Kaiju refers to giant monsters in Japanese media. Usually, these are sea monsters created from either exposure to radiation or by some cosmic power no one can understand. After capturing fans in Japan, these giants crossed the Pacific and gained massive popularity in the U.S., among other places.
Actually, America kickstarted the concept of a kaiju in 1933, with the release of King Kong. Inspired by this notionnof giant monsters, Japanese filmmakers created their monster, Godzilla (or Gojira), which took the role of King of the Monsters for years to come. The sheer popularity of these two kaijus led to crossovers in a few movies where they fight each other— or, as in the recent movie Godzilla X Kong, even team up.
In addition to these two kings, there are actually dozens of movies and different kaijus to discuss about. Here we’ll look at some of the most iconic or influential giant monsters that took the big screen. We’ll be looking at not just Japan’s monsters, but also the United States. If it’s taller than a skyscraper, it counts!
The Best-Known Kaiju: Godzilla
[Image via Toho Co. ,Ltd]
He’s the King of the Monsters for a reason. Godzilla stormed onto the scene in 1954 in Japan.
A prehistoric monster is awakened after years of being exposed to high doses of radiation from the nuclear bombs tested out in the ocean. Yes, the atomic bombs that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II heavily influenced the lore here. Wrestling with real life with a bit of science fiction? Common in media.
The residents called this beast Gojira or Godzilla for his giant demeanor and destructive nature. Nearly unstoppable, this walking doomsday monster wreaks havoc and destruction against any who dare to challenge his mighty power. Considering the rising Cold War in 1954 and the nuclear arms race, the subtext and cultural commentary is not subtle.
By the time his films came overseas, Godzilla had become an icon nearly overnight. Over seventy years later, he remains one of the most popular kaijus in existence. In fact, Godzilla’s branched out in over 30 movies, animated series, comic books, video games, and novels.
Godzilla cemented the genre. Although not technically the first, he was the one who made it as popular as it is.
The American Kaiju: King Kong
[Image via RKO Pictures]
You can’t talk about giant monsters without talking about the one who started it all. Technically an American monster, King Kong graced us with his presence in the 1933 self-titled classic.
A film crew heads onto a mysterious island to make their next best movie, only to discover its inhabitants are dangerous. When the inhabitants abduct the lead actress to use her as a human sacrifice, a giant ape called Kong captures her and develops a romantic interest in her. During their time together, the crew captures Kong and takes him to New York City as a spectacle for their amusement. What began as a great capture became havoc across the Big Apple.
King Kong was revolutionary at the time for combining stop-motion claymation with live action. It also gave us a movie monster never seen on such a scale. King Kong walked so that the kaiju genre could run. Even after so many adaptions and remakes, fans still discuss the original.
Being the first, King Kong is a great example of how taking a simple animal and turning them into a larger-than-life character can have an impact on media. Both literally and figuratively speaking.
The Underrated Kaiju: Gamera
[Image via Kadokawa Corporation]
Gamera is an underrated monster that deserves a lot of attention. Off the coast of Japan, a giant turtle with large tusks emerges. It had awoken from its frozen hibernation in the Arctic. After a rampage across the country, humanity traps Gamera in a rocket ship before sending him off to space.
Years later, he returns as the self-proclaimed Guardian of the Earth.
Much like Godzilla, Gamera is another kaiju that has gained a cult following since his debut on the big screen in 1965. Getting his series he would go on for decades facing off against all sorts of alien creatures and monsters, even getting his TV reboot in 2023.
There never has been a crossover between Gamera and Godzilla, however. Fans beg for this to happen. Yet even if it doesn’t happen, many great movies with this 200-foot flying turtle exist.
Space Kaiju: Space Amoeba
[Image via Toho Co. ,Ltd]
This giant squid might look a little silly. Make no mistake, though: the Space Amoeba is anything but harmless.
An unmanned space probe attempts to observe Jupiter before contacting an alien parasite. After crash landing into the Pacific Ocean, a Space Amoeba took control of three lifeforms. Thus a giant cuttlefish, rock turtle, and crab start wreaking havoc across the islands, and it’s up to a group of researchers to put a stop to these monsters.
Space Amoeba isn’t as highly praised as other kaiju movies are. Most fans expressed disappointment that monsters were seen as minor characters instead of commanding the screens in a major role. However, there is some charm in this film and in what it tried to accomplish.
King Ghidorah
[Image via Toho Co. ,Ltd]
The false king, Ghidorah, is perhaps Godzilla’s most iconic nemesis. With his three heads and lighting breath, Ghidorah is as dangerous as he is incredible. A three-headed dragon fighting Godzilla? Makes for quite the spectacle.
Ghidorah is an alien monster. Originating from the deepest parts of space, he arrives on Earth and immediately hibernates. Millions of years later, he wakes up and seeks to destroy the planet. King Ghidorah was granted that title as no monster would dare topple his reign of destruction. That is, until Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra decided to face the false king in a bloody conflict.
King Ghidorah is considered the second most recognizable Japanese kaiju and for good reason. Many fans consider his design and rivalry with Godzilla the best in cinema. While Godzilla will always be king of the monsters, Ghidorah will always have his chance to challenge that rank.
Mothra
[Image via Toho Co. ,Ltd]
Mothra debuted in 1961 in a rather beautiful showcase. One of the few female kaiju on the roster, Mothra’s origin is more of a guardian than a destroyer.
Called by two fairies after being stripped of their home, the goddess Mothra arrives from Infant Island to punish those who killed the inhabitants. She starts as a giant worm-like creature before cocooning herself on Tokyo Tower. She emerges a giant beautiful moth that rivals the planes before them.
Mothra became a huge success getting multiple movies with just her as the star role. While everyone remembers her fighting against and then befriending Godzilla, Mothra’s legacy is so much more a guardian angel.
Megalon
[Image via Toho Co. ,Ltd]
Megalon is a monster that tangled with Godzilla before. One of the most underrated monsters, Megalon’s appearance alone looks as intimidating as it is eye-catching.
Once a guardian of the island of Seatopia, the military provokes Megalon by nuking Seatopia during their tests. Yes, more subtext. Hence, Megalon teams up with a cyborg named Gigan to create a merry trail of destruction across Japan. As a result, Godzilla teams up with the experimental cyborg Jet Jaguar to face him down.
With his bug-like appearance and drill arms, Megalon may not be the strongest but he is certainly one of the most intimidating of the bunch. Still, Megalon meets an unfortunate demise with one of Godzilla’s gravity-defying drop kicks. Hey, at least he went out in a rather unique fashion.
Hedorah
[Image via Toho Co. ,Ltd]
Hedorah is a recurring enemy of Godzilla that is as deadly as he is ugly. Known as the Smog Monster to North Americans, an alien organism fused with the pollution and chemicals that Earth accumulated to form Hedorah. Afterwards, this creature started absorbing all the toxic chemicals it could as it grew into a monstrous mass.
Hedorah’s greatest abilities are its transformation. It can change the shape of its body at will, from a small form that seems like a slug, to a towering behemoth at 100 feet tall. They can even change into a flying form and glide like a pollution UFO. Every time they feed off of smog, chemicals, or the pollution of the air, Hedorah has a body that refuses to die.
Godzilla has faced off against this gross creature over the years and, in fact, nearly died as he fought against him. The Smog Monster is undoubtedly one of Godzilla’s most deadliest foes. Perhaps this was the wake-up call environmentalists needed to force the rest of the world to understand how deadly pollution is.
The Ultimate Kaiju: Ultraman
[Image via Tsubaraya Productions]
This is a unique choice as Ultraman is also considered a superhero or tokusatu series, much like Super Sentai and Kamen Rider. However, considering that Ultraman’s monster designs were worked on by the same costume designer for the Godzilla movies, many also consider Ultraman a kaiju.
Originally, the series was born from a serial called Ultra Q. It was the first, but not the most memorable. While there were a lot of interesting stories and the costumes were modified from previous Godzilla films, the series didn’t give much of a spark. It felt more like a Twilight Zone episode than a kaiju experience.
Hence, there are very few similarities between Ultra Q and Ultraman. However, Ultraman calls back to events from Ultra Q when the story requires it.
A member of a scientific organization is sent to investigate a mysterious blue sphere that landed on Earth. However, upon reaching the area, a red sphere strikes down Hayata and nearly kills him. That’s when an alien being senses his pure heart and grants Hayata his powers to transform. Ultraman is born.
Since 1966, Ultraman has been one of the most iconic Japanese heroes that fans around the globe enjoy. Even today, fans of a recent Netflix animated series has shown just how big this hero has had in the world of kaiju and superheroes.
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