Parents' Guide to

Godzilla Minus One

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Exciting, emotional kaiju tale has deaths, mass destruction.

Movie PG-13 2023 125 minutes
Godzilla Minus One Movie Poster: Against a white background is a large, calligraphic "G"; inside it is Godzilla

A Lot or a Little?

What you willā€”and won'tā€”find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 10+

Based on 7 parent reviews

age 13+

Not bad for kids but better experience when older

Has very strong elements and topics that would be understand and more enjoyed at an older age and 13 is the perfect time. If you watch it as a young one watch it again when your 13
age 11+

A visually stunning movie with intense scenes of destruction.

A truly great Godzilla film. The movie follows a kamikaze pilot during WW2 who deserted his post. He blames himself for many mistakes he made out of fear and lives with PTSD from his first encounter with the smaller Godzilla. The story is dark with the OVERWHELMING human tragedy that follows the landfall of the infamous Godzilla. One scene in particular shows a nuclear blast that Godzilla unleashes.... and the overall horror that it entails. (Ill be honest I was pumped when Godzilla charged his attack, but my excitement turned to horror when it was unleashed.) Over all the movie has death on massive scale but a lot of it is implied. Such as streets filled with people as a building starts to crumble. Then switching to another shot of it at a distance falling down. (obviously on said people) Lots of shooting involved. There is some language during particularly emotional scenes but in my honest opinion no more than what isnt realistic. The tragic plight of PTSD solders is on full display and despite tragedy there is hope for tomorrow so long as people stand together. (Also nuclear weapons are bad) I loved this movie and would recommend it highly. Just be prepared for some visually intense scenes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (13 ):

This great-looking, exciting, surprisingly emotional movie gets its power by setting the action in post-WWII Japan, tapping into both heart-rending despair and newfound hope. Most of the 36 Godzilla movies made before this one was released were either somewhat cheesy, or, in the case of the American versions, overly bombastic. But Godzilla Minus One manages to find an appealing new tone. Director Takashi Yamazaki's handling of the kaiju action is skillful and smooth -- and sometimes deeply affecting; Godzilla's leveling of the city with his atomic blast is truly shocking.

The movie has startlingly good visual effects -- Godzilla's first appearance on a dark beach, suddenly illuminated by a spotlight, is a heart-stopper -- but the focus is squarely on the characters. It's a simple distinction, given that, historically, these movies' main goal has been to deliver an ecological message. But by settling Godzilla Minus One on themes of guilt and cowardice, as well as friendship and kindness, viewers may feel more invested in the action. Yamazaki handles things with an open-hearted quality but never lets anything get too soapy or hysterical. Even Sumiko (Sakura Ando), the neighbor in Tokyo who initially comes on strong, attacking Shikishima for his failures, settles into a more nuanced character. This sense of compassion makes Godzilla Minus One easily one of the best of the series and definitely on par with the original 1954 classic.

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