Prepare for an epic journey through the most powerful and awe-inspiring versions of Godzilla! From comic book iterations to cinematic legends, we're diving deep into the most formidable Big G variants that have ever stomped across screens and pages.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the roughest, toughest
00:11and baddest iterations of the Big G.
00:22Number 20.
00:23Zilla, Godzilla.
00:25We know what you're about to say, to which we'll counter, we know, and that's why Zilla
00:30is at the bottom of this list.
00:41This star of the 1998 American Godzilla was so poorly received that Toho decided to make
00:46it canonically separate, complete with a new name.
00:50Still, we can at least admit that Zilla's comparatively diminutive stature makes it
00:54among the fastest alternate versions of Godzilla.
01:06The tiny baby Zillas that create havoc within the movie also make their parents a danger
01:11to New York City.
01:12Yet the fact that the rampage of Zilla is effectively kiboshed by some regular old military
01:17weapons speaks volumes to its lower tier status.
01:28Number 19.
01:29D.A.M.
01:30Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters.
01:32Our primary reason for including this specific Showa era iteration of Godzilla is simple
01:37really.
01:38It's all about that final mash when it comes to 1968's Destroy All Monsters.
01:43This battle brings together a plethora of Godzilla flick favorites, from Rodan and Mothra
01:48to Anguirus, Kumonga, and Varan the Unbelievable.
02:00The fact that Godzilla and his pals actually delivered a fatal blow to King Ghidorah didn't
02:05go unnoticed by big G fans back in the day.
02:14Destroy All Monsters earned cult status as a result of this iconic ending, although it
02:19should be said that the Godzilla here doesn't do much else to stand out from the pack.
02:30Number 18.
02:31Godzilla Jr.
02:33Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.
02:34It took a couple of films for Godzilla Jr. to come into his own as a chip off the old
02:38block.
02:39It also took the total meltdown of his father in order for Godzilla Jr. to essentially take
02:45his old man's place.
02:47Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 3 from 1993 showcased a cute diminutive little G that differentiated
02:53itself from the manila of old.
03:00However, the climax of Godzilla vs. Destoroyah in 1995 sees the elder Godzilla's heart go
03:05into full nuclear meltdown.
03:08Father then passes along his essence to son, reviving Jr. to essentially rise up to Heisei
03:13status.
03:20Unfortunately Toho never gave Jr. his own film to fully flesh out this new status, choosing
03:26instead to reboot the franchise with Godzilla 2000.
03:34Number 17.
03:36Space Godzilla.
03:37Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla.
03:39We're running a little fast and loose with regards to criteria here, meaning that Space
03:44Godzilla technically fits the bill due to its genetic makeup of big G-cells.
03:57The 1994 film Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla offers up a number of hypotheses with regards
04:02to how Space Godzilla absorbed his G-cells in space.
04:10However, it doesn't really matter in the end whether Space Godzilla was the result
04:20of a Mothra flyby or Biollante's demise, because what we have is a big bad with energy
04:25manipulation powers and badass corona beams.
04:29He also poses a huge threat for both Godzilla and Moguera during their tussle.
04:46Number 16.
04:47Showa Godzilla.
04:49Godzilla.
04:50It's important to remember that although the Showa era of Godzilla was generally more
04:54of a kid-focused monster mash, the OG from 1954 was no joke.
05:05This Godzilla was dark, fearsome and relentless, an analogy for nuclear war that was the farthest
05:11thing from the dropkicks and speech bubbles of the 1960s.
05:26His atomic breath attacks decimate Tokyo, with the population cowering in fear and running
05:31for their lives.
05:32This Showa Godzilla started it all, and captured the imagination of generations, and did so
05:38without fighting any other giant kaiju.
05:51Number 15.
05:52GMK Godzilla.
05:53Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah giant monsters all-out attack.
05:58Never underestimate the power of a cool look.
06:01We just love the white-out eyes utilized here in Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah giant
06:07monsters all-out attack.
06:15It lends this Godzilla a fearsome and frightful look honestly unlike any other of its brethren.
06:21This big G also retains a nasty mean streak, both with regards to the human casualties
06:27and its kaiju victims.
06:38The sight of Baragon struggling to get away from Godzilla during their encounter never
06:43fails to tug at our heartstrings.
06:45Meanwhile, the GMK Godzilla's size, strength and idy GAF attitude really places it among
06:52the toughest of the Millennium Era.
07:04Number 14.
07:05Kiryu, aka Mechagodzilla 3, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, and Godzilla Tokyo SOS.
07:12The origins of Mechagodzilla tend to differ depending on which film one happens to be
07:17watching.
07:28The iterations constructed by aliens don't really fit our criteria.
07:32However, the story of Kiryu, who appears in both Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla
07:38Tokyo SOS is a little different.
07:41This third Mechagodzilla was brought to life via genetic engineering and the bones of the
07:46original Showa Godzilla from 1954.
07:55This Mecha-G gains sentience as a result of this origin story, essentially behaving and
08:00carrying on as the OG Godzilla.
08:04Kiryu is a tough customer, utilizing the Absolute Zero cannon in battle and assisting Mothra
08:10in bringing down the Millennium Era Godzilla.
08:20Number 13.
08:21Godzilla Ultima, Godzilla Singular Point.
08:25There are a number of similarities between how Shin Godzilla from 2016 slowly evolved
08:30into its final form and this Godzilla Ultima from the anime titled Godzilla Singular Point.
08:37The Big G here stands over 300 feet tall and rips through just about anything with
08:41a vicious atomic breath attack.
08:53The comparative recency of Godzilla Singular Point means that it'll take time before the
08:58potential of this Big G reaches the heights of its predecessors.
09:10That said, the destruction caused by Godzilla Ultima more than makes its mark as a worthy
09:16modern iteration.
09:26Number 12.
09:27Venom Godzilla, Venom Number 37.
09:30The folks over at Marvel love having the Venom symbiote merge with just about anyone and
09:35anything.
09:36This includes Godzilla, oddly enough, which honestly kind of sounds like overkill to us.
09:41The Big G was already tough enough, after all, while the symbiote's history of raw,
09:46Unpredictable violence is well-known by comic fans.
09:59This crossover was a fun and well-drawn exercise in wish fulfillment that overpowered the Big
10:04G to a ludicrous degree.
10:06We also can't help but wonder if the MCU and MonsterVerse will ever collaborate to
10:11bring such a strange and wonderful team-up to the silver screen.
10:25Number 11.
10:26Heisei Godzilla, The Heisei Era The Heisei period was one that marked a period
10:31of substantial growth for the kaiju.
10:34While the movies certainly varied in tone, the uniting factor was a continued monster-of-the-week
10:39trend.
10:47During this period, Godzilla was continually tested by other kaiju that pushed his battle
10:52skills and special abilities to the limit.
10:55He's also bigger and bulkier than average iterations of the character, and when pushed
11:00into a corner, this Godzilla possesses a take-no-prisoners approach to battle.
11:16The Heisei take on the kaiju feels like one that won't yield any opposition without
11:21one hell of a fight.
11:22This Godzilla truly earned the title of King of the Monsters.
11:37Number 10.
11:38Shin Godzilla, Shin Godzilla This variant of the kaiju is certainly impressive,
11:48at least on the surface.
11:50It helps that this G-Man had the ability to evolve over time.
11:54As a result, it grew in size, stature, and power throughout the story.
11:58By the end of Shin Godzilla, the monster's atomic breath is awe-inspiring, and his destructive
12:03capabilities more than menacing.
12:09However, the fact that Shin Godzilla seems to require frequent rest periods makes him
12:19a little less intimidating than others.
12:21We also haven't seen this kaiju go up against any big beasts.
12:25While facing the Japanese Self-Defense Forces is no walk in the park, we'd like to see
12:29this Shin Godzilla in more stories to see what it's really capable of.
12:41Number 9.
12:42Hanna-Barbera's version, Godzilla We know what you guys may be thinking.
12:52How seriously can we possibly take a version of the kaiju that was created for kids in
12:57the late 70s?
12:58Well, before you discount him, allow us to give you his resume.
13:06This old-school and hands-drawn Godzilla had all the powers and strengths you'd expect
13:11from the character.
13:12What makes it more impressive was the fact that it was constantly forced to face off
13:17against towering enemies.
13:18These included the magnetic monster, which clocked in at over 400 feet tall.
13:24As a result, the Hanna-Barbera Godzilla has a time-tested mettle, as well as a stature
13:29that dwarfs the Showa and Millennium variants.
13:32In short, you shouldn't underestimate this kid-friendly kaiju.
13:37Number 8.
13:46Millennium Godzilla, the Millennium Series While this iteration of the Big G may not
13:57be the biggest one ever seen, it definitely arrived armed with serious perks.
14:03Millennium Godzilla left behind the comical goofiness of the Showa movies and built more
14:07upon the strength showcased throughout the Heisei era of films.
14:11This version of the kaiju was smarter and more adaptable in combat.
14:24At times, it even utilized subterfuge to destroy its enemies.
14:28In films such as Godzilla 2000, the kaiju goads a monster into absorbing it.
14:33But when Godzilla gets in the right position, it blasts its foe away.
14:38It's pretty scary to face off against a version of kaiju with both tactical skills and divine
14:42destruction powers.
14:56Number 7.
14:57Minus Godzilla, Godzilla Minus One This bulky version of the kaiju seems to cause
15:10pretty standard monster mayhem at first.
15:13It picks up trains with its teeth, devastates boats, and effortlessly levels cities.
15:18However, Minus Godzilla has two distinctive features that make it especially dangerous.
15:23This version of the kaiju has incredible regenerative abilities.
15:35Even if you manage to find a weapon that can somehow injure it, this Minus Godzilla is
15:39guaranteed to come back for another round.
15:42Its impressive healing is accompanied by its ability to fire an atomic blast that rivals
15:46nuclear bombs.
15:48Since it does take a fair amount of time to charge up, it might lag a little behind its
15:52speedier variants.
15:54But make no mistake, Minus Godzilla won't hesitate to erase everything it sees.
16:03Number 6.
16:04Burning Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
16:13Ahead of this landmark film, it was announced that the kaiju would meet his end.
16:17But few could have expected how his impending doom could have increased his power.
16:22In 1995's Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, we meet Burning Godzilla.
16:27This version of the creature was dying due to the fact that a nuclear meltdown was happening
16:31within its own body.
16:33While this condition does prove fatal, he gains serious power, too.
16:45Burning Godzilla has access to a spiral heat ray that is absolutely terrifying.
16:50He can also emit nuclear waves and regenerate from serious blows.
16:54Additionally, Burning Godzilla's actions are more frantic due to the fear and stress
16:59of his impending death.
17:01Its abilities and emotional turmoil make it one dangerous kaiju.
17:12Number 5.
17:14IDW Godzilla, IDW Comics
17:17Like many other popular characters, this creature's origins and adventures have been expanded
17:21upon in other forms of media.
17:28The IDW Comics built around Godzilla happened to construct a G-Man that had a seriously
17:34impressive resume.
17:35This iteration of Godzilla shakes the ground, ignores damage, and can defeat nearly any monster
17:41that comes his way.
17:48The IDW Comics Godzilla also possesses abilities like a nuclear pulse.
17:53On top of that, its fusion mode gives it powers and strength on par with Burning Godzilla
17:59itself.
18:00The fact that the IDW version can do what another variant can only do while dying is
18:06seriously badass.
18:08This Godzilla definitely rules the written page.
18:16Number 4.
18:18Marvel Comics Godzilla, Godzilla
18:20The Marvel Comics iteration of the kaiju is another expanded universe take that's insanely
18:25powerful.
18:34How powerful, you may ask?
18:35Well, how about powerful enough to take on heavyweights like the X-Men, the Fantastic
18:40Four, and the Avengers?
18:48Marvel Godzilla is so overpowered that Mr. Fantastic shrinks the beast down and sends
18:53him through time to be safe.
18:55This Godzilla stares down superheroes like Thor and the Incredible Hulk without fear.
19:00To be fair, it seems as if nothing can overcome G's attack ability and defense.
19:14Nothing that is, except for a young man named Robert Takeguchi.
19:17He sends Godzilla away via, well, by just asking him nicely, believe it or not.
19:23It's good to see that this incredibly powerful kaiju respects politeness.
19:27Number 3.
19:30The MonsterVerse franchise
19:39It had been a while since America had nearly ruined the reputation of an iconic character
19:44with a disastrous 1998 edition.
19:47Fortunately, the MonsterVerse version of Godzilla fixed the mistakes of the past and then some.
19:52This legendary variant is one of the largest and beefiest Godzillas in the character's
19:57history.
19:58His demeanor is also more animalistic and feral than usual in these films.
20:02Godzilla's atomic breath, tremendous strength, and ability to supercharge with radiation
20:13helps him hunt.
20:14He's also bested multiple big bad kaijus.
20:18Most notably, he was able to conquer Kong in a one-on-one.
20:22Once we saw this Godzilla unseat a fellow royal, we knew we were dealing with a whole
20:26new beast.
20:32Number 2.
20:33Final Wars Godzilla, Godzilla Final Wars
20:45The world of professional wrestling has a term for when performers react to an opponent's
20:49maneuver as if it had no effect.
20:52This term is no-selling.
20:54And a kaiju from Godzilla Final Wars is an expert at this sort of behavior.
20:59During the Final Wars film, literally everything except the kitchen sink is thrown at Godzilla
21:04without any effect.
21:09Practically every foe from the past is set against the creature.
21:13However, Final Wars Godzilla is so sturdy and resilient that they all barely register
21:18as obstacles.
21:20Such is the sturdiness of this absolute beast.
21:24Beasts like Anguirus and King Caesar get tossed aside like trash.
21:28Even King Ghidorah and Gigan never feel like true threats to this ridiculously overpowered
21:34and seemingly unstoppable Godzilla.
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22:01Number 1.
22:02Godzilla Earth, Godzilla Planet of Monsters Trilogy
22:18Here's a question.
22:19What happens when a monster is too resilient, aggressive, and unpredictable to touch?
22:24If you're humanity in this series, you abandon your home planet completely and leave it all
22:29to Godzilla Earth.
22:31This god-like being is overpowered to the nth degree.
22:34Furthermore, he only continues to evolve after the planet is abandoned.
22:42The monster's famous atomic breath turns into a beam capable of intergalactic destruction.
22:48Godzilla's size also reaches over a thousand feet.
22:51And when it comes to his appetite for destruction, he's always hungry.
22:55Godzilla Earth is a creature that rightfully fears nothing.
22:58Even the most powerful of monsters and weapons feel inadequate.
23:02As a result, he's firmly established himself as an apex Godzilla.
23:17Can anything take down Godzilla?
23:20Let us know what you think in the comments.
23:47Thanks for watching.
23:48See you next time.
23:49Bye!