Toho's follow-up doubles down on the human cost of a Godzilla-scale attack. Even if it doesn't top Minus One, it demands an IMAX screen.
While watching Godzilla Minus Zero, I was reminded of something: Godzilla is a metaphor for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The movie does everything in its power to make sure you don't forget that.
Before I go into my review, I want to give a quick thank you to GKIDS Films and Toho for inviting me to attend the LA premiere. Even though I got there a little late, the red carpet looked really cool, and experiencing the movie at this scale with an energized crowd is the best way to watch it.
What I truly love about Godzilla Minus Zero was the human side of the story. When you're watching this movie, you're seeing the trauma, the PTSD, and the devastating atmosphere of a Godzilla-scale attack.
Art Over WWE-Style Spectacle
The Americanized Godzilla movies just want to focus on the fights, like we're watching a WWE match. This version of Godzilla really wanted to remind you that there are everyday people caught in the middle. As cool as it is to see Godzilla fire a blast, and it is cool, it's going to have devastating effects on everyone around. You can't just fire an atomic blast without killing people, and I loved that the movie reminded you of that weight.
If you're going into this theater just hoping for a mindless CGI sloshfest, go watch the movies that already exist. Toho puts its emphasis on terror, humanity, and revenge. It directly correlates to the events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki far more often than I expected, even weaving a revenge plot directly into that historical trauma.
That commitment to the human story is what makes Godzilla Minus Zero stand far above the Americanized films and makes it feel like a genuine art film. I know that recent American projects, particularly the Monarch show on Apple TV+, have tried to show the human ramifications of Godzilla. I at least want to give them credit for trying, but they still fail where this movie succeeds.
Big Action and Soap Opera Beats
Now, let's get to the part that American audiences care about so much: the action. Yes, this movie has a ton of action, and it's great. During the premiere, I was sitting next to a woman in her sixties who was literally stomping her feet and cheering. I found that hilarious, but it was also a great sign that even if you aren't in it purely for the heart and emotion, you'll still have a blast with the action.The movie also has a great soundtrack.
I do have one negative not though, some of the acting performances didn't really hit for me. At times, a few of the performances felt a bit like soap opera TV. Still, one actress, the young girl in the cast, steals the entire movie for me. Outside of one brief awkward moment where a scene missed the mark, her performance really had me thinking, "Wow, could she win an Oscar for this?"
Front Row at the Chinese Theatre IMAX
There's really only one negative I have with this movie, and it's how it ended. I walked out wishing we'd gotten a bit more because the ending left me confused and dissatisfied. I do still want to rewatch the movie just to see if I misunderstood something, especially since I was sitting in the very front row at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX. Check out the image below to see where I was sitting. This was literally my view, so someone please refer me to a chiropractor as soon as possible.
While I won't say I liked it more than Godzilla Minus One, since I still prefer the first film, I enjoyed it overall and acknowledge that it's a great follow-up. It's a movie built at real scale, and I'd love to support more films like this.
Godzilla Minus Zero releases in theaters on November 6th, 2026 and you should go check it out on IMAX as soon as you can. I thought it was great, and I can't wait to see it again in a theater to experience all of the reactions, cheers, and epic action all over again.