20 Films From The 1950s That Everybody Should Watch

20. Godzilla

The first entry on this list isn't actually a Hollywood film at all, and instead comes from Japanese director Ishiro Honda. 1954's cult classic Godzilla isn't exactly what you'd call cinematic fine art, but it epitomises the uprising of 50s science fiction better than you might initially think. Despite being written off by many as a silly - though entertaining - film about a man in a rubber dinosaur suit causing havoc , and simply another example of Japanese trash-culture, Godzilla is actually a subtle reflection of a cultural discomfort felt by many at the time. Less than ten years after the atomic bombs had fallen on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the graphic scenes of cities on fire and children being irradiated in a gruesomely apocalyptic scenario were all too familiar for Japanese viewers at the time, and for worldwide audiences it was a frightening depiction of nuclear paranoia coming true. But then again, it's also just a really fun - though dated - explosive escapade about a ridiculous monster. It far surpassed the average B movie, and is so enduringly popular that it's spawned a lengthy chain of spin-offs and sequels. If you can't quite get past the somewhat limited special effects, however, Gareth Edwards 2014 reboot may be more your cup of tea.