Unleash the Ultimate Godzilla Collection: Every Criterion Edition Revealed!

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In a manner similar to Arrow Video with Gamera, the Criterion Collection has provided Toho’s Godzilla series with the care and respect it requires. Not surprisingly, the Criterion Collection’s journey with Godzilla began with Gojira in 2012. Their release featured a fresh digital restoration and stunning artwork on the cover and inside the packaging. It was treated with equal diligence when Gojira became Criterion’s initial 4K physical release of the IP, scheduled for November 5, 2024. However, before the 4K two-disc set hit stores, there was the Criterion Collection’s 2019 Blu-ray box set release of Godzilla: The Shōwa Era Films.

Every film from the 15-movie period was part of that remarkable collection. Although there were some problems with the packaging, such as the glue deteriorating, Criterion promptly replaced any damaged discs and booklets. I’m curious to know if they plan to provide similar treatment for other eras. Let’s delve into the details of Criterion’s Shōwa-era release first.

The Shōwa Era

If you’re not into physical media collections, Criterion has made many of their Godzilla films available for streaming on Max. However, please note that not the entire library is there as an exception arises. The Shōwa era entries are accessible except for King Kong vs. Godzilla. This is a licensing problem, much like with Tales from the Crypt, where Universal holds the rights to Kong and Toho owns Godzilla.

For viewers who dislike subtitles, it’s important to note that on Max, similar to the physical media collection, several movies are only available in Japanese with English subtitles. However, nine of them do have dubbed versions! Among these dubbed films is the one starring Raymond Burr, Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The movies with dubbed versions include Godzilla Raids Again, Invasion of Astro-Monster (also known as Godzilla vs. Monster Zero), Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (also known as Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster), Son of Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters, the eccentric Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, and Terror of Mechagodzilla.

Include “King Kong vs. Godzilla” in your physical collection, and you’ll find that it’s two-thirds of the time presented in English. Notably, both the original Japanese and American versions of “King Kong vs. Godzilla” are included, with the superior Japanese version being a bonus feature on the eighth disc. Similar to “Gojira” and “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” you’ll find both language versions within the set.

The Heisei Era

Remarkably similar in terms of quality, Godzilla’s Heisei period matches the Showa era that came before. It appears that The Criterion Collection is now giving it the same level of consideration. By July 2024, the first four entries from the Heisei era will be available on The Criterion Channel and Max.

1984’s “The Return of Godzilla” was a significant cinematic event, as it had been scarcely accessible in the United States for years, whether in its original Japanese version or the subpar adaptation known as “Godzilla 1985.” Remarkably, “Godzilla vs. Biollante,” “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah,” and “Godzilla vs. Mothra” (also known as “Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth”) were now making their Criterion Collection debuts.

It appears that the film “Godzilla vs. Biollante” has been released on both 4K/Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray, marking the start of Criterion’s physical media release plan. Interestingly, they seem to be handling the Heisei era more methodically compared to the Showa era. Given the history of rights issues surrounding the second era, this approach isn’t unexpected. With “Godzilla vs. Biollante” now available for purchase and personal ownership, let’s hope that the rest of the Heisei series will follow suit soon, both on The Criterion Channel/Max and 4K/Blu-ray platforms.

What Other Godzilla Movies Are Yet to Come?

Up until now, the films from the end of the Heisei era (namely, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah) haven’t received recognition from The Criterion Collection. There are no physical copies available, nor can they be streamed on Max. However, considering that acquiring the rights to four out of seven films seems odd, it appears that the streaming availability might change sooner rather than later.

In the Millennium period, Criterion primarily focuses on preserving films that carry cultural and cinematic importance, but these movies don’t seem to fit their criteria. However, it’s possible that they might appear on Max streaming at some point in the future. As we move into the Reiwa era, films like 2016’s “Shin Godzilla” and 2023’s “Godzilla Minus One” seem suitable for Criterion’s distribution in the future, both for streaming services and physical media releases. This could happen once “Minus One” has had some time to mature, potentially after a few years have passed.

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2025-04-06 00:10