Godzilla Minus One cost less than $15 million

“I would have hoped it would be this much,” said director Takashi Yamazaki.

You may have heard of the phenomenon Godzilla Minus One. This new film featuring the famous radioactive lizard is produced by Toho, the legendary company that produced the very first Godzilla in 1954Ishiro Honda. It was the first time since Shin Godzilla in 2016 that Japanese cinema reappropriated this monster of popular culture. Godzilla Minus One was released in Japan on November 1, 2023 and benefited from an exceptional two-day release only in France, on December 7 and 8, 2023.

As the character celebrates his 70th birthday in 2024, it seems legitimate to imagine that a film of this type involves a Kaijeesque sum. Think again, since its director Takashi Yamazaki refuted speculation of a $15 million budget. For any comments, the filmmaker declared “I would have hoped it would be as much” implying means well below. American films Godzilla (Gareth Edwards2014) and Godzilla II: King of the Monsters (Michael Dougherty2019) cost $160 and $170 million respectively, making the feat Minus One even more impressive.

While the trailer for Godzilla x Kong: the New Empire came out a few days ago, Godzilla Minus One appears as a full-fledged film in the mythology of the monster, a micro budget for a macro story. Especially since the film is absolutely impeccable from a visual point of view, skillfully handling digital effects and more traditional effects like models and puppets. The result is dizzying: it’s a shame that the film is no longer in theaters…

Godzilla Minus One is an astonishing retro and mourning blockbuster (review)