Godzilla's Evolution on Screen

1. Original Appearance

• Film: Original Godzilla (1954)
• Features:
  • Small arms, thick legs
  • Dorsal plates down spine
  • Tiny pupils, fangs, pointy ears
• Plot Point: Attacks Japan and is disintegrated to bone.

2. Subsequent Appearances

Godzilla Raids Again (1955)

• Features: Thinner, longer arms, smaller head, larger pupils, jutting teeth
• Plot Point: Buried in ice.

King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)

• Features: In color, plumper, toed feet, lizard-like head, yellow eyes, no ears, no fangs
• Plot Point: Fights King Kong, ends in the ocean.

Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

• Features: Slimmer, wider head, wide eyes, smooth brows
• Plot Point: Covered in silk, drops into sea.

Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster (1964)

• Features: Slimmer face, longer tongue
• Plot Point: Defends humanity.

Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)

• Features: Thinner, defined dorsal plates, dull claws, rounder head
• Plot Point: Under alien mind control briefly.

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)

• Features: Less angry brows
• Plot Point: Battles giant lobster, escapes exploding island.

Son of Godzilla (1967)

• Features: Elongated neck, pudgier, flimsy dorsal fins, stubby nose, bugged-out eyes
• Plot Point: Raises son.

Destroy All Monsters (1968)

• Features: Slimmer
• Plot Point: Faces alien control again.

3. 1970s Era

Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)

• Features: Slimmer, detailed muzzle
• Plot Point: Opposes pollution monster, can fly backwards.

Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)

• Features: Slimmer, suit/skin rips
• Plot Point: Gains ability to speak.

Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)

• Features: Shorter neck, bright dorsal fins, pig-nosed face
• Plot Point: Features long-distance dropkick.

4. 1980s and 1990s

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)

• Features: Taller, larger dorsal fins, fourth toe, fangs, ears
• Plot Point: Trapped in an underwater volcano.

Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992)

• Features: Smaller head, muscular build, secondary row of teeth
• Plot Point: Battles plant monster.

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)

• Features: Slimmer, blue-toned
• Plot Point: Brain destroyed, quickly revitalized.

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)

• Features: Bulkier, larger eyes
• Plot Point: Faces space Godzilla, glowing form.

5. 2000s and Beyond

Godzilla 2000 Millennium (1999)

• Features: Shorter, jagged skin, purple spines, reptilian face
• Plot Point: Appears in new reboots.

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

• Features: Taller, slender, red eyes
• Plot Point: Fights multiple creatures.

Shin Godzilla (2016)

• Features: Evolutionary stages, armless to blood-red form, long tail, unhinged jaw
• Plot Point: Frozen mid-evolution.

Anime Trilogy (2017-2018)

• Features: Muscular, tree bark-like texture, beard-like spikes
• Plot Point: Largest size ever.

American Godzilla (2014)

• Features: Plump, jagged dorsal plates, noticeable gills
• Plot Point: Stops monster couple.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

• Features: Taller, beefier, blunt tail, glowing dorsal fins
• Plot Point: Fiery power upgrade.