On November 3rd, 1954, Toho Studios released Godzilla(“Gojira” to Japanese audiences) in theaters across Japan. On the surface it was about a giant monster, but like every great genre film, it was much more than that simple log-line. The fictional plot was used to express a commentary on very real subject matter: The Dangers of Nuclear Proliferation.

Japan was devestated by the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In Godzilla, the country is forced to see Tokyo demolished by a literal embodiment of nuclear destruction and radiation fallout. A threat so formidable all of their military strength fails to stop it. The film explored these issues while also being a state-of-the-art(for the time) display of special effects film production. It was a well made blockbuster film that was not purely superficial. It managed to be thought-provoking instead of just mind-numbing.

The film’s success resulted in the film being “Americanized” and imported to the USA 2 years later in 1956. The film was dubbed into English and Re-edited to include a newly filmed plot-line focused on American Actor Raymond Burr. “Godzilla, King of the Monsters!” lowered the film to a less dramatic tier, primarily focused on the B-Movie Giant Monster spectacle of it all. It also provided a viewpoint by which American audiences at the time could more effectively appreciate the devestation unleashed upon Japan. Burr’s Steve Martin has a perspective on what Godzilla does to Japan that is very much the same perspective many Americans had on what actual nuclear bombs did to Japan. The recut may have “dumbed down” the movie, but served an important role. While “Gojira” gave birth to an icon in Japan, “King of the Monsters!” helped Godzilla become an internationally recognized brand.

Godzilla hasn’t slowed down since. That original masterpiece launched an extensive series of sequels(many of which are NOT masterpieces) that continue to this day. Including 2019, the Godzilla franchise will span 65 years, 35 films(with further films planned in 2020 and beyond) and a pair of short-lived animated series. In 2014, Guinness officially recognized Godzilla with the record of “Longest Continuously Running Film Franchise”. The series has essentially been uninterrupted since it began in 1954, with the longest hiatus between any 2 films being 9 years, 9 months. Think about that. Since his debut there has NEVER been a full decade without a new Godzilla film.

In 1996 Godzilla was given the MTV Movie Awards “Liftime Achievement Award”. The award has been discontinued and was always intended to be tongue-in-cheek, but many Godzilla films have been tongue-in-cheek as well……and still, Godzilla is one of only 3 fictional characters to receive the award (Putting him in the company of icons like Chewbacca and Jason Voorhees). In 2004, commemorating Godzilla’s 50th Anniversary, the giant monster received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2015 Godzilla officially became a Japanese Citizen and “Tourism Ambassador”. Just this year, NASA even named a constellation after Godzilla. The list goes on.

Godzilla’s place in Pop Culture is completely ubiquitous. Songs have been named after and sang about Godzilla by everyone from Blue Oyster Cult in 1977 to Kesha in 2017. He has been parodied everywhere from Rugrats to Austin Powers. Godzilla is so iconic that even his robotic doppleganger “Mechagodzilla” can serve as the climactic cameo in Steven Spielberg’s Pop Culture Blockbuster Ready Player One, complete with Godzilla’s iconic theme music.

In an age where many franchises can go into hibernation for well over a decade and stumble in attempted revivals…Godzilla has remained evergreen. He is quite literally a jack of all trades film franchise. Just as there is a shoe for every foot, there is a Godzilla for every viewer. Film enthusiasts can appreciate the meaning behind the original film, vintage film fans and children can marvel at the ‘campy’ charm in the films of the 60s and 70s, those who enjoy straightforward effects frenzies can tune into the flms of the 90s. In the last 5 years, Godzilla has traversed 3 very different film styles. 2014’s “Godzilla” is a US produced Hollywood Blockbuster. 2016’s “Shin Godzilla” is a Japanese production with as many layers and as much commentary as the original film. 2017’s “Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters” launched Godzilla into a trilogy of melodramatic but unquestionably unique sci-fi Anime films.

To top everything off, Godzilla seems destined to continue to reach even greater heights in popularity. The next film, a sequel to the 2014 film titled “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” is set for release in May of 2019. If the extremely positive reception to the film’s first awe-inspiring trailer is anything to go by….the film is set to be a monstrous hit. The notion that ANY film franchise can even make it to 35 entries, let alone have the 35th being the biggest Box Office hit of the series, is truly impressive. It would only prove par for the course for Godzilla: King of the Franchises.