Mothra
A colorful Japanese kaiju adventure follows a sacred winged guardian battling exploitation to rescue the tiny priestesses who summon it.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- colorful
- adventurous
- classic monster movie night
- retro science fiction marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's vivid color and impressive special effects, while some found its dubbed dialogue and dramatic construction awkward.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mothra is worshiped as Infant Island's deity and undertakes a rescue mission after the Shobijin are kidnapped.
Clark Nelson abducts the Shobijin and seeks to profit from their extraordinary existence.
The film emphasizes colorful panoramas, décor, miniature environments, and the striking image of Mothra in flight.
Infant Island is presumed uninhabited after Rolisican atomic tests, while Mothra's mythology connects the creature to the island's survival.
Films like Mothra, and why
Godzilla
shared japanese kaiju spectacle, colorful fantasy adventure, and ecological anxieties
Rodan
shared giant-monster mythology, creature spectacle, and science fiction adventure
The War of the Gargantuas
shared colorful tokusatsu fantasy, miniature worlds, and protective monstrous creatures
King Kong
shared island adventure, colonial exploitation themes, and giant-creature spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- Ishirō Honda
- Release Date
- 1961-07-30
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (195)
Cast
- Frankie Sakai
- Hiroshi Koizumi
- Kyōko Kagawa
- Jerry Itō
- Ken Uehara
- Emi Ito
- Yumi Ito
- Takashi Shimura
- Akihiro Tayama
- Akihiko Hirata
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- FlixFling
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mothra about?
- A colorful Japanese kaiju adventure follows a sacred winged guardian battling exploitation to rescue the tiny priestesses who summon it.
- What is Mothra like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mothra as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mothra violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Mothra as mild.
- What did critics think of Mothra?
- Critics broadly praised the film's vivid color and impressive special effects, while some found its dubbed dialogue and dramatic construction awkward.
- Which films are like Mothra?
- Films with a similar feel include Godzilla, Rodan, The War of the Gargantuas, and King Kong.
- How long is Mothra?
- Mothra runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mothra?
- In United States, Mothra streams on FlixFling.
