There are few movie franchises that have had the impact of the Godzilla series. Since the radioactive kaiju’s debut in 1954, Godzilla has gone on to become a widely successful multimedia franchise, spanning 36 films over the course of 69 years.
However, conceptually, Godzilla seems rather simplistic. What were the elements that helped Godzilla blossom into his status as a global icon? Through analyzing the original Gojira (1954), plus its later sequels, we can begin to witness the elements that have helped the titular monster endure for so many years.
Special thanks to the SLU Department of Communication and Film & Media Studies program for sponsoring this video.
All footage courtesy of Toho Studios, Legendary Pictures, and Warner Brothers.
Mark Burbridge 