‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ Review: The King of the Monsters Returns with a Direct Sequel That’s One Better Than the Last Movie in Almost Every Way

In 1954, Ishirō Honda's original "Gojira" demanded to be taken seriously, even though it was about a giant, fire-breathing lizard. The film used an eldritch leviathan as an analog for the nuclear bomb's devastating impact on Japan, reflecting recent, traumatic memories. The sequel, "Godzilla Raids Again," was rushed into development, with Godzilla fighting a giant ankylosaurus named Anguirus.

Over the years, Godzilla faced various challenges, including a giant haunted rosebush, a time-traveling journey to World War II, and much more. "Godzilla Minus One," released in 2023, marked a reboot of the franchise with a more serious tone, focusing on human characters traumatized by the events of the first film. Its sequel, "Godzilla Minus Zero," tries to maintain the operatic tone and historical commentary, but it ultimately falls into the same trap as previous sequels.

While it succeeds in some aspects, it struggles to take the creature equally seriously when it's fighting another beastie. "Minus Zero" is a fine film full of excitement and grandeur, but its silliness makes it noticeably less serious than "Minus One," placing it just below the latter in terms of being one of the great Godzilla movies.