5 Things That Still Make No Sense About Godzilla

by

The first Godzilla movie appeared in 1954, created by filmmaker Ishirō Honda and Toho Studios. It was a groundbreaking monster movie that reflected Japan’s struggles after World War II and the trauma of the atomic bombs, all brought to life with amazing special effects. The film essentially defined the monster movie genre for the next seventy years and introduced a lasting cultural icon: the “King of the Monsters.” Godzilla quickly became a pop culture sensation, launching a whole series of films, characters, and related stories.

Over more than 70 years, with 40 movies and appearances in many cartoons and comics, Godzilla has become a huge franchise with a complicated history. In fact, Guinness World Records recognizes it as the longest-running movie franchise ever! But because the story has grown over so many years, with each new addition building on what came before, the details don’t always quite line up. And unfortunately, it’s not going to get any easier to make sense of it all.

5) How Does He Keep Coming Back to Life?

The original Godzilla famously ends with the monster seemingly destroyed by the “Oxygen Destroyer,” leaving only its skeleton at the bottom of the ocean. However, the sequel, Godzilla Raids Again, quickly brought Godzilla back just a year later, explaining that the first Godzilla was not unique – it was simply “just another one” of its kind.

A common problem with many Godzilla movies is a lack of consistent explanation for how he keeps surviving from one film to the next, especially with so many sequels being made. Most films simply ignore this issue. Thankfully, Godzilla Minus One at least hinted at how he might survive, making changes for the next movie feel logical. But perhaps the strangest example is Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, where Godzilla is constantly on the brink of exploding because of the nuclear energy inside him. The movie then explains that his energy is absorbed by his offspring, who becomes the new Godzilla – a concept we’ll explore further later.

4) How Does He Survive on Other Planets?

I’ve watched Godzilla’s adventures for years, and while he usually sticks around Earth – particularly around Japan – there have been a few times he’s actually left the planet. I remember in Invasion of Astro-Monster from 1965, aliens from Planet X essentially ‘borrowed’ Godzilla and Rodan to battle King Ghidorah. It turned out to be a trick – they wanted to control the monsters and invade Earth! It always made me wonder, though: how can Godzilla survive out in space and on a completely different world?

It’s never fully explained what Planet X is made of, but since Godzilla is killed by the Oxygen Destroyer in the first film, we can assume he needs oxygen to breathe, either through lungs or gills. The film also states Planet X has much lower air pressure and gravity than Earth, but these factors aren’t considered during Godzilla’s fight with Ghidorah there. While this is typical for science fiction from the 1960s, it creates a continuity issue, likely explaining why Godzilla hasn’t returned to another planet in later films.

3) His On-Again, Off-Again Friendships

Watching the Godzilla movies, I’ve noticed the creators really expanded the world with lots of different monsters and characters. Eventually, they had to decide who was on Godzilla’s side and who wasn’t. Rodan and Mothra seem to be his most reliable allies, consistently fighting with him. But, interestingly, the movies don’t always stick to that. Sometimes, for the sake of the story, Godzilla is portrayed as a solitary creature, even battling monsters we’ve previously seen fighting with him.

2) His Fighting Style

Over the years, Godzilla has changed along with the special effects used to create him – moving from a person in a suit to computer-generated imagery. This means his movements and fighting techniques have also evolved. Really, Godzilla’s powers and how he fights other monsters are always adjusted to fit the style of each new movie.

With Godzilla Raids Again, the first film to pit Godzilla against another monster, the action felt more like a clumsy wrestling match – two creatures in suits simply hitting each other without much coordination. By Godzilla vs. Megalon, just 18 years later, Godzilla was practically a wrestler, even performing a tail-slide dropkick! This inconsistency continues in modern films. The 2014 Godzilla movie strategically held back his atomic breath, using it as a powerful finale to showcase his abilities. However, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire immediately unleashes the atomic breath, instantly obliterating a monster. This highlights a shift in how Godzilla’s powers are portrayed.

1) How Did He Have a Son?

The 1967 film Son of Godzilla introduced Minilla, who was presented as Godzilla’s son. The movie briefly explained Minilla hatched from an egg and was raised by Godzilla, but it didn’t offer much detail. It left viewers wondering where the egg came from, how it was fertilized, or if Godzilla’s eggs are naturally created by the Earth, especially considering the role of radiation. The sequel All Monsters Attack further developed Minilla’s character by having him become friends with a young boy.

Over time, the Godzilla movies have become increasingly confusing. Sequels introduced ‘Baby Godzilla’ and ‘Godzilla Jr.’ without ever explaining their origins. While these additions help the franchise continue after Godzilla’s repeated deaths and appeal to fans wanting a more adorable monster, it’s a concept that doesn’t really make sense and remains consistently baffling.

https://comicbook.com/comics/list/7-superheroes-that-could-beat-godzilla-ranked-by-how-easily-they-would-win/embed/#

Read More

2026-04-29 16:14