The giant lizard Godzilla (maybe you’ve heard of him) has been around for 69 years. Nice. When the first movie came out in 1954, it was a clear allegory to Japan’s Postwar turmoil following the U.S. dropping atom bombs. Atomic energy created Godzilla, which led to more devastation. Over the years, Godzilla has gone from adversary to savior and back again. The last Japanese-made film was 2016’s Shin Godzilla which recontextualized the threat for a new generation. Now, Toho will take us all the way back to the beginning with Godzilla Minus One. Take a look at the terrifying new trailer for Godzilla Minus One below.

The synopsis for the movie shares, “Post-war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.” And we see that power crystallize in our latest Godzilla Minus One trailer, which puts the kaiju at center as it reigns down horror. At the very of the tease, we see the emergence of some kind of glowing appendages. And that can only mean bad news. This Godzilla is pure terror on land and sea and is not holding back as it seeks to cause destruction.

Setting this new movie in the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki devastation is also an interesting and harrowing new wrinkle in the Godzilla mythos. We’re used to seeing him demolish buildings, but what if the buildings are already destroyed? I wonder if any of the politics of the U.S. occupation following Japan’s surrender will be there at all. It’s clear from the trailer and the title, that Godzilla is just another horror for the people of Japan to deal with, one of many.

In addition to the new trailer, there is also a sweet new poster for Godzilla Minus One.

Godzilla Minus One is written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, who also wrote and directed 2019’s excellent Lupin III: The First. Clearly he has no problem tackling some of Japan’s biggest pop culture icons. The movie will open in Japan on November 3 and in the United States on December 1, 2023.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

Featured Image: Toho

Originally published on July 11, 2023.

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November 3 is a very special day in the annals of history. It’s my wedding anniversary. End of article. Oh, and November 3 is also Godzilla Day, the yearly celebration of Toho Studios’ infamous King of the Monsters. We are all very excited for the release of the next movie in the Japanese film series, Godzilla Minus One, and fans will be able to preorder tickets for it on Godzilla Day. The movie hits cinemas in North America on December 1. But don’t fret! Several other Godzilla offerings are available that weekend, including a one-night-only screening of the first film in the Millennium Era, Godzilla 2000.

Just so there’s no confusion, the Godzilla 2000 nationwide screening actually take place on Wednesday, November 1. It’s anticipatory for Godzilla Day.

After seven movies from 1984 to 1995, Toho relaunched the Godzilla continuity in 1999 with Godzilla 2000. It saw a theatrical release in North America in summer 2000 and was the last Japanese Godzilla movie to have such a release until Shin Godzilla in 2016. The movie depicts a world where Godzilla is a literal force of nature, like hurricanes or tornados, and a government agency tracks his movements. At the same time, an ancient, frozen flying saucer is discovered and suddenly springs to life. The aliens need genetic information only Godzilla possesses. What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? Kaiju battles! We’re definitely looking forward to Godzilla 2000 returning to theaters for Godzilla Day 2023.

But that is not the only Godzilla goodness in store. Both the Pluto TV Godzilla channel and Shout TV (Shout! Studios’ streaming service) will marathon giant monster movies all day long on November 3. Shout!’s sister channel, TokuSHOUTsu, will likewise stream kaiju movies all week long in the lead-up to Godzilla Day, beginning October 30.

More information on the Godzilla 2000 theatrical screening is at Fathom Events’ website.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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