Mega-Monsters Are Back

Classic movie monsters such as Godzilla, Gamera and King Kong are back and generating both movie admissions and TV/streaming media viewership. 

The sci-fi monsters originating from the 1950s Japanese cinema are back in a big way as they decimate humanity with huge destructive powers. Today's audiences are still being thrilled by these monsters which through the use of today's special effects are more real than ever before. 

Shows like Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and series like Skull Island and Gamera Rebirth are very popular on streaming media. 

Sci-fi author Richard Newby thinks, "These monsters have such a lasting impact because that they are born out of tragedy and a fear of the future. The current shape of the world requires a lot of contemplation - these monsters work really well as metaphors."

Many of the current monsters have a brand, they are known throughout the world from their classic Japanese origins in films from the 1950s and 60s. Termed Kaiju, which is the term given to the subgenre of sci-fi films specific to giant monsters - Godzilla, Mothra, and Rodan are tattooed into the history of cult-classic film characters. Not to mention, King Kong, which started in the 1930s and has been remade more times than any other movie character. 

These classic monsters are now being introduced to a new audience which are seeking thrills and escapism as their grandparents and parents did decades ago. For example, Netflix has secured the rights to the Japanese produced animated series Gamera Rebirth, which resurrects the fire-breathing prehistoric amphibian first seen in 1965 in the black and white film Gamera, the Giant Monster. And Pluto TV launched a 24-hour Godzilla channel (with 27 original Godzilla movies).

Godzilla remains the preeminent fan favorite. The recent film, Godzilla Minus One, set an opening U.S. box office record for a live-action Japanese release at $11 million. 

Look for Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire, at your local cinema which has a scheduled March release.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.