As the King of the Monsters, Godzillahas proven himself to be extremely powerful, but there have been times when the kaiju has been defeated by humans in theGodzillamovies. Godzilla originally debuted in the 1954 Japanese movie,Godzilla, and has since become a steadfast figure in pop culture, with countless references in international media.The kaiju has appeared in an impressive 38 movies, with eachGodzilla movie presenting a different versionof the monster throughout its many eras, and the monster has battled multiple foes over the years.
From Ghidorah to Mechagodzilla,Godzilla has won many fights in his moviesand has an impressive 42 wins against other kaiju throughout his movies. However, Godzilla has also fought with humans in a number of films, often attacking Japan’s cities and leaving them devastated. While most would expect the giant monster to prevail every time against such a small enemy, surprisingly,humans have managed to beat Godzilla on more than one occasionby using creative methods in combat.
7Godzilla (1954) – Oxygen Destroyer
Dr. Serizawa Sacrifices Himself
In the firstGodzillamovie,the monster emerges from the depths after being disturbed by underwater hydrogen bomb testing.Godzilla launches a devastating attack on humanityby destroying multiple ships and homes before venturing into Tokyo, causing many deaths and others to suffer from radiation sickness. In a desperate attempt to subdue the creature, a journalist contacts Dr. Serizawa, a scientist whose experiments with a device called the Oxygen Destroyer may be the answer to Godzilla’s threat.
Serizawa is reluctant to use his research, expressing reservations about humanity’s intentions with such a powerful weapon. However, after seeing the destruction Godzilla caused to Tokyo,Serizawa destroys all of his research and sets out on a suicide mission to use his Oxygen Destroyer. Diving into the seabed, Serizawa finds Godzilla and detonates the device, which suffocates Godzilla and dissolves his tissues, leaving just bone, but not before cutting his own line and effectively sacrificing himself to ensure his invention dies with him.
6Godzilla Raids Again (1955) – Avalanche
The Japan Self-Defense Forces Bury Godzilla
Godzilla Raids Againis the sequel to the 1954 movie and marks the second time humans are able to beat Godzilla, though this time, they use their surroundings to their advantage. Throughout the movie, Godzilla battles another kaiju called Anguirus in various locations, including Osaka, asthe Japan Self-Defense Forces try to lead Godzilla away from the city. Godzilla eventually beats Anguirus and returns to the sea, but unfortunately for the humans, this is not the last they see of the kaiju.
After a ship is sunk by Godzilla, the JSDF tracks the monster down to Kamiko Island. During the attempt to stop Godzilla from escaping, a plane crashes on the mountainside, causing a small avalanche. Realizing that the giant creature would not be able to withstand such a force,the JSDF blasts the mountain to cause a much bigger avalanche to crush Godzilla. Godzilla exhales one last breath before being buried beneath the snow, much to the delight of the humans.
5The Return Of Godzilla (1984) – Volcano
Godzilla Is Lured Into A Volcano
In one of the strangest events oftheGodzillamovies, Godzilla is lured into a volcano inThe Return Of Godzilla. While researching ways to defeat the kaiju, Dr. Hayashida realizes thatGodzilla can sense magnetic signals the same way that birds doand proposes that they use them to their advantage. As tensions mount between the Soviets and the Americans, the JSDF confronts the attacking Godzilla with their new weapon, Super X, which knocks Godzilla unconscious. However, its effects soon wear off following two missiles from the Soviets and the Americans colliding.
All 10 Powers Godzilla Has In The MonsterVerse
Godzilla has many powers in the MonsterVerse, appearing in movies, TV, novelizations, and graphic novels, with some far more devastating than others.
Godzilla becomes enraged and chases Super X through the city before eventually destroying it by crushing it with a skyscraper. Hayashida then manages to lure Godzilla towards Mount Mihara, which has been supplanted with many explosives, and when Godzilla falls into the volcano, the controlled eruption traps the kaiju inside.Trapping Godzilla in a volcano marks one of the most unusual ways of defeating the monster, yet the ingenuity of using the existing powers of the Earth enables humans to become victorious.
4Godzilla (1998) – Gunfire
The US Military Rain Gunfire On The Kaiju
The 1998Godzillamovie is controversial as many do not consider it as part of the franchise due to it being the first Hollywood production of Godzilla. One of the maindifferences between the American version and the Japanese versions ofGodzillais Godzilla’s character design; the American Godzilla is portrayed as a large bipedal iguana mutation as opposed to the reptilian sea monster from the original movie. Nevertheless,the humans inGodzillawere able to beat Godzilla by using just missiles, showcasing one of the weakest iterations of the kaiju.
Godzilla(1998) was originally going to have a sequel, as evidenced by Godzilla’s surviving egg hatching at the end of the movie, but lack of enthusiasm led to it being canceled.
In the wake of a military nuclear test causing a mutated iguana monster to appear in the South Pacific Ocean, the creature makes its way to New York City. Investigations reveal that Godzilla has a nest inside Madison Square Garden, which is promptly bombed by the Air Force, causing Godzilla to become enraged at the loss of its children. After chasing down the possible perpetrators,Godzilla becomes trapped in the Brooklyn Bridge’s cables, allowing the Air Force to strike Godzilla down with a bombardment of missiles.
3Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) – Explosion
Godzilla Is Defeated By A Missile
Commonly referred to asGMK,Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attackfeatures some of the biggest battles as three kaiju feature in the movie. When an American nuclear submarine goes missing, the “Guardian Monsters” (Baragon, Mothra, and Ghidorah) are awoken to stop Godzilla from destroying Japan.Godzilla’s motivations are given more meaning inGMK, as it is explained that the souls of those killed in the Pacific War remain inside Godzilla and are angry at Japan’s denial of past crimes.
Battle inGMK
Godzilla wins
Godzilla vs. Ghidorah and Mothra
Godzilla vs. Humans
Godzilla loses
Godzilla wins the battle against Baragon but later loses against a Mothra-empowered Ghidorah, who injures Godzilla and drags him underwater. Submarines take advantage of the situation, launching missiles at Godzilla’s wound, but this attempt fails as Godzilla kills Ghidorah. Despite killing the kaiju,the spirits of the guardian monsters inside Ghidorah drag Godzilla into the sea, and the humans manage to fire a missile into his mouth, which explodes Godzilla. Although Japan celebrates its victory and Godzilla has exploded, his disembodied heart continues pulsating, implying that he is not dead.
2Shin Godzilla (2016) – Freezing
Japan Freezes Godzilla Before Its Fifth Form Is Revealed
Shin Godzillaintroduced a new terrifying type of kaiju in 2016; a Godzilla that is able to change forms at will. When Godzilla rampages through Japan, it changes forms multiple times, and its fourth form even made Godzilla appear twice its original size.The threat of this version of Godzilla is so big that it actually causes the United Nations to become more involved, although Japan was eventually able to defeat Godzilla without their intervention.
Using the city’s surroundings, Japanese forces inject Godzilla with a coagulant which freezes Godzilla like a macabre statue.
After decoding research about the monster, hours before the United Nations’ nuclear attacks go ahead, Japan launches an attack against Godzilla. Using the city’s surroundings,Japanese forces inject Godzilla with a coagulant which freezes Godzillalike a macabre statue. In the aftermath, the United Nations puts a plan in place to launch a nuclear attack should Godzilla reawaken, and Tokyo rejoices in its rebuilding. However, the kaiju’s frozen statue reveals thatShin Godzilla’skaiju was in the midst of a fifth form, which could have proved more devastating for the humans had they not stopped him when they did.
1Godzilla Minus One (2023) – Explosion
Multiple Methods Are Used On Godzilla
Released in 2023,Godzilla Minus Onehas been hailed as the bestGodzillamovie and has won multiple awards. The movie is set at the end of World War II, in which Godzilla emerges on Odo Island, makingGodzilla Minus One reminiscent of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, as the movie has a similar premise. InGodzilla Minus One,Godzilla sinks multiple ships, making his way to Japan, and a minesweeper crew is dispatched to slow his approach. However,Godzilla quickly regenerates and destroys a large area of Japan with its heat rays.
Godzilla Minus One Ending Explained
Godzilla Minus One featured a few twists that require explaining, along with where all of the characters wound up at the end of the action.
Luckily, the minesweepers come up with a clever plan to use the power of the water to defeat Godzilla by using the pressure to cause explosive decompression. The plan is a partial success as Godzilla is wounded by the decompression, butthe killing blow comes from a lone pilot flying a plane into Godzilla’s head, causing its heat rays to tear his body apart. While not the flashiest,Godzilla Minus One’smethods of dispatching Godzilla are inventive and further demonstrate human ingenuity in battling a foe much bigger than themselves, as often seen in theGodzillamovies.
Godzilla
The Godzilla franchise, spanning over six decades, follows the adventures of the titular kaiju, a colossal, prehistoric sea monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation. Originating in Japan, Godzilla has evolved from a destructive force of nature to a protector of humanity, battling various other giant monsters, including iconic foes like King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Mechagodzilla. The series explores themes of environmental destruction, nuclear anxiety, and human resilience. With numerous films, TV series, and an expanding universe, Godzilla remains a cultural icon, captivating audiences worldwide with its epic battles and compelling narratives.
