The Big G Returns, Badder Than Ever, in Godzilla Minus One’s First Trailer

As the most iconic movie monster of all time, Godzilla is infinitely mutable. In his 1954 debut, he was a force of nature unleashed by mankind’s destructive impulses. But in other films, he’s Japan’s — and by extension, humanity’s — savior, protecting us from other monstrous threats, even threats from alien worlds.

Sometimes he’s a noble creature, sometimes he’s a comedic goofball. Godzilla’s at his best, however, when he’s the aforementioned force, putting us puny humans in our place as he leaves nothing but destruction in his wake. And the newest Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus One, finds the Big G returning to his roots as the walking apocalypse that we all know and love. (I mean, just check out all of those spines!)

This time around, Godzilla arrives in a post-WW2 Japan that’s already on the brink, and as can be seen in this first trailer, immediately starts unleashing all sorts of chaos. There are some pretty awe-inspiring shots, be it Godzilla gliding beneath a battleship, noshing on a train, or unleashing his legendary atomic breath.

Godzilla Minus One was written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki (Lupin III: The First, Space Battleship Yamato, Returner) and will arrive in Japanese theaters on November 3, 2023, followed by an American release on December 1. Considering that Dune: Part Two has now been pushed to March 15, 2024 due to the ongoing Hollywood strikes, Godzilla Minus One is now my most anticipated movie of 2023.