7.6.2023
Since the release of the Criterion Collection of the Showa Godzilla movies, these 15 films had been available on-demand across many platforms such as YouTube and MAX. But no doubt, every Godzilla fan’s prayer has been a Godzilla channel. “From our lips to God’s ear” and a miracle has happened. Just a couple days ago, at the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Pluto TV announced a new and free 24-hour Godzilla channel beginning July 1st. The dream has come true.
At midnight on the last day of June, straining to keep my eyes open and struggling to stay awake, the Godzilla channel began. I was reminded of my great anticipation for the SciFi network many decades ago now. I was hoping Godzilla would somehow find his way back on TV regularly. Growing up Godzilla was a regular on Saturday afternoon local programs like Creature Double Feature and Theater Bizarre. Those were the days of cassette tapes and VCRs. But Godzilla disappeared from tv with the advent of DVDs in the 90s. The great memories and feelings of nostalgia were long gone as Godzilla movies on tv sunsetted. But much anticipated Godzilla marathons aired annually. Lately, CometTV and Tokushoutsu kept the fandom entertained but not all the movies were available. But now here comes the Pluto TV Godzilla Channel with all the Godzilla films from 1954 to 2004 and more.
What I’m going to enjoy most are the original Japanese feature films with English subtitles. Audiences will get to appreciate and see the uncut films and hear the actors and actresses speak in their own voices. Along with the Showa era, all seven Heisei films will be part of the rotation, even the elusive Godzilla (1985). Also included are the three Heisei Mothra films. Here is the list:
All Monsters Attack (Godzilla’s Revenge)
Godzilla 1999
Godzilla 2000
Godzilla (1954)
Godzilla Raids Again
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956)
Mothra
Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster
Mothra vs. Godzilla
Invasion of the Astro-Monster
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster)
Son of Godzilla
Destroy All Monsters
Godzilla vs. Hedorah
Godzilla vs. Gigan
Godzilla vs. Megalon
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
Terror of Mechagodzilla
The Return of Godzilla / Godzilla 1985 (Pluto TV Exclusive)
Godzilla vs. Biollante (Pluto TV Exclusive)
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (Pluto TV Exclusive)
Godzilla vs. Mothra (Pluto TV Exclusive)
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla 2 (Pluto TV Exclusive)
Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (Pluto TV Exclusive)
Godzilla vs. Destroyah (Pluto TV Exclusive)
Rebirth of Mothra
Rebirth of Mothra 2
Rebirth of Mothra 3
Godzilla: The Series
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus
Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monster All-Out Attack
Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla
Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.
Godzilla: Final Wars1
The Godzilla Channel began airing the first film, Godzilla (1954). Since its debut, the Godzilla channel has been in my house for hours on end. Thanks Pluto TV for making my dream come true! “Pluto TV is a free ad-supported streaming television service owned and operated by the Paramount Streaming division of Paramount Global…. Pluto TV licenses its content directly from providers; as of March 2020, it had deals with 170 content partners providing more than 250 channels and 100,000 unique hours worth of programming.”2