While a fair few acclaimedGodzillamovies feature only the titular monster and no others - including the 1954 original, 2016’sShin Godzilla, and 2023’sGodzilla Minus One-much of the series has been defined by “vs.” movies. These do vary in quality, admittedly, and not allGodzillaopponents are created equal, by any means. But if there is another giant monster in aGodzillamovie, fans of the series know they can usually rely onat least one good action sequencefeaturing two (or more) monsters going head-to-head.
To celebrate some of the best monster-filled smackdowns in the history of this long-running series (70 years now, and counting), here are some of the best fights found throughout the almost 40Godzillamovies. It’s limited to one fight per movie, and the historical significance/impact of some fights has been taken into account. Those from the series' early days might not have the same impact when watched now, but certain showdowns were iconic for introducing key enemies or for taking the series in newfound directions.
10’Godzilla Raids Again' (1955)
Godzilla vs. Anguirus
Admittedly,Godzilla Raids Againisa fairly forgettableGodzillamovie, but it does nonetheless feel at least a little important to the overall franchise in some regards. It’s the only movie in the series besides the 1954 original to be shot in black and white (not counting theblack-and-white version ofGodzilla Minus One, of course), and it’s also the first movie in the franchise’s history to feature another monster alongside Godzilla: Anguirus.
Anguirus might not be as well-known as say Mothra or King Ghidorah – both of them being introduced in the 1960s –but he was Godzilla’s first giant monster foe, and for that, his brief skirmish with the King of the Monsters inGodzilla Raids Againdeserves a mention. The film does end up being more about Godzilla vs. humanity, but Anguirus is a part of it nevertheless, and the monster fight did roughly establish a template that many sequels made afterward would adhere to.
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9'Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah' (1991)
Godzilla vs. Mecha-King Ghidorah
An olderGodzillamovie thatproved surprisingly influential to a more recent one,Godzilla vs. King Ghidorahis one of the wildest movies in the history of the series, and certainly the goofiest of the sometimes quite serious Heisei era. It introduces time travel to the Godzilla series, involving a plot that sees a nefarious alien race convince humanity to go back in time and stop Godzilla from ever being created,Terminator-style.
This has the effect of weakening Earth, ensuring the aliens can take over the planet without fear of retaliation from Godzilla. Things don’t go to plan, though, and while Godzilla does defeat the aliens and Ghidorah (who the aliens created), he still poses a threat to Japan… and so Mecha-King Ghidorah – which is exactly what you’d expect it to be, based on the name – is brought back from the future, allowing a rematch between the two monsters near the film’s climax. It’s a silly and over-the-top way to finish a movie that was already quite over-the-top, so it feels fitting and is a lot of fun to watch play out.
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8’Godzilla vs. Hedorah' (1971)
Godzilla vs. Hedorah
Godzilla vs. Hedorahpits Godzilla againstone of his most unusual and underrated foes, and as such, the titular battle promised in the title turns out to be one of the series’ most distinctive. Hedorah is an alien lifeform that feeds off pollution, growing in size and eventually becoming more of a threat to humanity than actual pollution (or at least a more immediate one), with Godzilla being the only hope for the human beings of the world.
It’s fairly dark, as far as Showa eraGodzillamovies go, though it’s also wild in terms of style in a way that mitigates some of the bleakness and unpleasantness that’s communicated from the muted visuals.The main conflict is also interesting because Hedorah’s physicality makes it more difficult to take down than the usual flesh and blood monsters, and that undoubtedly ensures the battle here is a memorable one.
7’Godzilla vs. Megalon' (1973)
Godzilla and Jet Jaguar vs. Megalon and Gigan
Godzillamovies that featured fights between more than two monsters had existed beforeGodzilla vs. Megalon(as memorably seen in the large-scaleDestroy All Monsters, for example), but few proved to be as much goofy fun as the two-versus-two fight in this 1973 film.Godzilla vs. Megalonalready has a lot going for it, given how silly andwild it is, even byGodzillastandards, but the climactic fight takes things to a whole other level.
Godzilla teams with a shape-shifting robot named Jet Jaguar to fight Gigan (who’d been in the previous movie) and Megalon, a new foe. By the fight’s end, Jet Jaguar is holding Megalon in place, allowing Godzilla to dohis iconic flying kicknot once, but twice, right into Megalon. After they’re victorious, Godzilla and Jet Jaguar also have themost awkward yet endearing handshakeever put on film. It all just has to be seen to be believed; cinema at its absolute finest.
6’Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack' (2001)
Godzilla vs. the Guardian Monsters
Of all theGodzillamoviesmade since the start of the 21st century,Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attackis, without a doubt, one of the very best. It takes the series in a more fantasy-heavy direction, in opposition to having a more expected science fiction slant, and is also noteworthy for depicting one of the cruelest and most malicious versions of Godzilla ever put on screen.
Given how dangerous this take on Godzilla is, there’s a need to go to desperate lengths to stop him, which leads to certain guardian monsters being summoned to take on Godzilla. These take the form of alternate versions of recognizable foes, with Baragon being dispatched early on, butthe climactic two-versus-one fight of both a heroic Mothra and King Ghidorah taking on Godzilla provides true spectacle, and being one for the ages.
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5’Godzilla vs. Biollante' (1989)
Godzilla vs. Biollante
Perhaps likeGodzilla vs. Hedorah, 1989’sGodzilla vs. Biollantestands out for containing one of Godzilla’s most unusual foes to date. In contrast toGodzilla vs. Hedorah, however,Godzilla vs. Biollantehas one of themost emotionally affecting and tragic human storylinesfound in the series, andit’s partly through loss and grief that Biollante, as a monster, is ultimately created.
Biollante is made from plant cells, Godzilla cells, and the cells of a scientist’s deceased daughter, the loss of whom he’s still grieving. Things go wrong and mutate, though, and it falls on Godzilla’s shoulders once again to take down a horrifying, huge, yet surprisingly pitiful giant monster.Godzilla vs. Biollantestrikes an unexpected chord emotionally, but it makes it work, all the while also managing to deliver strong monster-focused action and excitement.
4’Godzilla vs. Kong' (2021)
Godzilla vs. King Kong
SomeGodzillapurists might find it sacrilegious to count a fight from an AmericanGodzillamovie alongside the great ones from the JapaneseGodzillamovies, but credit has to be given where credit is due. Since 2014, there has been some solid Godzilla-focused action, with Godzilla taking on two MUTOs at the end of 2014’sGodzillabeing pretty neat, and 2019’sGodzilla: King of the Monstersalso delivering some spectacle throughout.
But the bestMonsterVersefight so far came in 2021’sGodzilla vs. Kong(itself one of themost financially successfulGodzillafilms ever). Godzilla and King Kong clash early on in the film, with the best battle being in the final act; a smackdown that levels a good chunk of Hong Kong, too. They make up and take on a more dangerous foe together right after: Mechagodzilla, and seem to be in an alliance going into the upcoming 2024 sequel toGodzilla vs. Kong,Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Godzilla vs. Kong
3’Godzilla: Final Wars' (2004)
Godzilla vs. Zilla
As mentioned before,the American films in theGodzillafranchisecan be a little contentious, and a good part of that comes from 1998’s less-than-successful attempt to Americanize the series. It took 16 years before America tried again, and in the meantime, Japan began producingGodzillamovies at a rapid pace once again, perhaps keen to redeem the iconic monster in the eyes of its Japanese and non-Japanese fans alike.
Godzilla: Final Warswas intended to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the series’ inception, and it did this by making a very powerful version of Godzilla clash with numerous past foes of his, one after the other, and usually dominating them. One of his foes is even the American version of Godzilla from the 1998 movie, redubbed “Zilla,” andthe speed with which the real Godzilla decimates the inferior Godzilla is unbelievably hilarious; the ultimate middle finger to a movie that sullied the series’ good name.
2’Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla' (1974)
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
There weremanyGodzillasequels made throughout the 1960sand 1970s, withGodzilla vs. Mechagodzillabeing one of the best, and undeniably memorable for serving as the introduction to a classic foe. Mechagodzilla might not named in a terribly creative way, but he makes up for it by being a vicious opponent that’s at least as powerful as Godzilla, making the non-mecha Godzilla feel like something of an underdog at times.
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzillabenefits immensely from having the two titular monsters having explosive and even nail-biting battles, with the level of violence also making the film stand out compared to some of the more kid-friendlyGodzillamovies of the era. Mechagodzilla made for such great action that those behind the series even brought the character back straight away, in 1975’sTerror of Mechagodzilla, which was the last entry in the Showa era of the series.
1’Godzilla vs. Destoroyah' (1995)
Godzilla and Godzilla Junior vs. Destoroyah
Godzilla vs. Destoroyahis perhaps the most dramatic and emotionalGodzillamovie to date, and it’s those qualities thatmake it qualify as an undisputed series highlight. The plot kicks off with Godzilla in grave danger of melting down at any moment, though both he and humanity also have to deal with the emergence of Destoroyah, the creation of which has come about because of the Oxygen Destroyer that destroyed the original Godzilla in 1954.
Destoroyah eventually mutates into a huge and truly vicious foe, all but defeating both Godzilla and Godzilla Junior before one final desperate push sees Destoroyah vanquished, but at a great cost. It wasn’t the end of the entire series, but it did conclude the Heisei era in a devastating fashion, with theviolence and genuinely high stakes of the titular battle in this film making it arguably the best (or at least most memorable) fight sequence of anyGodzillamovie.
