Godzilla Receives First-Ever Oscar Nomination After 70-Year Career

Hollywood is abuzz with excitement as the iconic monster Godzilla finally receives the recognition he deserves after a remarkable 70-year career. Godzilla Minus One, the latest installment in the legendary creature’s filmography, has been nominated for Best Visual Effects at the prestigious Oscars.

Since his debut in the 1954 film Godzilla, the King of the Monsters has appeared in an impressive total of 37 feature films. Out of these, 33 were produced by the renowned Japanese studio, Toho, with the remaining four being American productions. Surprisingly, despite his immense popularity, this is Godzilla’s first-ever Oscar nomination.

Interestingly, Godzilla’s rival, King Kong, has received multiple nominations and wins over the years, including nods for the 1976 adaptation and a triumphant achievement with Peter Jackson‘s 2005 rendition of the Eighth Wonder of the World.

The nomination comes as a pleasant surprise considering the stark difference in budgets between American blockbusters and the visually spectacular Godzilla Minus One. While films like 2021’s Godzilla vs Kong boasted a budget of $155 million but received no nominations, Minus One was created with a fraction of that amount. Reports suggest a budget ranging from $10 to $15 million, a mere 10 percent of its American counterpart.

Takashi Yamazaki, the director, writer, and special effects supervisor of Minus One, was quick to acknowledge this difference, stating, ‘Man, you guys have a lot of VFX and the budget for it,’ when comparing Japanese Godzilla films to their American counterparts.

Despite its modest budget, Minus One has enjoyed both critical acclaim and impressive commercial success in the United States, grossing over $100 million. It has now secured its place as the fifth-highest-grossing foreign language film in U.S. box-office history, further solidifying Godzilla’s status as an international icon.

When approached for comment regarding this prestigious honor, Godzilla responded with a resounding silence and enigmatic smile.