PLOT: Set two years after the events of Godzilla Minus One, another Kaiju wreaks havoc in Japan while the country tirelessly rebuilds, and the Shikishima family once again faces danger as Godzilla reemerges.
REVIEW: 2023’s Godzilla Minus One shattered new ground, literally and figuratively, as the film secured the 2024 Oscar for Best Visual Effects, the first Oscar win in Godzilla’s 70-plus-year history. Both the fans and the normies praised this film, and to this day, it is arguably the BEST Godzilla film of all time. So, after the success of Godzilla Minus One, a follow-up was inevitable. However, with the bar set so high, was it even POSSIBLE to MATCH it or even come close? Well, I am excited to share with you that Godzilla Minus Zero absolutely lives up to these expectations and then some!
Writer/director Takashi Yamazaki once again delivers a heartfelt story surrounding the Shikishima family, portrayed again by Ryûnosuke Kamiki as Koichi and Minami Hamabe as Noriko, and their daughter Akiko is now 5 in this movie. Koichi, who survived both World War II and Godzilla, is once again asked to put his life on the line as he helps the U.S. military and the Japanese government deal with another Kaiju. Who is this Kaiju? Well… I’m not allowed to say who, but you can watch the trailer and figure it out. (But we will refer to it as THAT KAIJU.)
Also returning is Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji Noda, aka Doc (my favorite character, by the way), who has his hands full once again using science to neutralize the monsters in the movie. Also, I need to point out a welcome addition to the cast, as Masami Nagasawa portrays meteorologist Makoto Aoyama, who is Noda’s right-hand woman. Godzilla fans will recognize her for sure, as she played the Mothra Fairies in both 2003’s Godzilla: Tokyo SOS and 2004’s Godzilla: Final Wars.
And without giving anything away, I also want to point out that this movie has three really great, distinct plots going on at the same time. To some, it might sound overwhelming, as Minus One had a single, easy-to-follow plot, but Minus Zero handles it well and will keep you engaged and on your toes.
What makes this movie fascinating as well is how large the film looks, as its budget is reportedly only around $15 million. A LITTLE bit more than Minus One, but it still looks like a $100 million-plus film, even more than Minus One did. Not only is the film shot well, but seeing all the landscapes of city wreckage throughout the film is one of the film’s biggest strengths.
Now, let’s get to the $15 million question. Is Minus Zero BETTER than Minus One? Well, that depends. If you prefer a more cohesive human drama and a more Godzilla-centered movie, you’re going to prefer Minus One. If you want a more balls-to-the-wall Kaiju thriller, then you’re likely going to prefer Minus Zero. But one thing I will assure you: this is absolutely the best follow-up to any Godzilla movie EVER. No matter who you ask.
I feel like, among the Godzilla fans, we like to debate a bunch of pairings of Godzilla films, such as:
Godzilla 1984 to Godzilla vs. Biollante
or
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla to Terror of Mechagodzilla, etc., etc.
Minus One vs. Minus Zero will be debated for eternity!
If Godzilla Minus One is The Godfather, then Godzilla Minus Zero is The Godfather Part II. It could go EITHER WAY! Bottom line, Takashi Yamazaki and Toho went two for two with these movies!
Finally, for the OTHER $15 million question: Did this movie earn its R rating? Yes, Godzilla Minus Zero is the FIRST Godzilla movie EVER to get an R rating. And well… yes, it did. The movie has brief sequences of charred and bloodied dead bodies. But it’s brief, though. Honestly, I think the movie hurt its box office earnings by making it R and not PG-13.
I think the appropriate decision would have been to gloss over those scenes because it would not have hurt the story, the film, or the spectacle. And Toho could release an “unrated” cut on streaming and Blu-ray. But hey, who am I to mess with the artistic direction of the filmmaker? I’m strictly just saying this from a financial viewpoint.
But to wrap this all up, this is my favorite film of 2026. I think it’s very realistic for Toho to win ANOTHER Oscar. Not only should it get a nomination for Best Visual Effects, but we should see it in other categories, including Best Picture and Best International Feature Film!
Godzilla Minus One was a perfect 10, and the follow-up, Godzilla Minus Zero, also deserves a perfect 10. Go see it on the biggest screen possible when it opens in theaters everywhere on November 6th.
I also highly recommend you rewatch Minus One, and it would also be a good idea to rewatch the classic Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster from 1964 before you go see Godzilla Minus Zero.
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