Godzilla vs. Mothra

This article is about the 1992 film. For the 1964 film, see Mothra vs. Godzilla.
Godzilla vs. Mothra
Theatrical release poster by Noriyoshi Ohrai
Japanese name
Katakanaゴジラvsモスラ
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnGojira tai Mosura
Directed byTakao Okawara
Screenplay byKazuki Ōmori[1]
Produced byShogo Tomiyama[1]
Starring
CinematographyMasahiro Kishimoto[1]
Edited byMiho Yoneda
Music byAkira Ifukube[1]
Production
company
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • December 12, 1992 (1992-12-12) (Japan)
Running time
102 minutes[1]
CountryJapan
LanguagesJapanese
English
Budget¥1 billion[2]
($8 million)[3]
Box office¥3.77 billion[4]

Godzilla vs. Mothra (ゴジラvsモスラ, Gojira tai Mosura, also known as Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth)[5] is a 1992 Japanese kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara, with special effects by Kōichi Kawakita. Distributed by Toho and produced under their subsidiary Toho Pictures, it is the 19th film in the Godzilla franchise, and is the fourth film in the franchise's Heisei era. The film features the fictional monster characters Godzilla, Mothra, and Battra, and stars Tetsuya Bessho, Satomi Kobayashi, Takehiro Murata, Megumi Odaka, Shiori Yonezawa, Makoto Otake, Akiji Kobayashi, Koichi Ueda, Shinya Owada, Keiko Imamura, Sayaka Osawa, Saburo Shinoda and Akira Takarada, with Kenpachiro Satsuma as Godzilla. The plot follows Battra and Mothra's attempts to stop Godzilla from attacking Yokohama.

Originally conceived as a standalone Mothra film entitled Mothra vs. Bagan, the film is notable for its return to a more fantasy-based, family-oriented atmosphere, evocative of older Godzilla films. Although he did not return as director, Ōmori continued his trend of incorporating Hollywood elements into his screenplay, in this case nods to the Indiana Jones franchise.[6]

Godzilla vs. Mothra was released theatrically in Japan on December 12, 1992. The film received critical acclaim[3] and became the highest-grossing Japanese film of 1993.[7][8] Godzilla vs. Mothra was released direct-to-video in the United States in 1998 by Columbia Tristar Home Video under the title Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth. The film was the second highest-grossing film in Japan in 1993, with Jurassic Park being the highest-grossing.[6]

It was followed by Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II which was released on December 11, 1993.

  1. ^ a b c d e Galbraith IV 2008, p. 381.
  2. ^ Ryfle 1998, p. 306.
  3. ^ a b "Godzilla, sweetheart, let's do lunch". The Sacramento Bee. December 19, 1992. p. 8. Retrieved February 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Eiga was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Ryfle 1998, p. 279.
  6. ^ a b Kalat, David (2010). A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. pp. 184–90. ISBN 978-0-7864-47-49-7.
  7. ^ "Godzilla Suits Up Again : Low-Tech Dinosaur Is Due for High-Tech Hollywood Make-Over". Los Angeles Times. August 1, 1994. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "1993年（1月～12月）". Eiren. Retrieved February 25, 2024.