There are two separate ways to watch the recent Godzilla movies: Toho’s Japanese films and Legendary’s MonsterVerse. Watch each track in release order; they are different continuities, not one combined story. The next Toho film, Godzilla Minus Zero, is scheduled for theatrical release in November 2026.
Recent Toho Godzilla movies in order
Toho’s recent Japanese films are distinct from the MonsterVerse. The order below follows their Japan release years, then includes the announced follow-up to Godzilla Minus One.
- Shin Godzilla (2016)
- Godzilla Minus One (2023)
- Godzilla Minus Zero (scheduled for 2026)
Japan’s Intellectual Property High Court identifies Shin Godzilla as Toho’s 29th Japanese Godzilla film and Godzilla Minus One as its 30th in a list of Toho-produced and distributed films released in Japan from 1954 through 2023. Intellectual Property High Court of Japan decision
What to know about Godzilla Minus Zero
GKIDS describes Godzilla Minus Zero as the follow-up to Godzilla Minus One. Its story is set in 1949, two years after Minus One. As of October 8, 2026, its releases are scheduled—not completed—for November 3 in Japan and November 6 in North America. GKIDS’ October 6 update also lists North American IMAX early-access screenings for November 3, ahead of the wider theatrical release beginning November 6. GKIDS announcement GKIDS October 6 update
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![Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HsYT5NP2L._SL160_.jpg)
- Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films 1954?1975 Blu-ray Set
MonsterVerse movies in order
Legendary’s shared cinematic universe includes both Godzilla and Kong. Watch these films in release order:
- Godzilla (2014)
- Kong: Skull Island (2017)
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
- Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
Kong: Skull Island belongs in this sequence even though Godzilla is not in its title: official franchise material places it in the shared universe. Legendary says King of the Monsters follows Godzilla and Kong: Skull Island; the Japanese MonsterVerse site lists the subsequent films through 2024. Japanese MonsterVerse franchise material Japanese MonsterVerse film list Legendary’s King of the Monsters page
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Which order should you choose?
- Want the recent Japanese Godzilla films? Choose the Toho sequence: Shin Godzilla, then Godzilla Minus One, then the scheduled Godzilla Minus Zero.
- Want the shared Godzilla-and-Kong universe? Choose the MonsterVerse sequence, including Kong: Skull Island.
- Want every recent film listed here? Watch each continuity in its own release order. Do not insert the Toho films into the MonsterVerse list; they are not part of that sequence.
How these films fit into the larger Godzilla catalog
The two recent Toho entries above are part of a much longer Japanese film series. The Intellectual Property High Court’s 2025 decision counts 30 Toho Japanese Godzilla films released from 1954 through 2023. It also reports that those 30 films had a combined audience of approximately 120 million as of June 2024. These are figures reported by the court, not estimates for the MonsterVerse or the entire global franchise. Intellectual Property High Court of Japan decision Court decision figures
GKIDS’ 2026 announcement reports that Godzilla Minus One earned more than $116 million worldwide, surpassing the $78 million worldwide reported for Shin Godzilla. The announcement presents these as each film’s worldwide totals. GKIDS announcement
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