Godzilla (franchise)

Godzilla is a Japanese film franchise about a giant prehistoric monster awakened and powered by nuclear radiation. It began in 1954 with the original film directed by Ishirō Honda and has continued ever since, making it the longest-running film series in history. The franchise includes dozens of Japanese films by Toho and several American productions, including entries in the Monsterverse.

Godzilla is considered an important symbol in Japanese pop culture and helped establish the kaiju and tokusatsu genres, which focus on giant monsters and practical special effects. The character’s role changes across films, sometimes acting as a destructive force and other times as a protector or anti-hero. Over time, Godzilla has appeared in films, TV, games, and other media, becoming a globally recognized icon.