Godzilla Minus One became available online globally over the weekend without any prior official announcement from TOHO. One outlet, WhenToSream, first announced last week that it had heard the movie would see a June 1st video release but most official media/movie channels held off on sharing the same due to not having obtained any word from Toho confirming it. Many were uneasy posting about the release due to this but it is interesting to note that the online release is exactly six months after its theatrical release.
GODZILLA MINUS ONE (2023)
— WhenToStream.com (@WhenToStream) May 30, 2024
Streaming: June 1, 2024
VOD/Digital (Apple, Amazon, Google, etc.)#GodzillaMinusOne
Added to our streaming calendar: https://t.co/vF0dWHJvQ8
The ongoing theory is that TOHO has been beholden to distribution licensing restrictions preventing the movie from being physically released outside of Japan since it has been available on 4K Bluray since May 1st. TOHO is celebrating its 70th anniversary and this latest franchise entry has gone on to win numerous awards and is also being credited as bringing terror back to it, something somewhat lost with more recent US versions featuring King Kong.
Description and trailer:
The movie takes place during post-WWII-Japan whose populace is struggling to recover from the war. During the immediate years that follow the war a young kaiju appears and is then later mutated, which goes on to perform graphically intense violence and mass destruction wherever it travels. The story primarily focuses on its human characters trying to survive after the war but now dealing with a monster who has no remorse in destroying anything, and anyone in its path. Godzilla Minus One tries to reimagine the original 1954 classic for modern audiences with state-of-the-art special effects and cinematography while focusing on its core human characters. The iconic music from the first movie has also been reused for this version further giving it that nostalgic feeling for fans.
Per YouTube description:
“In postwar Japan, a new terror rises; Godzilla. Will the devastated people be able to survive… let alone fight back?”
There has yet to be word of a physical release for North America and Europe but rumor is that one will happen by fall. Some have wondered if the English dubbed version shown in U.S. theaters will be used since the current disc versions in Japan do not include it. Purists are likely happy with the original Japanese language with subtitles but more than a few folks are hoping to have the dubbed option as well. The good news is that the version shown on Netflix, with 4K Dolby Vision/Atmos, includes the English language option.