Ranking Godzilla: From Weakest to Strongest Through Time
From the earliest Toho productions to the latest Hollywood entries, the struggle for supremacy in the world of Godzilla has been ongoing. Let us dive into an exhaustive assessment of how each Godzilla film stacks up in terms of strength and impact, ranked from the weakest to the strongest.
The Weakest Godzilla Films
Starting at the bottom, we have some notable weaker entries in the Godzilla saga:
TriStar Godzilla and MV Godzilla 2014
These early installments of Godzilla's legacy leave much to be desired in terms of overall impact. In TriStar Godzilla, Godzilla is barely a match for a few missiles and some basic buildings. Meanwhile, MV Godzilla does a bit better, but it comes up short in the aftermath of the MUTOs' EMP, resulting in a rather unimpressive and slow atomic breath. Both films, while entertaining, are by no means the zenith of what Godzilla could or should be.
Mid-Range Godzilla Films
These incarnations offer a mix of strengths and weaknesses, making them more or less middle-tier players in the Godzilla hierarchy:
Showa Godzilla
Despite being slightly smaller than the MV Godzilla, the Showa era Godzilla is a powerhouse. His atomic breath is full of energy, and he is much more agile on the battlefield. This incarnation sets the bar for what to expect from the future monsters.
Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Ultima
The Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Ultima are powerful in their own right, with Shin Godzilla possessing one of the most potent atomic breaths among all incarnations. However, they are also notably sluggish, lacking in durability. While not ignorable, they remain in the middle tier due to their speed issues.
Godzilla 2000/GvMG/GMK/Kiryu Saga
The Godzilla films from the Godzilla 2000 to Kiryu saga are often considered mid-tier. These films offer a balanced mix of power and agility, but often fall short of exceeding greatness. They are the backbone of the Godzilla franchise, ensuring continuity and providing a solid foundation for the future.
High-Tier Godzilla Films
Now we move to the more powerful incarnations:
Heisei Godzilla Base and FW Godzilla Base
The base versions of the Heisei and FW series offer strong physical attributes and superior heat rays. The Heisei Godzilla with its above-average heat ray stands out, and while the FW Godzilla is slightly weaker physically, his speed and brawling ability make up the difference.
Heisei Godzilla Post Boost and MV Godzilla KOTM/GvK
The Heisei Godzilla after its power boost and the MV Godzilla of Kotoku Monster vs Godzilla (Kotoku) and Godzilla vs Kong (GvK) are comparable in strength. Both are highly agile and powerful, outmatching the base versions of Heisei and FW Godzilla. Their energy output and visual feats stand out, making them a cut above the middle tier.
Burning Godzilla (Heisei/KOTM) and FW Godzilla Kaizer Boost
The Burning Godzilla of both Heisei and KOTM is particularly potent, with its heat ray and pulses easily matching the power of the original and Fire Warrior Godzilla's Enhanced Spark Heat Ray. The Kaizer Boost version of FW Godzilla takes this a step further by scaling its Burning G Spark Heat Ray to megaton or even gigaton range.
Godzilla Earth
Arguably the most powerful Godzilla of all time, the Earth Godzilla is a force to be reckoned with. With a mere tail whip capable of flattening forests of metallic trees, and a beam that can scale up to megaton levels, it's a sight to behold. When time is on his side, even the star-busting beam becomes a viable weapon in his arsenal.
Feel free to comment on your thoughts and any additional ranking criteria!