Godzilla Minus One takes Netflix by storm amid tough competition
On June 1st, the Japanese production "Godzilla Minus One" appeared on the Netflix streaming platform. Unfortunately, it had some bad luck as it was first overshadowed by the Polish thriller "Colors of Evil: Red" and then by the French "Over Paris." However, "Godzilla Minus One" is a film you shouldn't miss.
5:29 PM EDT, June 8, 2024
Let's immediately clarify that "Godzilla Minus One" is not an original Netflix production. The film's world premiere occurred in Tokyo at the end of last year. This disaster film became a massive hit in cinemas in Japan, as well as in the United States and many other countries.
"Godzilla Minus One" received excellent reviews worldwide. Frequently, the opinion has been expressed that this is the best Godzilla film since the premiere of Ishiro Honda's famous production of 1954. "Once again, a scrappy group of humans must stop Godzilla’s reign of terror. But while the central characters in Godzilla ’98 are ultimately backed up by U.S. military mite (after a period of failing to heed the scientist’s warnings, of course), the effort in Godzilla Minus One is somewhat more egalitarian, with a large military-affiliated crew recruited in the face of government inaction," – wrote a critic from "Decider."
The film's plot is set just after the end of World War II. Defeated and humbled, Japan unfortunately cannot find peace because it starts being harassed by Godzilla. This gigantic kaiju monster needs no introduction. Since the 1970s, it has remained one of the essential elements of pop culture. So far, 38 films have been made with this colossal character—33 titles come from Japan, and five from the USA.
"Godzilla Minus One" is not just a film about a monster that kills people and destroys cities. In the background, we have an exciting story of Japan rebuilding after World War II. Like Ishiro Honda's classic, the film looks broadly at social contexts. It's a story about a nation scarred by war traumas, a family melodrama set against a war-torn country, and a tribute to patriotic attitudes. Currently, "Godzilla Minus One" is a true gem on Netflix.
In conclusion, let's note how beneficial the most significant streaming platform's investment in local projects has been. Currently, leading the hit list is the French "Under Paris" (an original Netflix production), in second place is the Japanese "Godzilla Minus One" (a licensed film), and in third is the Polish hit "Colors of Evil: Red" (an original Netflix production). Only in fourth place does the first American title appear—"Atlas"—the weakest in this group.
