Few monsters leave people as awe-inspired as Godzilla. Over the course of 60+ years, the King of the Monsters has reigned supreme in the imaginations of children of all ages. It isn't so much just because he is an untamed force of destruction who leaves everything in ruin behind him. No. People love watching Godzilla knock down giant monsters as gargantuan as him.
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The Godzilla films have some of the greatest kaiju giant monster fights ever. Fights between giant multi-headed dragons, demons, moths, aliens -- the works. But which fights are the best? Across the several Godzilla films, which fights stand apart? Before watching Godzilla: King of the Monsters, consider reliving his greatest hits in these unforgettable, city-crushing brawls that rocked Tokyo to its bedrock.
Godzilla vs. Zilla (Godzilla Final Wars)
Brevity is the soul of wit. No one expected the American remake version of Godzilla to crop up in this Godzilla epic, but, when he did, fans were excited to see how the loathed American counter-part would compare to the original.
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This fight isn't long. Godzilla just wacks Zilla away and blows him up. Not even a minute long. For as over-the-top as Godzilla Final Wars is, this fight is unforgettable in its simplicity.
Godzilla vs. Ghidorah (Godzilla vs. Ghidorah)
Godzilla and Ghidorah fought countless times over the years. Several of the fights are worthy contenders of this list, but this one was really the first to really feel like it captured the epic intensity of these two titans going head-to-head.
There are actually two big Godzilla and Ghidorah fights in the film. Both are pretty intense. It's hard to top, however Godzilla blowing off one of Ghidorah's heads in the first fight. However, the second fight, with its mechanized Ghidorah and human protagonist put in peril, does end up feeling even more dramatic. Both are worth the price of admission.
Godzilla vs. Mecha Godzilla (Terror of MechaGodzilla)
The second film to feature Mecha Godzilla manages to top its predecessor. While the first MechaGodzilla film has some great moments, the sequel manages to present a far more entertaining battle.
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Highlights include Godzilla charging through a field of explosions, ripping off MechaGodzilla's head, and taking a fair share of bloodying up over the course of the fight. As the last film of the Showa Era, it doesn't disappoint.
Godzilla vs. Monster X (Godzilla Final Wars)
Godzilla Final Wars is easily among the most over-the-top entries in the series. Any number of fights from that film could end up on this list, but, to narrow it down, the final fight between Godzilla and Monster X takes the cake.
The first half features the over-the-top martial arts featured throughout the film, before Monster X transforms into Kaiser Ghidorah. Then, what was already an intense final battle ramps up the hype levels to a phenomenal degree.
Godzilla & Jet Jaguar vs. Megalon & Gigan (Gozilla vs. Megalon)
Godzilla vs. Megalon isn't a good Godzilla film. It's over-the-top and cheesy, but the final fight involves Godzilla teaming up with an UltraMan rip-off to fight an underground cockroach monster teaming up with an alien mercenary with hooks for hands.
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The highlight is Godzilla's jump kick. It's one of the most ridiculous moments in Godzilla history, and, for that reason alone, this fight ranks among the best.
Godzilla vs King Kong (King Kong vs. Godzilla)
It's tempting to dismiss the film King Kong vs. Godzilla as just some over-hyped crossover brawl film. However, while the film is hardly the best in the Godzilla series, the final fight is an iconic moment in cinema history. Two titans from two different continents fighting.
The fight itself is actually not too shabby, either. Each monster gets in a few slugs that are actually pretty ingenious. While the pagoda destruction scene is pretty iconic, perhaps the best point in the fight is when King Kong just shoves a whole tree down Godzilla's throat. Kong vs. Godzilla is gonna have a hard time topping this one.
Godzilla vs. Destroyah (Godzilla vs. Destroyah)
The end of the Heisei Era of Godzilla films ended with this. The final fight between Godzilla and Destroyah remains among the most iconic moments in Godzilla history -- in part because, at the end of the day, Godzilla dies.
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But the fight itself has some great moments. It's moody and atmospheric. Burning Godzilla goes all out on this literal Devil, but Destroyah ultimately proves stronger. A couple of highlights are when Godzilla's son enters the fray and when, yes, the Japanese military saves the day. The final act of Godzilla vs. Destroyah is iconic for a very good reason.
Godzilla vs. Mothra (and Babies) (Godzilla vs Mothra '64)
Godzilla has faced Mothra many times over his career, but oddly enough, the most interesting fight involving him comes from their first appearance together...but not with adult Mothra, but with Mothra's two larval babies.
What makes Mothra such an interesting kaiju is how she (sometimes he) needs to employ ingenuity when confronting bigger monsters. This is never more obvious than in this fight, which requires the Mothra twin larva to wrap Godzilla up in essentially a string shot attack. It's a far more strategic, thought out battle than what we're used to.
Godzilla vs Biollante (Godzilla vs Biollante)
Biollante is one of the most underrated Godzilla adversaries. This kaiju is a plant-like monster who may be the reincarnation of a human being. It's easily Godzilla's largest adversary as seen in the final fight of this underrated Godzilla film.
What makes the fight great is its atmosphere. It's something almost out of a nightmare with writhing tentacles, Godzilla being almost swallowed, and a great deal of fairly gory explosions. And it doesn't end with Godzilla having a clear-cut victory, either. While this fight didn't kill Godzilla, it's the one time it felt Godzilla was truly out of his league.
Godzilla vs. Japan (Shin Godzilla)
Arguably the most fascinating and compelling fight in any Godzilla film features only one monster. The military often stands to oppose Godzilla, but usually, they're just cannon fodder about to be blown away. There are several engagements between the Japanese military and Godzilla throughout Shin Godzilla. The final fight is the most ingenious and clever military operation ever taken against Godzilla -- in part because it involves a complex, multi-leveled assault on Godzilla, exploiting his anatomy...
But the most spectacular moment in the whole movie is when Godzilla first unleashes his atomic breath in a truly disturbing instance. Very often, kaiju fans forget Godzilla was initially created as the personification of national fear of atomic warfare. Leave it to noted anime director Hideaki Anno to find a way to make Godzilla frightening again.