Godzillahas played the hero more often than not in his 70-year career on the silver screen, but in one classic Toho movie he was the villain while one of his biggest rivals saved the day. Godzilla began as a terrifying destructive force, acting as a metaphor for the horrors of nuclear war, but he quickly evolved into a more family-friendly heroic monster during the Showa Era of films. Some of themost underrated Godzilla moviesreturned him to his monstrous roots, and in one 33-year-old movie, that villainous status put him at odds with one of his greatest rivals.
Over the years, Toho has changed the alignment of many of its monsters, with very few exceptions.Mechagodzilla, for example, was an all-powerful alien weaponin his first two appearances before evolving into a human-made defense mechanism against the destruction of Godzilla on Earth. Mothra has never appeared as a true villain, but she is an exception to the rule, as virtually every monster has appeared as a force for good and a force for evil, whether through their own motivations or via mind control. Even one of Big G’s greatest villains ever became the protagonist duringGodzilla’s Heisei Era.
Godzilla Debate: Is Gojira More Interesting as a Hero or Villain?
Godzilla has been viewed as both a savior and a threat to humanity for 70 years.
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah Made Godzilla’s Biggest Villain The Hero
The 1991 Classic Saw A Version Of King Ghidorah Save Japan From Godzilla Himself
The 18th film in the Godzilla franchise wasGodzilla vs. King Ghidorah, which saw the return of Godzilla’s three-headed nemesis in multiple forms.Godzilla vs. King Ghidorahboasts one of the more convoluted plots that Toho has ever come up with, as it unfolds a time-travel narrative full of pseudo-science, a somewhat silly origin story for both Godzilla and King Ghidorah, and confusing motivations for its human characters. That can mostly be forgiven thanks toone of the best on-screen iterations of King Ghidorah in his traditional form, and the addition of his cybernetic upgraded form, Mecha-King Ghidorah.
1954–1975
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2016-present
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Shin Godzilla
Godzilla Minus One
Skipping over some of the more mind-melting time travel hi-jinks,Godzilla vs. King Ghidorahends with a future-built, roboticKing Ghidorah traveling back in time to the present day to stop an angry Godzillafrom destroying Japan. Mecha-King Ghidorah was built as the resurrection of the original King Ghidorah, which Godzilla had killed by blasting its middle head off. It was the first time in King Ghidorah’s on-screen history that he wasn’t portrayed as the ultimate extraterrestrial evil; an invader on the Earth and pure force of destruction.
Ghidorah Was A Hero In Only One Other Movie
Ghidorah Was Part Of A Team-Up Against Godzilla
That would not be the only time that King Ghidorah would be framed as a hero, however. 10 years later,King Ghidorah teamed up with Mothra and Baragon to take down a vengeful Godzillathat was possessed by the souls of those killed in the Pacific theater of World War II in the universally-beloved classic from the Millennium Era,Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. Referred to asGMKby the fans, the movie features King Ghidorah as one of the three element-based Guardian Monsters of Earth who rise to defend the world against Godzilla.
The original version ofGodzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attackfeatured Anguirus, Varan, and Baragon as the three Guardian Monsters, but Toho eventually swapped in Mothra and King Ghidorah to attract viewers with more iconic monsters.
Ghidorah’s heroism was not long-lived afterGMK. Just a few years later, an evolved version of King Ghidorah known asMonster X/Keizer Ghidorah was depicted as the “final boss” for Godzillaas he fought his way through friends and foes from his movie history for the 50th-anniversary filmGodzilla: Final Wars. Despite his past appearances as a hero, Toho was sure to remind everyone that King Ghidorah has always beenGodzilla’s archrival.
Godzilla
The Godzilla franchise, spanning over six decades, follows the adventures of the titular kaiju, a colossal, prehistoric sea monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation. Originating in Japan, Godzilla has evolved from a destructive force of nature to a protector of humanity, battling various other giant monsters, including iconic foes like King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Mechagodzilla. The series explores themes of environmental destruction, nuclear anxiety, and human resilience. With numerous films, TV series, and an expanding universe, Godzilla remains a cultural icon, captivating audiences worldwide with its epic battles and compelling narratives.
