again(1955 ) , which gave the character an eight - class gap in his filmography . King Kong vs. Godzillais an important installment for the franchise , even if it was swiftly amend upon byMothra vs. Godzilla(1964 ) andGhidorah , the Three - Headed Monster(also 1964 ) .

Godzilla 2000 (2000) - 41

LikeThe Return of Godzilla , Godzilla 2000 : Millennium(1999 ) was a dealership reboot , kicking off a new era of the serial . Furthermore , it had an Americanized translation signify for theatrical distribution , strike off the first meter since that 1985 entry . UnlikeReturn,2000wasn’t altered to the point of incomprehensibility .

Like other installments of the franchise , Godzilla 2000(2000 ) received a mixed response from critics , resulting in a 41 Metascore . However , its response from users was through the roof , with a scotch of 7.1 .

Godzilla: King Of The Monsters (2019) - 48

One of the morequotable   movies of the franchise , Godzilla : King of the Monsterswas a motley bag with critics but go over like gangbusters with fans of the dealership .

The epical , humans - sprawl narrative essentially served as a retool take on fan - favorite former installmentGhidorah , the Three - Headed Monster(1964 ) . This could help excuse why the motion picture holds a very in force 7.1 user grade and a much more muted 48 Metascore from critics .

Godzilla Vs. Kong (2021) - 59

Godzilla vs. Kongwas an unexpected box position hit after the worrying financial response toGodzilla : King of the Monsters . This is especially genuine give the fact it was a part of Warner Bros. ' experimental day - and - appointment theatrical / HBO Max distribution scheme , which was the studio apartment ’s 2021 response to the COVID-19 pandemic .

This was commensurate with its critical reception , but not quite with audience . On the latter side , it receive a corresponding user scotch of 7.0 , but its Metascore was at 59 . However , that was n’t enough to make it Godzilla ’s highest - tell on Monsterverse adventure .

Godzilla (2014) - 62

Featuring   a classic use of Godzilla ’s nuclear breathing spell — arunning occurrence throughout the Godzilla franchise — Gareth Edwards ' version received far better revue than Emmerich ’s less faithful rendition .

Unlike its immediate sequel , Godzilla ’s Metascore ( 62 ) and user scores ( 6.8 ) are fairly comparable . Both figures are tie-up - ins for " by and large friendly reviews , " even if just about everyone who get word it wish there was more of the Big gm and that Bryan Cranston ’s Joe Brody was the lead instead of Aaron Taylor - Johnson ’s Ford .

Shin Godzilla (2016) - 67

Shin Godzillachanged some things key to the franchise , but it also retain a fair amount of reverence for what ’s taken place . However , the motion-picture show itself is independent of the end of the enfranchisement , including the 1954 original , essentially serve as a remaking with a more powerful monster and a heavier focus on political commentary .

GojiraandGodzilla Returnsboth served as allegories , one for Hiroshima and one for Cold War paranoia . Shinis much more direct , going so far as to show in - depth , politically - driven conversations about how to handle the never before see crisis .

Gojira (1954) - 78

Putting the inferiorGodzilla , King of the Monsters!(1956 ) aside , Gojira(1954 ) is now both wide available and the definitive starting point even for non - fans . The Americanized version has a game performance from Raymond Burr , but the scenes sum up nothing to the narrative , with the edit even excising some of the original version ’s astonishingly unrelenting scenes .

The original film holds an excellent Metascore of 78 , and an even higher substance abuser response to the tune of 8.3 , stand for   universal acclaim .

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Three images of Godzilla side by side

Godzilla getting ready to snack on the nuclear reactor in The Return of Godzilla

Godzilla chasing a taxi around New York in Roland Emmerich’s 1998 film

King Kong vs Godzilla 1963 final clash

Roaring Godzilla in Godzilla 2000

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Godzilla Vs. Kong main clash in the monsterverse.

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Burning Godzilla in Shin Godzilla with destruction around him

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