7 Giant Monsters That Have Actually Beaten Godzilla

In the span of more than thirty films, both Japanese and American, Godzilla – a formidable monster – has had a lengthy career on the silver screen, frequently emerging victorious from his battles. His heroic phase began in the movie “Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster,” but during the Heisei era, he took on the role of an antagonist again, setting off another period where another monster or the Japanese military was required to vanquish him to bring the film’s story to a close. It is essential for a kaiju movie to reach its conclusion only after the threat has been either subdued or defeated. Similar to how mankind triumphed over Godzilla in “Gojira,” “The Return of Godzilla,” and “Shin Godzilla,” there have been multiple instances where another kaiju managed to defeat Godzilla, and we will be exploring those occasions.

In other words, for a movie to depict Godzilla as being “defeated,” it’s not necessary for him to perish; instead, we must see clear evidence that the opposing monster has emerged victorious. Throughout the years, the franchise has varied in how it portrays such battles. Concerning the timing of the confrontation, it can happen at any point within the film, not just the third act. Lastly, although Godzilla dies in “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah,” it was actually his over-radiated core that caused his demise, so this particular film is excluded from the discussion.

1) King Kong in King Kong vs. Godzilla

In the Shōwa era, King Kong vs. Godzilla served as a pivotal step for the Godzilla franchise, refining its identity. While earlier films like Gojira stand alone and end with Godzilla’s demise, and Godzilla Raids Again feels disjointed with an unclear kaiju clash, King Kong vs. Godzilla (the first color G-film) marked a significant transition in establishing the series’ tone, with further refinement coming in the subsequent film, Mothra vs. Godzilla.

The second movie of the franchise, Gojira and King Kong vs. Godzilla, both had different versions, with significant edits made in each. The US version of Gojira omitted much of the Tokyo-destroying chaos and inserted numerous scenes featuring Raymond Burr instead. Similarly, King Kong vs. Godzilla underwent substantial editing, replacing large portions of footage with American actors providing commentary about the film’s events. However, contrary to popular belief for many years, not all removed footage from these films involves kaiju fight scenes. The misconception arose because people thought that only in the American version did Kong swim away after both monsters fell off a cliff, but in fact, both versions show Kong as the victor in this battle.

2) Mothra in Mothra vs. Godzilla

Among the notable Toho monsters, apart from Godzilla, Mothra first appeared in a film back in 1961. However, she is particularly associated with the film “Mothra vs. Godzilla,” often considered the most significant Godzilla movie besides “Godzilla.

In this film, you’ll find yourself emotionally invested in one giant monster (kaiju), while genuinely feeling terrified of another (Godzilla’s design is spectacular here). The death of the adult Mothra is particularly heart-wrenching within the series. However, her twin larvae seek retribution for their fallen mother. They aren’t inherently vengeful creatures, but they do protect humanity, albeit in a way that can be seen as revenge. The larvae lead Godzilla away from the humans and together they ensnare him in threads, creating a cocoon. Once trapped, he plunges into the ocean. This battle is one of the most thrilling in the franchise’s history.

3) Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

Mechagodzilla is one of Godzilla’s most famous antagonists, appearing in all three phases of the franchise and expected to appear again in the sequel to “Godzilla Minus One.” Consequently, he will also be present in the fourth phase.

It’s clear that Mechagodzilla has consistently struggled against Godzilla in their encounters. While SpaceGodzilla didn’t defeat Godzilla, their first meeting saw Godzilla losing, as Mechagodzilla emerged victorious with Godzilla bleeding in Tokyo Bay. However, this victory was brief, as Godzilla later teamed up with King Caesar and destroyed Mechagodzilla. In the movie “Terror of Mechagodzilla,” Godzilla again proved his dominance, managing to defeat Mechagodzilla even with Titanosaurus as an ally. So, it’s fair to say that Godzilla has the upper hand in their battles.

4) Biollante in Godzilla vs. Biollante

Due to the recent digital and physical release by The Criterion Collection, “Godzilla vs. Biollante” has become much easier for many people to watch. This is wonderful news because, although it may have fewer kaiju battles compared to other installments, it stands out as the most emotionally impactful film in the series. Interestingly, it shares a visual and tonal resemblance with “The Return of Godzilla.

In the movie, Godzilla certainly has a significant presence, yet his battles against Biollante are relatively short-lived. The initial confrontation finds Biollante in her Flower Beast Form, and Godzilla easily emerges victorious. In the second round, Biollante metamorphoses into a Plant Beast form that bears some resemblance to Godzilla due to genetic material from him, but even then, the fight is over swiftly with Godzilla appearing to lack energy. It should be noted that this could be attributed to the Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria administered by humans, but it’s also possible that the battle with Biollante raised his body temperature enough for the bacteria to kick in effectively.

5) King Ghidorah in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah & Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Despite not being the top film in Godzilla’s Heisei era, “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah” boasts two of its most spectacular battles. Initially, Godzilla clashes with King Ghidorah, both being seen as threats by Tokyo’s inhabitants.

Later, Emmy Kano, a former participant in a plan to let King Ghidorah destroy Tokyo, retrieves the vanquished King Ghidorah and enhances his appearance slightly before commandeering him for another battle against Godzilla. In this clash, Mecha-King Ghidorah emerged victorious because he hoisted Godzilla aloft, soared out over the sea with him, and ultimately both figures plunged into the ocean. Although it could be argued as a tie, since Mecha-King Ghidorah initially made the move to the ocean, technically he secured the victory.

6) Mothra & Battra in Godzilla vs. Mothra

A less famous Toho kaiju, Battra, boasts an impressive design and a well-developed character storyline, which is unusual for a giant movie monster. In the film, Battra is portrayed as a monster who believes it’s his mission to rectify planetary injustices. More specifically, he aims to eliminate humans from Earth.

In the third act, Mothra persuades him that Godzilla poses a greater danger to Earth, and they decide to join forces against him. With blasts from their eyes and disorienting particles, they tire out the giant foe. As Battra loses an alarming amount of blood, they make one final move – lifting Godzilla and flying him out over the ocean. In a nod to their previous encounter, Battra plunges into the sea alongside Godzilla. Though Battra may have perished, his selfless sacrifice was crucial in defeating Godzilla.

7) Kiryu in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla & Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.

Yes, indeed, Kiryu is equivalent to Mechagodzilla, a topic we’ve previously discussed. However, Kiryu from the Millennium era presents distinct differences compared to the Mechagodzillas of “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla” and “Terror of Mechagodzilla,” as well as the one from “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II” during the Heisei period.

In the Millennium era, Kiryu, like his Heisei counterpart, was not merely an alien-controlled weapon, but a tool used by humans to combat Godzilla. The significant difference lies in the fact that Kiryu is sentient. This means he possesses consciousness due to being infused with the original Godzilla’s spirit.

In the movie titled “Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla”, a powerful roar from Godzilla stirs something within Kiryu, causing it to rampage through Tokyo while Godzilla casually walks away. Subsequently, Kiryu undergoes a software upgrade and challenges Godzilla again. The aim is to deploy the Absolute Zero Cannon, but initially, things don’t go as intended. However, the pilot skillfully employs Kiryu’s thrusters to send Godzilla over the ocean instead of the city, uses the cannon, and ultimately forces Godzilla to retreat.

In the movie “Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.”, Godzilla faces off against Kiryu, Mothra, and Mothra’s two larvae. Tragically, Mothra is killed, while Kiryu gains the advantage over Godzilla. Regrettably, Godzilla’s roar resurrects the Godzilla spirit within Kiryu. However, in an unexpected move, Kiryu decides not to kill Godzilla. Instead, he plans to toss Godzilla back into the ocean (for a second time), dive after him, and pull Godzilla into an underwater trench.

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2025-08-23 19:44