Godzilla Minus Zero is in theaters: our review

Godzilla Minus Zero is unveiled in a new trailer ahead of its French theatrical release on November 4, 2026. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, this direct sequel to Godzilla Minus One will be shown in IMAX, in the original Japanese with subtitles and in the French version.

Our review

Godzilla is back... and he’s not alone! In this sequel to Godzilla Minus One, Ghidorah, a kaiju who has already appeared in several films in the franchise, makes an appearance. Without going into too much detail about the action scenes (so you can discover the film for yourself), suffice it to say that they’re highly effective and as dynamic as they come. Godzilla is no slouch either, even if he gets a little less screen time than in Godzilla Minus One.

Thanks to these two kaiju, we’re treated to spectacular sequences featuring impressive visual effects (fully deserving of Minus One’s Oscar for Best Visual Effects), which is why we recommend seeing this film on the big screen.

The film is very accessible (there’s no complex plot; this is a blockbuster, after all), but it’s best to have seen Minus One first. Indeed, Godzilla Minus Zero picks up right where the previous film left off: it takes place two years after the first film, in the same setting, and features the same characters (with a few newcomers as well). So there’s less of the “wow factor” that came with discovering Minus One, but that in no way diminishes the pleasure of watching this new installment.

Godzilla Minus Zero follows directly in Minus One’s footsteps, and the two films form a completely coherent whole. If there’s one key difference, it’s the balance between “action and drama.” Whereas Minus One was almost entirely devoted to action, Minus Zero also leans into human drama. Indeed, the film doesn’t shy away from showing a Japan still shaken and battered by the Second World War and under American occupation, as well as the trauma of the atomic bomb (through one of the new characters, Murakami, the only member of his family to survive in Hiroshima). The main characters also face many difficult choices.

As for the direction, you can tell that Takashi Yamazaki, who began his career as a special effects specialist, gained experience at lightning speed while at the helm of Godzilla Minus One, which became a phenomenon. This makes its sequel even more accomplished, and, like Minus One, it earns a place among the best films in the long-running Godzilla franchise.

The story unfolds in 1949, two years after the events of Godzilla Minus One. As Japan struggles to rebuild and return to normal life in the wake of the war and the monster’s rampage, a new threat erupts, shattering this fragile calm. The narrative will particularly follow the Shikishima family.

Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe return as Koichi and Noriko Shikishima. They are joined by Hidetaka Yoshioka, Yuki Yamada, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Sakura Ando and Miou Tanaka. The cast is complemented by Min Tanaka, who portrays Kanji Murakami, a biologist deeply scarred by the war.

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Takashi Yamazaki once again takes charge of directing, screenwriting and overseeing the visual effects. Released in 2023, Godzilla Minus One revitalized the saga by setting Godzilla in postwar Japan, before winning the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

Godzilla Minus Zero also marks a technical milestone for the franchise. It is the first Japanese production shot with IMAX-certified high-definition digital cameras, and Toho’s first Godzilla film designed for this format.

The film will receive a tightly scheduled international rollout anchored around Godzilla Day: November 3 in Japan, the anniversary of the 1954 original, followed by a North American release on November 6. In France, it will be distributed by Anime Limited, Apollo Films Distribution, and CGR Events.

To discover other upcoming releases, check out our pick of science-fiction films to see in theaters, our guide to international films, and the movies to watch right now.

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