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Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One is a 2023 Japanese kaiju film written, directed, and with visual effects by Takashi Yamazaki.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Godzilla Minus One is a 2023 Japanese kaiju film written, directed, and with visual effects by Takashi Yamazaki. Set in postwar Japan, it follows a former kamikaze pilot and other survivors as they confront Godzilla amid national devastation. It is the 37th film in the Godzilla franchise and the 33rd produced by Toho, and it screened in Canada as part of its international theatrical rollout.

Plot

The film follows Kōichi Shikishima, a former kamikaze pilot who survives an encounter with Godzilla and later joins other survivors in postwar Japan to fight the monster.

Production and release

Godzilla Minus One was produced by Toho and released in 2023. It became widely noted for its commercial success and for being the first Japanese Godzilla film in nearly a decade.

Reception and awards

The film received strong international attention and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, a first for the Godzilla franchise.

Place in the franchise

The film is part of the Reiwa era of Godzilla films and is positioned as a standalone story set before the original 1954 film in the series chronology.

Key facts

  • The film is set in postwar Japan after World War II.
  • It is the 37th film in the Godzilla franchise and the 33rd Toho-produced Godzilla film.
  • Takashi Yamazaki served as director, writer, and visual effects supervisor.
  • The story centers on a traumatized former kamikaze pilot who joins others in resisting Godzilla.
  • The film won the franchise’s first Academy Award, for Best Visual Effects.
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Canadian context

The film screened in Canada as part of its international theatrical rollout and has been discussed by Canadian audiences as a major recent entry in the long-running Godzilla franchise.

Frequently asked questions

What is Godzilla Minus One?
It is a 2023 Japanese Godzilla kaiju film written, directed, and VFX-supervised by Takashi Yamazaki.
What does the title mean?
The title refers to Japan being pushed from “zero” into the negative by Godzilla’s devastation; this interpretation is given in Japanese-language coverage.
What is the film about?
It follows a former kamikaze pilot in postwar Japan who helps resist Godzilla after surviving an earlier attack.
Who directed the film?
Takashi Yamazaki directed the film and also wrote it and handled visual effects.
Did Godzilla Minus One win any major awards?
Yes. It won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, the first Oscar won by a Godzilla film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla_Minus_One
    Supports: Basic film identification, year, director, franchise position, and Toho production context.
  2. Netflix Tudum — https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/godzilla-minus-one-release-date-news-ending
    Supports: Plot overview, postwar setting, release context, and Academy Award win.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23289160/
    Supports: Plot premise and cast-related film identification.
  4. Japanese Wikipedia — https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B4%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A9-1.0
    Supports: Title meaning and Japanese release identification.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/godzilla_minus_one
    Supports: Release date, runtime, language, and genre classification.