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Shin Godzilla

Shin Godzilla

Action · Science Fiction · Horror · 2016

When a massive, gilled monster emerges from the deep and tears through the city, the government scrambles to save its citizens. A rag-tag team of volunteers cuts through a web of red tape to uncover the monster's weakness and its mysterious ties to a foreign superpower. But time is not on their side - the greatest catastrophe to ever befall the world is about to evolve right before their very eyes.

Movie details

Shin Godzilla

“A god incarnate. A city doomed.”

2016 Action · Science Fiction · Horror 2h 0m

Critical arithmetic

The consensus, allegedly.

IMDb

6.9 / 10

47.3K votes

Rotten Tomatoes

87 %

Tomatometer

Metacritic

66 / 100

Metascore

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

External scores via OMDb · CC BY-NC 4.0. Values normalized for display; availability varies by title.

When a massive, gilled monster emerges from the deep and tears through the city, the government scrambles to save its citizens. A rag-tag team of volunteers cuts through a web of red tape to uncover the monster's weakness and its mysterious ties to a foreign superpower. But time is not on their side - the greatest catastrophe to ever befall the world is about to evolve right before their very eyes.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Shin Godzilla?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

The Return of Godzilla

The Return of Godzilla

Sci-fi · 1984

After a fishing boat is attacked, the sole surviving crew member realizes it is none other than a resurrected Godzilla. However, efforts to bring the story to light are suppressed by the Japanese government amid growing political tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, who are both willing to bomb Japan to stop the monster.

Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One

Sci-fi · 2023

In postwar Japan, Godzilla brings new devastation to an already scorched landscape. With no military intervention or government help in sight, the survivors must join together in the face of despair and fight back against an unrelenting horror.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah

Godzilla vs. Hedorah

Sci-fi · 1971

An ever evolving alien life-form arrives on a comet from the Dark Gaseous Nebula and proceeds to consume pollution. Spewing mists of sulfuric acid and corrosive sludge, neither humanity nor Godzilla may be able to defeat this toxic menace.

Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack

Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack

Action · 2001

Godzilla has become a distant memory for Japan when the destruction of a US submarine raises alarms for Admiral Tachibana. His estranged daughter Yuri investigates the legend of the guardian monsters, who must rise to protect Japan against the vengeful spirits within Godzilla that seek to destroy both the nation and its people for the suffering they inflicted in the Pacific conflict.

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah

Action · 1995

A burning Godzilla, on the verge of meltdown, emerges to lay siege to Hong Kong. At the same time horrifying new organisms are discovered in Japan. These crustacean-like beings are seemingly born of the Oxygen Destroyer, the weapon that killed the original Godzilla.

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

Sci-fi · 1964

After a meteorite unleashes a three-headed beast upon Tokyo, Mothra tries to unite with Godzilla and Rodan to battle the extraterrestrial threat.

King Kong vs. Godzilla

King Kong vs. Godzilla

Sci-fi · 1962

The advertising director of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, frustrated with the low ratings of their sponsored TV program, seeks a more sensationalist approach. He orders his staff to Faro Island to capture King Kong for exploitation. As Godzilla re-emerges, a media frenzy generates with Pacific looking to capitalize off of the ultimate battle.

The War of the Gargantuas

The War of the Gargantuas

Action · 1966

Gaira, a humanoid sea beast spawned from the discarded cells of Frankenstein's monster, attacks the shores of Tokyo. While the Japanese military prepares to take action, Gaira's Gargantua brother, Sanda, descends from the mountains to defend his kin. A battle between good and evil ensues, leaving brothers divided and a city in ruins.

Invasion of Astro-Monster

Invasion of Astro-Monster

Sci-fi · 1965

Astronauts Glenn and Fuji investigate Planet X and encounter mysterious aliens known as the Xiliens, who ask Earth's people to help save their world from "Monster Zero". In exchange for borrowing Godzilla and Rodan, the Xiliens offer a cure for cancer. As Glenn investigates, he develops a romance with Miss Namikawa and uncovers the Xilien's true intentions.

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep

Sci-fi · 1966

Searching for his brother, Ryota stows away on a boat belonging to a criminal alongside two other teenagers. The group shipwrecks on Letchi island and discover the Infant Island natives have been enslaved by a terrorist organization controlling a crustacean monster. Finding a sleeping Godzilla, they decide to awaken him to defeat the terrorists and liberate the natives.

Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Shinji Higuchi · Hideaki Anno

Written by

Hideaki Anno

Hiroki Hasegawa

Hiroki Hasegawa

Rando Yaguchi

Yutaka Takenouchi

Yutaka Takenouchi

Hideki Akasaka : Special Advisor to the Prime Minister

Satomi Ishihara

Satomi Ishihara

Kayoko Ann Patterson : US special envoy

Kengo Kora

Kengo Kora

Yusuke Shimura : Secretary of Rando

Satoru Matsuo

Satoru Matsuo

Syuichi Izumi : Policy Research Council Vice Chairman

Mikako Ichikawa

Mikako Ichikawa

Hiromi Ogashira : Ministry of the Environment Nature

Issey Takahashi

Issey Takahashi

Ryu Yasuda : Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Research / Promotion Bureau Director

Court is in session

Put Shin Godzilla on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Arthouse Gremlin

“Its refusal to behave is the point.”

The strange choices create the kind of friction that follows you out of the theatre and into the argument.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Oddness is not depth.”

A film can break every rule and still leave nothing behind but the memory of how hard it tried to be singular.