Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Godzilla movies are best watched in release order within each series, not as one giant timeline. The franchise has several separate continuities: the 15-film Showa cycle, the seven-film Heisei story, mostly independent Millennium reboots, two standalone modern Japanese films, the five-film Legendary MonsterVerse, and a three-film anime trilogy.
If you want one simple starting point, choose Godzilla (1954) for the essential original, Godzilla Minus One (2023) for a modern Japanese standalone, or Godzilla (2014) for the shared Hollywood MonsterVerse. The complete guide below lists all 39 released films included in these series and explains where each one fits.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Godzilla | $8.14 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Godzilla/Kong Monsterverse 5-Film Collection (DVD) | $24.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
GODZILLA: THE COMPLETE ANIMATED SERIES DVD DVD | $8.29 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
GODZILLA MINUS ONE (DVD) | $12.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Godzilla vs. Kong/Godzilla: King of the Monsters/Kong: Skull Island 3-Film Collection (DVD) | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
How to use this guide
There is no single Godzilla timeline to follow from 1954 through the present. Toho and its American partners have repeatedly rebooted the character, so the best approach is to watch the films in release order within the continuity or series you choose. The cross-franchise list below is useful for seeing how the films were released, but it combines separate universes and should not be interpreted as one story.
| Series or era | Years | Films | Continuity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toho Showa | 1954–1975 | 15 | One increasingly loose shared monster universe |
| Toho Heisei | 1984–1995 | 7 | A more continuous story that follows the 1954 original |
| TriStar Hollywood | 1998 | 1 | Standalone American interpretation |
| Toho Millennium | 1999–2004 | 6 | Mostly separate reboots; two films form a connected pair |
| Toho Reiwa live action | 2016–present | 2 released | Separate modern interpretations |
| Legendary MonsterVerse | 2014–2024 | 5 released | Shared Hollywood continuity with Kong |
| Toho/Netflix anime | 2017–2018 | 3 | A self-contained animated trilogy |
Toho Showa films in release order: 1954–1975
The Showa cycle begins as serious science fiction and gradually becomes a looser, more colorful shared-kaiju series. It introduces or develops many of the franchise’s most recognizable monsters, including Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, Gigan, Hedorah, and Mechagodzilla. Later entries are generally more youth-oriented, and continuity becomes flexible, but release order remains the simplest way to experience the era.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- The enormous monster descends upon New York, and it's up to the Army and an odd team of investigators to unravel the mystery behind the incredible creature before it's too late.
- Godzilla (1954) — The original film and the essential starting point for the entire franchise.
- Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
- King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
- Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
- Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)
- Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)
- Son of Godzilla (1967)
- Destroy All Monsters (1968)
- All Monsters Attack (1969)
- Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)
- Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)
- Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)
- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)
- Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)
Physical-media pick: The Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 Blu-ray box set from Criterion contains all 15 Showa films listed above. It is a particularly convenient choice for anyone watching the complete original cycle, but it does not include the later Heisei, Millennium, Reiwa, Hollywood, or anime films.
Toho Heisei films in release order: 1984–1995
The Heisei series resets the story after the 1954 original. It generally ignores the intervening Showa adventures and follows a more cohesive narrative across seven films, ending with Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.
- The Return of Godzilla (1984)
- Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
- Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)
- Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992) — Also released in English as Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth.
- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)
- Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)
- Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995)
What about Godzilla 1985? It is not a separate sequel. The American release is a reworked version of The Return of Godzilla, so viewers following the Japanese release order can watch the 1984 film and skip Godzilla 1985.
Godzilla (1998): the standalone TriStar film
Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla (1998) is a separate American adaptation. It does not continue the Toho Heisei storyline and is not part of the later Legendary MonsterVerse. Watch it as an independent interpretation, not as the next chapter after Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteToho Millennium films in release order: 1999–2004
The Millennium era is best understood as a series of mostly independent reboots. In general, each film keeps the 1954 original as background while disregarding most or all of the other preceding films. The important exception is the two-film Kiryu storyline: watch Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla directly before Godzilla: Tokyo SOS.
- Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999)
- Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)
- Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
- Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)
- Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003)
- Godzilla Final Wars (2004)
The 2002 and 2003 films are linked by Kiryu, a biomechanical Mechagodzilla built from the bones of the original 1954 Godzilla. The other Millennium films are more usefully treated as standalone variations than as chapters in one uninterrupted saga.
Toho Reiwa live-action films in release order
The modern Japanese live-action films are separate continuities rather than direct sequels to each other.
- Shin Godzilla (2016) — A standalone reboot centered on a new, metamorphic incarnation and the government response to it.
- Godzilla Minus One (2023) — A postwar period story set after World War II, with no continuity connection to Shin Godzilla or the MonsterVerse.
Best modern standalone choice: Godzilla Minus One requires no franchise preparation. If you prefer a political disaster-film approach, begin with Shin Godzilla; neither film requires the other.
For a physical copy, a Godzilla Minus One 4K Blu-ray or SteelBook is a separate purchase from the Showa box set. Edition, region, stock, and price vary, so check those details before buying.
Legendary MonsterVerse films in release order: 2014–2024
The MonsterVerse is the shared Hollywood continuity produced by Legendary and distributed through Warner Bros. It includes Kong, which is why Kong: Skull Island belongs in the Godzilla watch order even though “Godzilla” is not in its title.
Rank #3
- Godzilla (2014)
- Kong: Skull Island (2017)
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
- Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
Do not insert the Toho films, the 1998 movie, Shin Godzilla, or Godzilla Minus One into this sequence. They belong to different continuities. The television series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is also related to the MonsterVerse, but it is not a feature film and is outside this movie-only list.
Toho/Netflix anime trilogy in release order: 2017–2018
This animated trilogy is a separate continuity with a single three-film narrative. Watch all three in order:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters (2017)
- GODZILLA: A City on the Edge of Battle (2018)
- GODZILLA: The Planet Eater (2018)
A City on the Edge of Battle directly follows Planet of the Monsters, and The Planet Eater concludes the trilogy. These films are not connected to the live-action Toho movies or the MonsterVerse.
All released films in one cross-continuity release order
This is the chronological production order across all of the series above. It is a release checklist, not a shared story timeline. Films released in the same year are shown in the order used by the franchise’s release lists.
Rank #4
1954: Godzilla; 1955: Godzilla Raids Again; 1962: King Kong vs. Godzilla; 1964: Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster; 1965: Invasion of Astro-Monster; 1966: Ebirah, Horror of the Deep; 1967: Son of Godzilla; 1968: Destroy All Monsters; 1969: All Monsters Attack; 1971: Godzilla vs. Hedorah; 1972: Godzilla vs. Gigan; 1973: Godzilla vs. Megalon; 1974: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla; 1975: Terror of Mechagodzilla; 1984: The Return of Godzilla; 1989: Godzilla vs. Biollante; 1991: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah; 1992: Godzilla vs. Mothra; 1993: Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II; 1994: Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla; 1995: Godzilla vs. Destoroyah; 1998: Godzilla; 1999: Godzilla 2000: Millennium; 2000: Godzilla vs. Megaguirus; 2001: Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack; 2002: Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla; 2003: Godzilla: Tokyo SOS; 2004: Godzilla Final Wars; 2014: Godzilla; 2016: Shin Godzilla; 2017: Kong: Skull Island, GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters; 2018: GODZILLA: A City on the Edge of Battle, GODZILLA: The Planet Eater; 2019: Godzilla: King of the Monsters; 2021: Godzilla vs. Kong; 2023: Godzilla Minus One; 2024: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Upcoming Godzilla movies
The following announced films should not be counted as released entries until they are available to watch:
Recommended Free Tools
- Godzilla Minus Zero — Toho’s announced Japanese follow-up to Godzilla Minus One. It is set in 1949, two years after Godzilla Minus One, and has been announced for a North American theatrical release beginning November 6, 2026.
- Godzilla x Kong: Supernova — Legendary’s next MonsterVerse film, currently scheduled for theatrical release on March 26, 2027.
Both dates are future announcements and may change. Neither film belongs in the released-film checklist until its release occurs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Godzilla movie should you watch first?
- For the essential origin: Start with Godzilla (1954). It establishes the character’s original meaning and remains the foundation for the franchise.
- For a modern Japanese standalone: Start with Godzilla Minus One (2023). No earlier Godzilla film is required.
- For a modern shared Hollywood series: Start with Godzilla (2014), then watch Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
- For the most cohesive classic Japanese storyline: Begin with The Return of Godzilla (1984) and continue through the seven-film Heisei series.
- For a complete franchise survey: Watch each era in its own release order rather than attempting to create one fictional chronology from all 39 films.
Streaming and physical-media availability
Where a Godzilla film streams depends on your country, the date you check, and the rights holder. Platform listings can change without notice, so a current listing on an official movie guide should be treated as a point-in-time reference rather than a permanent guarantee that every film is on one service.
Best Value
- Godzilla Vs. Kong Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Kong: Skull Island
- Product Type: Physical Movie
- Brand: Wb
Physical editions are generally the more stable option for the classic catalog. The Criterion Showa box set covers the complete 15-film 1954–1975 cycle, while Godzilla Minus One has its own Blu-ray, 4K, and SteelBook editions. Do not assume that either collection covers the entire franchise: no single set named here contains every Toho, Hollywood, and anime film.
Continuity guide at a glance
| Continuity | What it includes | Best viewing rule |
|---|---|---|
| Showa | The 1954 original through Terror of Mechagodzilla | Watch all 15 in release order; expect increasingly loose continuity. |
| Heisei | The Return of Godzilla through Godzilla vs. Destoroyah | Watch all seven consecutively for the clearest ongoing story. |
| TriStar | Godzilla (1998) | Watch as a one-film American reboot. |
| Millennium | Six Toho films from 1999–2004 | Most are standalone; keep the two Kiryu films together. |
| Reiwa live action | Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One | Watch in either order; they are unrelated. |
| MonsterVerse | Five Legendary films from 2014–2024 | Use the five-film order and include Kong: Skull Island. |
| Anime | The three Netflix animated films | Watch as one trilogy in numbered release order. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Godzilla (1998) part of the MonsterVerse?
No. The 1998 film is a standalone TriStar interpretation and does not continue either the Toho Heisei series or the later Legendary MonsterVerse.
Are Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One connected?
No. Shin Godzilla (2016) and Godzilla Minus One (2023) are separate Toho reboots. You can watch either one without seeing the other.
Where does Kong: Skull Island fit in the Godzilla order?
Watch Kong: Skull Island after Godzilla (2014) and before Godzilla: King of the Monsters. It is part of the shared MonsterVerse even though it is a Kong film.
Do I need to watch Godzilla 1985 after The Return of Godzilla?
No. Godzilla 1985 is an American reworking of The Return of Godzilla (1984), not a separate Japanese sequel.
Does the Criterion Godzilla box set contain every Godzilla movie?
The Criterion box set contains the 15 Toho Showa films released from 1954 through 1975. It does not include the Heisei, Millennium, Reiwa, Hollywood, or anime films.
The Bottom Line
For most viewers, choose one of three starts: Godzilla (1954) for the essential classic, Godzilla Minus One for a modern standalone, or Godzilla (2014) for the shared MonsterVerse. The full franchise is best watched by era because its films belong to several separate continuities.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
