If you’ve seen Godzilla Minus One back in 2023, you already know that the creative team, headed by director Takashi Yamazaki, accomplished the impossible and got the Godzilla franchise its first-ever Academy Award. This is an elaborate way of saying Godzilla Minus One was one of the best films of 2023, and arguably my personal favorite film in the entire franchise. Sidebar: the top 3, in no order, Godzilla (1954), Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973, my personal choice for that era of Godzilla), and Godzilla Minus One (2023). Now, this same creative force is back with a vengeance, crafting the first movie in Japanese history filmed for IMAX, Godzilla Minus Zero.
EVERYONE’S BACK! Ryunosuke Kamiki as Koichi Shikishima, BACK! Minami Hamabe as Noriko Oishi, SHE’S BACK! My guy Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji Noda, OH, YOU KNOW IT, HE’S BACK! EVEN THE BOAT GUYS ARE BACK; pretty much all of the survivors of the previous Godzilla attack return to stop a new threat that has arrived in Matsumoto, a flying kaiju named… GHIDORAH. With the help of a completely sensible and totally not traumatized Professor Murakami (MIN TANAKA, remember this name; it will be on the test later), and new member of the Disaster Response Bureau Makoto Aoyama (Masami Nagasawa), our heroes must reunite to find a way to stop this creature by any means necessary. That may or may not include trying to get Godzilla to come help, but who’s to say? Go see the movie and find out.
Let’s get the hyperbole out of the way at the top; this is an Empire Strikes Back/Godfather II level sequel. I’m hesitant to call it a masterpiece (Minus One is a high bar), but it’s certainly one of the best films in the Godzilla canon, through its ability to hold on to its deeper themes of trauma and survivors’ guilt while also keeping the spirit of the classic films via its over-the-top set pieces and minor fan service. For example, King Ghidorah first arriving in Matsumoto much like he did in his debut back in 1964, which also happens to be director Takashi Yamazaki’s hometown.
Much like the previous film, Godzilla Minus Zero is first and foremost a human drama, where the cataclysm caused by these Kaiju are less about pure spectacle (which don’t get me wrong, there is PLENTY of that) and more about the toll, both physical and emotional, these catastrophes inflict upon the survivors. Some characters have attempted to grow beyond their trauma, like Kamiki and Hamabe’s characters, while others, Yoshioka’s character Noda, have used this to strengthen their resolve to ensure mass destruction on this scale never happens again. The film directly tackles the themes raised in Minus One, showing that trauma, whether it be from surviving a nuclear blast or a kaiju attack, permanently changes people.
The best performance in the film has to be Min Tanaka for his ability to portray this theme with such sincerity and gravitas, a real highlight of the film. On the flip side, Sae Nagatani returns as Akiko, the child from Minus One, and gives a rather engaging performance for a 4-year-old. Honestly, Nagatani pulls at your heartstrings one moment, then melts your heart the next. Kamiki and Hamabe are less of a focus in this film, but are prominently featured in the main plot, being integral to stopping the raging kaiju attacks. Hidetaka Yoshioka is just the best. His expressions are just top-notch, and his ability to jump from playful to insightful, then suddenly throw a dramatic curveball as he screams through tears that we must stop these monsters. AHHH.
Additionally, all the supporting performances are wonderful, from reckless fighter pilots to hardworking engineers doing what they can to try and stop these massive kaiju. While many of these side characters lack in-depth character development, the film ensures they are not completely lost in the chaos, always giving these characters something to do no matter how small the task, which feeds back into this film being a human drama set in a kaiju film. A wide complaint amongst fans of Godzilla is that “nobody cares about the human characters”. Much like Minus One, Minus Zero takes that complaint, throws it in a blender, and makes a delicious puree of real people doing what they can to stop an immense natural disaster to save as many lives as possible.
Look, I know I said this film is a human drama, but let’s talk about the kaiju for a second. Godzilla Minus One was widely praised for its insane visuals that came from a small budget and an even smaller team of 35 people. For those who don’t know, Christopher Nolan latest “masterpiece” (It was fine, “Gourmet cheeseburger movie”), The Odyssey, has 338 VFX artists credited on IMDB. For Minus Zero, the budget was increased, and the team expanded… to 41. That being said, these 41 visual effects artists may have crafted the best-looking film of 2026. I was lucky to see this in IMAX, and let me say that Godzilla Minus Zero is, and I can’t stress this enough, A MUST-SEE BLOCKBUSTER, especially if you can see it in IMAX. The visuals are straight-up jaw-dropping at times, possibly the best-looking Kaiju I’ve ever seen. Ghidorah in particular is mesmerizing, from his intricate, golden design to the beautifully chaotic bolts of lightning the beast fires at its foes, all beautifully sound-designed with this wonderful crackle that just booms in a theatre.
After our screening, there was a Q&A with producer Kazuaki Kishida and various members of the VFX team, who talked at length about their process of designing and actually creating these massive creatures. The amount of detail that went into making this film is inspirational and showcases how dedicated this team was to making one of the best-looking films of the year. In addition to talking about the creative process, Kishida explained that the title of the film comes from the notion that in some mathematical situations you keep the negative in front of the 0 if you’re coming from a negative. Kishida goes on to explain that this film is the journey of these characters trying to get back to normal after being forced to endure so much chaos and tragedy. This blending of masterful visual effects, intimate, grounded storytelling, and immaculately designed set-pieces is why this new era of Godzilla has worked so well and continues to be one of the beautiful and compelling film franchises of the modern era. Godzilla Minus Zero is a visual marvel with compelling characters, thrilling scenes, and some of the best visual effects you’ll see this year.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
If you’re a fan of Godzilla, this is a must-see. If not, this is still a must-see if this even remotely interests you; definitely check out Godzilla Minus One first.
Directed, written, and VFX-supervised by Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus Zero is set two years after Godzilla’s rampage through Ginza. A new Kaiju, Ghidorah, is spotted in Matsumoto City. Japan’s Disaster Response Bureau, now headed by Kenji Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka), is deployed to stop the creature by any means necessary. Comprised of new faces Makota Aoyama (Masami Nagasawa) and Professor Kanji Murakami (Min Tanaka), and kaiju veterans Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), the team must band together to find a way to stop this new threat to their home, all while Godzilla slowly makes his return to Japan. The film also stars Sae Nagatani, Sakura Ando, Yuki Yamada, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Eita Okuno, Jun Kunimura, and Miou Tanaka, and was produced by Robot Communications, Toho Studios, and Toho. The film releases on November 6th; please go see it in IMAX if you can!
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