Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
A prophetic princess, a cosmic dragon, and three rival Earth monsters collide in a buoyant Shōwa-era kaiju spectacle.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- campy
- whimsical
- propulsive
- monster movie marathon
- retro sci-fi night
What critics said
Critics generally regard it as one of the stronger and more entertaining Shōwa-era monster rallies, praising its creature battles and effects while noting uneven execution and dubbing problems.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra must cooperate to oppose King Ghidorah.
The film emphasizes rubbery monster effects, citywide wrestling matches, and the destruction of miniature architecture.
Salno, appearing as a Venusian prophetess, predicts the return of Earth monsters and King Ghidorah's arrival.
Mothra's fairies urge Godzilla and Rodan to set aside their differences and defend Earth together.
Films like Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, and why
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
shared Japanese kaiju spectacle, city-scale destruction, monster spectacle, and playful science fiction tone
Destroy All Monsters
shared Shōwa-era monster rally structure, colorful creature battles, and gleeful miniature destruction
Mothra vs. Godzilla
shared Mothra-centered kaiju mythology, human drama, and fantastical monster adventure
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris
shared giant-monster combat, extraterrestrial threat, campy energy, and practical creature effects
Movie Details
- Director
- Ishirō Honda
- Release Date
- 1964-12-20
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (300)
Cast
- Yōsuke Natsuki
- Yuriko Hoshi
- Hiroshi Koizumi
- Takashi Shimura
- Emi Ito
- Yumi Ito
- Akiko Wakabayashi
- Hisaya Ito
- Akihiko Hirata
- Minoru Takada
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster about?
- A prophetic princess, a cosmic dragon, and three rival Earth monsters collide in a buoyant Shōwa-era kaiju spectacle.
- What is Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster as moderate.
- What did critics think of Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster?
- Critics generally regard it as one of the stronger and more entertaining Shōwa-era monster rallies, praising its creature battles and effects while noting uneven execution and dubbing problems.
- Which films are like Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster?
- Films with a similar feel include Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Destroy All Monsters, Mothra vs. Godzilla, and Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris.
- How long is Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster?
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster?
- In United States, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
