Godzilla Minus One: A post-war epic rises on Netflix

On June 1st, the Japanese production "Godzilla Minus One" appeared on the Netflix streaming platform. It initially faced lousy luck, overshadowed by the Polish thriller "Colors of Evil: Red" and then by the French "Over Paris." However, "Godzilla Minus One" is a film you shouldn't miss.

It's important to note that "Godzilla Minus One" is not an original Netflix production. The film's world premiere took place at the end of last year in Tokyo. In Japan, as well as in the United States and many other countries, this disaster production became a massive hit in cinemas.

"Godzilla Minus One" received excellent reviews worldwide. Many critics opined that this is the best Godzilla film since the premiere of Ishiro Honda's famous 1954 production. "Once again, a scrappy group of humans must stop Godzilla’s reign of terror. But while the central characters in Godzilla ’98 are ultimately backed up by U.S. military mite (after a period of failing to heed the scientist’s warnings, of course), the effort in Godzilla Minus One is somewhat more egalitarian, with a large military-affiliated crew recruited in the face of government inaction," wrote a critic from "Decider."

The film's plot is set just after the end of World War II. Defeated and humbled, Japan cannot find peace as it starts being harassed by Godzilla. This gigantic kaiju monster needs no introduction. Since the 1970s, it has remained one of the essential elements of pop culture. So far, 38 films have been made with this gigantic hero - 33 titles from Japan and five from the USA.

It is worth emphasizing that "Godzilla Minus One" is not just a film about a monster that kills people and destroys cities. In the background, we have a fascinating story of Japan rebuilding after World War II. Like Ishiro Honda's classic, the film looks broadly at social contexts. It's a story about a nation traumatized by war, a family melodrama set against a war-torn country, and a celebration of patriotic attitudes. Currently, "Godzilla Minus One" is a true gem on Netflix.

In conclusion, let's highlight how much benefit the most significant streaming platform gains from investing in local projects. Currently, leading the hit list are the French "Under Paris" (an original Netflix production), in second place is the Japanese "Godzilla Minus One" (a licensed film), and in third, the Polish hit "Colors of Evil: Red" (an original Netflix production). Only in fourth place does the first American title appear (also the weakest in this group) – "Atlas."