Dedicated kaiju fans are likely familiar with much, if not all of, the Godzilla canon. However, some of the series installments remain woefully under-seen outside of that core base. The 2001 film Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (frequently shortened as GMK) is a great example of exactly that. Although GMK resonated in its native Japan, the picture rarely seems to get the same level of recognition with Stateside audiences. That’s a real shame, seeing as GMK is regarded as an essential Godzilla film by those who have seen it. Not to mention, many consider it one of the most accessible entries in the entire series!
Whether you’ve overlooked this hidden gem or you’re keen to pay the picture a repeat visit, we’ve got the lowdown on where to stream it and more!
What Is Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack About?
In case you’re not overly familiar with GMK and wondering if this Godzilla movie is worth seeking out, allow us a moment to help make up your mind. Most fans will tell you that the short answer to that question, however, is yes, GMK is undoubtedly worth watching even if you’ve never watched another Godzilla movie.
This under-seen effort, helmed by Shusuke Kaneko, resonates with fans for a few reasons. For one, it features a great story at its core, one that deviates slightly from expectations while simultaneously carving out its own path. GMK follows Yuri (Chiharu Niiyama), a reporter and documentarian who finds herself entrenched in a developing story about a trio of franchise stalwarts, Mothra, King Ghidorah, and Baragon, teaming up as Guardian Monsters to defend Japan against Godzilla.
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In this incarnation, Godzilla is possessed by the spirits of those who perished in war. The possessors are disenchanted that people have seemingly forgotten about the ramifications of war. That gives the film a chance to inject some subtext about the numerous merits of peaceful conflict resolution and the ultimate cost of violent confrontation.
Those themes aren’t too far removed from those for which the films are best known. The series has long delivered commentary on the futility of war and the fear it instills, but GMK does that through a supernatural lens, which makes the film simultaneously on brand and slightly different from the majority of its contemporaries.
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack Reinvents the Kaiju in a New Way
Some fans of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack seem to connect with this version of Godzilla because of how ruthless he is here. This 2001 effort paints the character as even more monstrous and even more destruction-focused than usual.
Here, Godzilla is vengeful beyond what we see in the majority of the series installments. That distinction works well in large part because of his status as supernaturally powered, meaning that his rage comes from an honest place and delivers a poignant message. Though some of the particulars differ from the standard formula, this 2001 film deviates only as much as it must to try something different while still keeping many of the core components that fans love intact.
In case you’re not intimately familiar with the particulars, GMK positions itself as a direct sequel to the grandfather of kaiju films, Godzilla (1954). This installment retcons all of the films released between 1954 and 2001 when GMK first played Japanese theaters.
The uncomplicated timeline is one reason GMK has the potential to resonate with a wide audience. Simplifying the narrative makes the film easier to follow, even for those with little knowledge of kaiju cinema or the Godzilla series.
The picture didn’t make its stateside premiere until 2003 when it debuted on the Sci-Fi Channel. That unceremonious release strategy is probably one of several reasons the flick has yet to gain the level of recognition it deserves in the U.S.
On the whole, GMK is an under-seen series installment that takes some risks, most of which pay off in a big way. Fans and critics agree that picture benefits from a strong screenplay, a simple narrative, and some evergreen commentary on the futile nature of war. If you are keen to experience the film, you can find this franchise installment streaming on Tubi.
Have you seen Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack? If not, will you be checking it out on Tubi? Make sure to let us know in the comments section!
