Godzilla

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1:45

Godzilla

PG-13

1998

2h 18m

Sci-Fi

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

20%

Tomatometer

148 Reviews

28%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

During a nuclear test, the French government inadvertently mutates a lizard nest; years later, a giant lizard makes its way to New York City. Dr. Niko Tatopoulos, an expert on the effects of radiation on animals, is sent by the U.S. government to study the beast. When the creature, dubbed "Godzilla" by news outlets, emerges, a massive battle with the military begins. To make matters worse, Niko discovers that Godzilla has laid a nest of 200 eggs, which are ready to hatch.

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Critics Consensus

Without compelling characters or heart, Godzilla stomps on everything that made the original (or any monster movie worth its salt) a classic.

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David Edelstein

Slate

Feb 15, 2023

What the new, monstrously budgeted Godzilla brings home is that size doesn’t matter -- that tacky crudeness harnessed to a real vision can have more brute power than all the state-of-the-art computer wizardry that Hollywood’s money can buy.

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Feb 15, 2023

1/5

This 'Zilla is no thrillah. The only thing huge about it is the size of its failure, with monsters straight out of Jurassic Park (yawn), a plot thinner than the butter topping on popcorn and mailed-in acting by the cast.

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Gary Dretzka

Chicago Tribune

Feb 15, 2023

2/4

How do you screw up "Squish" and "Aargh"? By spending more than $100 million on marvelous special effects, another $50 million on a brilliant marketing campaign, and, then, forgetting to invest any money on a logical script. That's how.

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Evan Dossey

Midwest Film Journal

Oct 31, 2023

As someone who subscribes to the notion that there are no bad Godzilla films, I still find the best bits of Godzilla to be good enough to make the entire thing worth sitting through every few years.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 28, 2023

1.5/4

Forget the Emmy-winning TV special Liza With a Z -- here we have the Razzie-winning theatrical stinker Godzilla With a Zzzz (aka Godzilla vs. Ferris Bueller, since the oversized monster proves to be no match for Matthew Broderick’s incessant shtick).

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Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Oct 23, 2023

3.5/5

The 1998 Godzilla may be less beloved for its lighter tone and special effects, but it offers entertainment if you approach it with an open mind.

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Pro T

@RT56592337 5 days ago

I love the movie because its different, not the same boring fatso with a fictional laser destroying buildings for no reason or fighting other monsters, this movie is very realistic, thats why i like it Also its the first movie I remember some scenes of it

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Tony T

@RT51019290 Sep 15, 2026

don't know about all the haters just hating it because it's not the typical godzilla movie this is an good movie no matter what critics. They are just hating on it because it ain't the normal fat godzilla with nuclear breath especially the starting of this movie was very good it was similar to Jurassic park and brings the nostalgia of it but in an another way through the godzilla in new york. And the acting too was good.only thing is it was too fast paced

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Gunner I

@RT64755212 Sep 7, 2026

This isn't a regular Godzilla movie, although I did enjoy it. It's a pretty good movie and I have watched it several times.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 6, 2026

A simply put horrific film. Godzilla is not a female...

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Dimitris T

@RT36270210 Sep 3, 2026

Putting aside that Godzilla's redesign in this movie was clearly made by someone who never liked this franchise, some of the plot points in this film just make it confusing from an ethical standpoint. The endless bootlicking of the US Army who cause more damage in NYC than the monster itself before taking it down with fighter jet rockets, the idea that Godzilla's mutation was a work of the French who are now orchestrating a coverup. It's like Emmerich just can't get out of his American bubble for a second.

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Will O

@DiabloWarlock1 Aug 18, 2026

The first movie I ever saw Matthew Broderick star in! Great actor! Great cast! Awesome movie!

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Roland Emmerich

Director

Matthew Broderick

Dr. Niko Tatopoulos

Jean Reno

Philippe Roaché

Maria Pitillo

Audrey Timmonds

Hank Azaria

Victor "Animal" Palotti

Kevin Dunn

Colonel Hicks

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Synopsis

During a nuclear test, the French government inadvertently mutates a lizard nest; years later, a giant lizard makes its way to New York City. Dr. Niko Tatopoulos, an expert on the effects of radiation on animals, is sent by the U.S. government to study the beast. When the creature, dubbed "Godzilla" by news outlets, emerges, a massive battle with the military begins. To make matters worse, Niko discovers that Godzilla has laid a nest of 200 eggs, which are ready to hatch.

Director: Roland Emmerich
Producer: Dean Devlin
Screenwriter: Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Centropolis Film Productions, Fried Films, Independent Pictures, TriStar Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Scenes of Scary Horror|Mild Bad Language)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 19, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $136.1M
Runtime: 2h 18m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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