A ton of GODZILLA movies new to blu-ray

Thirteen new Godzilla blu-ray releases on the way...

While we hold our radioactive breath for Gareth Edwards' gigantic Godzilla movie, it's already good news for kaiju fans as half of the Japanese Godzilla films will soon be on blu-ray.

The story so far - not all Godzilla films have yet hit DVD in the USA (Godzilla 1984, below, still hasn't materialised). And besides the American Godzilla (1998), only three have so far been released on blu-ray... 

Godzilla 1984 - still missing from DVD in the USA

Two editions of the very first 1954 Godzilla were released on blu-ray by Criterion (below) and Classic Media. Destroy All Monsters (1968), which confusingly hasn't got 'Godzilla' in the title, was released on blu-ray by Media Blasters in 2011. Godzilla vs Biollante (1989) was released on blu-ray by Miramax in 2012.

Godzilla (1954) - one of three already on blu-ray

But NOW, the imminent second American Godzilla blockbuster has triggered a tidal wave of Godzilla reissues on DVD and thirteen blu-ray debuts. With the rights to Japanese Godzilla films split among different worldwide distributors, there've been four separate announcements of new Godzilla releases made this year. While Sci-Fi Japan have most of the news scoops, what I'm doing here is compiling a checklist of all these new blu releases in one place. I'll also update my master Godzilla DVD list accordingly as they're confirmed. I'll obviously have to rethink the name... disc list? ...digital Godzillas?

Universal Studios will release King Kong vs Godzilla (1963) and King Kong Escapes on blu-ray in April. The American version of King Kong vs Godzilla was very different to the Japanese, but I believe this is the only version that will be released. It was the first Godzilla film to be made in colour. Its sequel King Kong Escapes (1967) also features a mechanical King Kong and the Gorosaurus (that later popped up in Destroy All Monsters), but Godzilla himself doesn't appear in this story.
Details on Blu-ray.com.

Also in April, Media Blasters will be reissuing Destroy All Monsters (1968) on blu-ray and DVD, but also Godzilla vs Megalon (1973) will be appearing on blu-ray (above) for the first time.
Full story from Sci-Fi Japan here.

Three more classic Godzillas will arrive on blu-ray in May from Kraken releasing. Be careful though, as each film has two alternate names (the titles were often re-translated for their US release). 
Godzilla vs the Sea Monster / Ebirah - Horror of the Deep (1966). 
Godzilla vs the Smog Monster / Godzilla vs Hedorah (1971, above). 
Godzilla vs Gigan / Godzilla on Monster Island (1972).
Sci-Fi Japan has the cover art of all three releases.

Also in May, Sony are set to release EIGHT MORE Godzilla movies on four double-bill blu-rays. Deep breath...

Godzilla vs King Ghidorah (1991) and Godzilla vs Mothra (1992),
Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II (1993) and Godzilla vs Space Godzilla (1994),
Godzilla vs Destoroyah (1995) and Godzilla vs Megaguirus (2000),
Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) and Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003)

These are all up for pre-order on Amazon. There should be DVD releases of all of them as well.
More news on these sets from The Good, the Bad and the Godzilla.




Of course, I'm holding my breath to see how good these will look in high-definition. US releases don't always have access to the original Japanese film materials to make the best transfers of films that date up to sixty years old. The blu-ray of Destroy All Monsters was certainly a disappointment. But it's going to be fun finding out.

Kaiju fans have already been treated to the awesome 1995-1999 Gamera Trilogy on blu-ray (from Mill Creek, above) as well as the later 2006 sequel Gamera The Brave (from Tokyo Shock). The good news is that now Mill Creek are also releasing the original six Gamera films in two blu-ray sets (below).
More details from Sci-FI Japan here.

For all the latest news on these and other Japanese science-fantasy, please follow...
Sci-Fi Japan
The Good the Bad and the Godzilla

My full list of where to find all the Japanese Godzilla films on DVD... 
is kept updated here.