So you want to watch Godzilla. All of it. Every stomp, every atomic breath, every city-flattening kaiju brawl – in the right order, without missing a beat. Good news: you’ve come to the right place. Bad news: there are 38 films spanning over 70 years, split across multiple timelines, eras, and entirely separate universes. It’s a kaiju-sized commitment.
The Godzilla film series is officially recognised by the Guinness World Records as the longest continuously running film series, having been in ongoing production since 1954 – and it shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.
Here’s your no-fuss guide to tackling the whole thing.
Era 1: The Showa Era (1954–1975) — Where It All Began
This is the original run – 15 films produced by Toho during the reign of Emperor Showa. The Showa era begins with the original 1954 Godzilla – part creature feature, part sobering postwar commentary on nuclear fallout – followed by Godzilla Raids Again (1955). Godzilla is then revived in the 1960s, where he evolves into an anti-hero and we’re introduced to his famous monster rivals and allies. By the late 60s and early 70s, the Champion Film Festival era reframed him as a children’s matinee idol.
Essential picks if you’re time-poor:
- Godzilla (1954) – the original, still genuinely great
- Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) – widely considered one of the series’ best
- Destroy All Monsters (1968) – every monster, one film
Era 2: The Heisei Era (1984–1995) – Darker and Scarier
After a 9-year gap, Toho rebooted the franchise with a direct sequel to the 1954 original, ignoring the rest of the Showa continuity. This era is darker, more dramatic, and has much better special effects. Seven films were produced in total.
Start here:
- The Return of Godzilla (1984) – the reboot; watch this first
- Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) – underrated fan favourite
- Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) – the emotional finale of the era
Era 3: The Millennium Era (1999–2004) – Pick and Choose
Each Millennium film is essentially its own standalone story, so you don’t need to watch them in order. Most are loosely connected but operate as separate continuities from each other.
The must-watch:
- Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) – terrifying, strange, brilliant
- Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002) – great action, fun story
Era 4: The American Standalone (1998) – Yes, You Still Have to Watch It
Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla (1998) is generally considered the black sheep of the family. It’s not connected to anything. The Godzilla in it looks more like an iguana. But it exists, and now you know about it.
Era 5: The Reiwa Era (2016–Present) – The Best Modern Toho Films
The Reiwa era began with Shin Godzilla (2016) – a critically acclaimed return to the franchise’s political and social roots – and includes the animated Planet of the Monsters trilogy on Netflix. Most recently, Godzilla Minus One (2023), the first period piece in the series, won the franchise its first Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
Watch these immediately if you haven’t:
- Shin Godzilla (2016) — bureaucracy meets monster horror; it works
- Godzilla Minus One (2023) — absolutely essential, emotionally devastating
Era 6: The American MonsterVerse (2014–Present) – Hollywood Goes Big
This is a fully connected cinematic universe, so watch these in order. The MonsterVerse includes Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) – with the sequel Godzilla x Kong: Supernova set for release in 2027.
MonsterVerse watch order:
- Kong: Skull Island (2017) – chronologically the earliest story
- Godzilla (2014)
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
- Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
The TV Series – Don’t Skip These
Skull Island (Netflix, 2023) – An animated series set after Kong: Skull Island. Fun, visually bold, and a good watch before the later MonsterVerse films.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Apple TV+) – The crown jewel of MonsterVerse TV. Season 1 premiered in November 2023 to an 87% Rotten Tomatoes rating, following two siblings uncovering their family’s connection to Monarch across multiple timelines, with Kurt and Wyatt Russell sharing the role of Lee Shaw across different eras. Season 2 premiered on 27 February 2026, featuring Skull Island, a brand new Titan called Titan X, and the return of Godzilla. Watch this after Godzilla (2014) and before Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
The Bottom Line
If you want to watch everything, start in 1954 and follow the eras in order. If you’re new to the franchise and want to start smart, do this: watch Godzilla Minus One first (it requires no prior knowledge and is stunning), then jump into the MonsterVerse from the beginning, and circle back to the classic eras when you’re hooked.
Toho has been steering Godzilla since his deep-sea birth, and with 38 films and counting, the King of the Monsters isn’t going anywhere. The only question is where you start. Pick a film. Drop in. The stomping begins immediately.