Shin Godzilla is coming back to the big screen in 4K, so I’f you missed the movie when it was first released in 2016, now is your chance to experience on the big screen!
GKIDS has acquired the North American distribution rights to Shin Godzilla, the acclaimed Japanese reboot directed by Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno and Shin Ultraman director Shinji Higuchi.
The distributor will be unleashing the film in U.S. theaters on August 14th, complete with its original Japanese audio, restored text cards, and for the first time in North America, a 4K remaster. A home release is also on the way.
GKIDS President David Jesteadt previously had this to say about the announcement:
“With an incredibly timely story of people struggling to work together to stop imminent destruction, backed by some of the most explosive action scenes the franchise has ever seen, Shin Godzilla is a modern masterpiece. We are honored to play a part in bringing the film back for American fans, better than ever.”
This marks GKIDS’ first venture into the Godzilla universe since Toho’s acquisition of the franchise in 2024. It also continues the studio’s commitment to spotlighting essential Japanese cinema, following their nationwide theatrical rollout of Hideaki Anno’s Love and Pop earlier this year.
Shin Godzilla is a political thriller, a disaster film, and a bold reinvention of the Godzilla mythos. The movie follows the Japanese government as it scrambles to respond to a nightmarish creature’s sudden emergence in Tokyo.
As the beast evolves with each new form, so too does the crisis, escalating into a full-blown bureaucratic and existential nightmare. And then… the U.S. arrives, with a folder marked only: Godzilla.
I loved this movie, so if you’ve never seen it, it’s definitely one worth watching! The movie went on to become a legitimate phenomenon in Japan. Toho’s Chief Godzilla Officer, Keiji Ota, shared:
“Shin Godzilla marked the first Japanese-produced Godzilla film since the release of Godzilla Final Wars in 2004. Upon its release, it became a social phenomenon in Japan, playing a pivotal role in reviving the Godzilla franchise after a 12-year hiatus, and we’re thrilled to bring this landmark film back to the big screen in North America.
“For some, this will be their first time experiencing it — and there’s no better way to feel the overwhelming presence, power, and terror of Godzilla than in a theater. Enjoy the film!”
Shin Godzilla went on to gross $79 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese-produced entry in the franchise, a title it held until 2023’s Godzilla Minus One took the throne. The film was also a critical hit, landing 11 Japan Academy Prize nominations and winning seven, including Picture and Director of the Year.
For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this re-release is the perfect opportunity to (re)experience a truly wild, fun, intelligent, and visceral take on one of cinema’s most iconic monsters.
