Godzilla showa/heisei movies in 4K (in Japan...)

[Dai]

Looks like most of the showa and heisei Godzilla movies are getting 4K and remastered blu-ray releases in Japan between Oct-Dec 2023.

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/feature/godzilla_4K_ultra_hd

Before anyone gets too excited, bear in mind that these don't have English subtitles, as per usual for Japanese releases. I just hope this will prompt Criterion to release an upgrade of their disappointingly uneven showa set, or for anyone else to licence them for a western release. I don't have a 4K TV, but I would absolutely buy new releases of the movies that had those awful splice marks on the Criterion set.

[Benjamin Haines]

Toho has restored ten Godzilla movies in 4K so far (that we know of). King Kong vs. Godzilla was the first one to air on Japanese television back in 2016 and Toho later released that restoration on 4K disc and regular blu-ray disc in 2021. That was also the year when 4K restorations of G'54, MvsG, GT3HM, MZ, DAM, Hedorah and Biollante all debuted on Japanese television.

Toho is releasing separate 4K and regular BRD editions of both G'54 and MvsG on October 25, followed by GT3HM, MZ and DAM on November 22, and then Hedorah and Biollante on December 20.

They've also announced that Megalon and G'84 have been restored in 4K and will air in Japan on November 3 along with Toho's existing HD transfers of GxMG and GFW. No word on disc releases for those restorations but here's an ad for the upcoming broadcast which includes some side-by-side comparisons for G'84: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tH_cd5_mhw

Toho has also done 4K restorations of Rodan, The Mysterians, Mothra, Matango and Frankenstein vs. Baragon but none of them are scheduled for disc releases yet.

There's no telling how long Toho will wait before letting any company release these restored transfers on disc outside of Japan. Maybe around 2030? Toho might be finished restoring the rest of the Godzilla movies in 4K by then.

[lhb412]

Honestly, I wouldn't mind if Criterion waited a considerable number of years if it takes that long to get these various Toho films the presentations they deserve.

[Benjamin Haines]

During the 2024 Godzilla Fest livestream, Toho announced a new 4K UHD box set of six movies to be released in Japan on June 18, 2025.

https://i.imgur.com/wQlaAtM.jpg

Godzilla Raids Again
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)
Terror of Mechagodzilla
The Return of Godzilla
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1993)
Godzilla: Final Wars

This will be a limited-edition set and Toho is taking preorders until January 24. Unlike their prior releases, it looks like they aren't releasing any of these movies individually, at least not yet.

This will bring the total number of classic Godzilla movies on Japanese 4K disc up to 14, including 10 Showa, 3 Heisei and 1 Millennium. It's interesting that Godzilla vs. Megalon isn't included in this set even though its 4K restoration has already aired on Japanese television.

[lhb412]

I'm just gonna pencil in "Criterion Godzilla 4K set(s) in 2026" on my mental calendar.

I feel I'm right!

[Benjamin Haines]

^ Well, Criterion is bringing G'54 to American 4K on November 5 this year, after Toho released it on Japanese 4K on October 25 last year. Theoretically, Toho would probably let Criterion release MvsG, GT3HM, MZ, DAM and Hedorah on American 4K at this point.

As for a full Showa Series 4K set? Toho still hasn't done 4K restorations of Sea Monster, Son of Godzilla, All Monsters Attack or Gigan as far as we know, and they would need to release those four and Megalon on Japanese 4K disc first. With Toho really staggering these releases, I think the fans in Japan would be lucky to get the rest of the Showa movies on 4K disc by the end of 2026, possibly released in time to coincide with Yamazaki's next Godzilla movie if it opens that November. I just don't see Toho getting the rest of these out in Japan quickly enough for Criterion to release a full Showa set in 2026.

It would be great if Criterion wanted to make standalone releases for more Godzilla films beyond the original. Box sets are always nice but I'd rather get individual movies sooner.

[lhb412]

I know that Criterion likes these big, splashy sets, but I also wouldn't mind individual releases. For some titles Criterion has had bigger sets containing a large amount of a filmmakers work but still had a few of the notable entries available separately, so there is precedent. Presumably keep the less notable titles for the set still several years away, but put especially popular ones out early.