Gkids is bringing Shin Godzilla back to theaters across North America on August 14 with a 4K remaster.
Originally released in 2016, the film marked a major revival for Toho’s legendary franchise. This new version will feature restored text cards and be presented in Japanese with English subtitles.
Watch the teaser trailer below.
The Plot
A mysterious and massive creature appears in Tokyo Bay. As the Prime Minister urges calm, the creature makes landfall and causes massive destruction. It then mutates into something even more dangerous. A hastily assembled government task force scrambles to respond, only to receive a classified U.S. file with one word stamped on the cover: Godzilla.
Who’s Behind It
Shin Godzilla was directed by Hideaki Anno (Evangelion) and Shinji Higuchi (Shin Ultraman), with a script by Anno and visual effects by Higuchi. The cast includes Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, and Satomi Ishihara.
The Impact of Shin Godzilla
This was the first Godzilla film produced by Toho since Godzilla Final Wars (2004). Upon release, Shin Godzilla became a cultural event in Japan, winning seven Japan Academy Prizes, including Best Picture and Best Director. It grossed $79 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla film ever, until Godzilla Minus One surpassed it.
Gkids Brings It to a New Generation
This marks Gkids’ first Godzilla release since Toho’s 2024 acquisition of U.S. rights. Gkids President David Jesteadt praised Shin Godzilla as a modern masterpiece, calling its story of bureaucratic chaos and explosive action highly relevant. The distributor previously released Anno’s Love and Pop and continues expanding its lineup of Japanese live-action titles.
“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,” said Jesteadt.
Toho Weighs In
Keiji Ota, Toho’s Godzilla officer, called the film a “social phenomenon” that revived the franchise. He noted that many American fans will be seeing Shin Godzilla for the first time in theaters, and said there’s no better way to experience it.
“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,” said Ota. “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!”
Watch the trailer:
