20 Awesome J-Horror Movies Every Horror Fan Should See
19. Godzilla
Plot: The Japanese government try to stop a fearsome monster who is attacking Japan's cities after being awoken by nuclear weapons testing.
One of the most famous Japanese films in any genre, this is the original film that launched the Enormous Godzilla franchise and its cultural impact around the world is substantial.
Dated it may be, Godzilla remains one of the definitive monster movies and the various sequences of Godzilla's destructive rampages are pretty brilliant. Fine, it's just a guy in a rubber suit but that only adds to the charm.
Godzilla's iconic action and visuals are, of course, awesome, but the thing which has really allowed it to linger is how much there is going on beneath the surface. Godzilla himself is a metaphor for the dangers of nuclear war and as such the film makes for sobering political commentary and a powerful reflection of national trauma.