10 Sci-Fi Movies You Didn't Know Were Based On Real Life Events
3. Godzilla
During the 1950s, the idea that the world was heading for a full-blown nuclear war was a genuine concern for many people. Movie studios naturally took advantage of society's paranoia by churning out films revolving around atomic aliens and nuclear-powered monsters.
Although most of these films were trashy B-movies, one that stood the test of time was Godzilla. Even though Toho's most famous movie could've been a brainless monster flick, the producers and directors made Godzilla's rampage mirror the devastation that Japan experienced during World War II, give the story a lot of depth.
Producer, Tomoyuki Tanaka stated Godzilla was meant to symbolise an atomic bomb - a weapon so powerful that it didn't seem feasible for the people of Japan to fight against it.
Although Godzilla could've been used as a general metaphor for nuclear weapons, the entire movie is entrenched in commentary. The bumpy marks on Godzilla's exterior are a direct reference to the keloid scars borne by the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In the epilogue, the characters state that more Godzillas could be created if nuclear testing continues - an unsubtle warning to the world's governments to stop playing with forces beyond humanity's control and understanding.