Themes Films about animals,
Dinosaur films,
La fin du monde,
Kaiju films,
Films about magic and magicians,
Seafaring films,
La préhistoire,
Films about religion,
Transport films,
Animaux préhistoriques,
Giant monster films,
Political films,
Dystopian films,
Godzilla films,
Films about extraterrestrial life,
Arme nucléaire,
Disaster films
Godzilla is a 1998 American science fiction monster film directed and co-written by Roland Emmerich. A reimagining of the popular Japanese film monster of the same name, the film focuses on a giant reptilian monster, mutated by nuclear tests in French Polynesia, that migrates to New York City to nest its young. The cast features Matthew Broderick, Maria Pitillo, Hank Azaria, Kevin Dunn and Jean Reno. The film is dedicated to the memory of Godzilla franchise producer and creator Tomoyuki Tanaka, who died during the film's production.
The film was a co-production between Centropolis Entertainment and TriStar Pictures, with TriStar distributing theatrically, and Sony Pictures Entertainment for home media. It is the 23rd film in the Godzilla film series and the first Godzilla film to be completely filmed and produced by a Hollywood studio, and also marks the only time that producer Devlin and director Emmerich worked on a film based on established source material not of their own.
The film was released on May 20, 1998. The film grossed $136 million domestically and $379 million worldwide at the end of its theatrical run. The film was met with a negative reception from critics and fans alike. Criticism highlighted by film critics included the film's script, acting, and directing while fans targeted the film's drastic reinvention of Godzilla, which included its radical redesign and departure from the source material. Planned sequels were abandoned and an animated series was produced instead. In later years, producer Devlin and director Emmerich have admitted to the film's faults, with Devlin admitting that he "screwed up" his version of Godzilla while Emmerich admitted that he was "never a big Godzilla fan."
In later years, TriStar's Godzilla became recognized as a stand-alone character and was officially retconned as "Zilla" by Toho (the license owners) for future appearances. The character has since appeared in other media as "Zilla".Synopsis
Following a nuclear test in French Polynesia, the fallout irradiates a lizard's nest. Decades later, an enormous sea creature suddenly attacks a Japanese fishing vessel in the South Pacific, leaving only one fisherman alive. Dr. Niko "Nick" Tatopoulos, an NRC biologist, is sent to Tahiti and to Jamaica, where a wrecked village, footprints, and ship are found. Nick collects skin samples that lead him to believe the creature is an enormous mutant created by nuclear testing. It travels to New York City during the rainiest week of the season, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.
Actors