Godzilla Minus One's Netflix release came as a big surprise, but why?

Godzilla Minus One has finally arrived on Netflix in many parts of the world, six months after the kaiju smackdown became one of the most acclaimed and beloved movies of 2023. Those who missed it on the big screen can now experience the Oscar-winning carnage in their living rooms.

But surprisingly, Netflix subscribers didn't get any prior warning that the Japanese blockbuster was about to become available. Normally, the streaming platform would be delighted to tell us all about an upcoming big movie, but this time there was nothing.

Fans, nonetheless, were pleasantly surprised by the whole thing. In the UK, Godzilla Minus One has roared its way into the top 10 most-watched films on the platform. We'd expect it to stay on that list for some time as more and more fans take their chance to watch the film.

Why did Godzilla Minus One get a surprise Netflix release?

The surprise release comes down to the unique situation involving the rights to the Godzilla franchise, which are shared between Japanese company Toho — responsible for Godzilla Minus One — and US studio Legendary Pictures. Legendary controls the American arm of the franchise, dubbed the MonsterVerse, and most recently including Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

The agreement between the two companies exists to create breathing space between the separate franchises, which don't release movies in the same years. This ensures that Toho films don't have to compete with the glossier American versions and vice versa.

Read more: Godzilla at 70: Why the Japanese pop culture titan is enjoying a resurgence (Yahoo Entertainment)

Godzilla Minus One was initially planned for a week-long US cinema run in December, but its success kept it on multiplex screens until February 2024. It was reported at the time that the film had to be yanked out of cinemas in order to provide a few weeks of breathing room before Godzilla x Kong arrived in March.

This agreement is likely responsible for the long wait and the sudden streaming release. It has been six months since the US cinema release and a window of that size is almost unheard of these days for a big movie. For example, The Fall Guy just hit digital platforms in the States within a month of its cinema debut.

Read more: Godzilla Minus One sets a new box office record (Digital Spy)

But in this case, the long window between releases enabled Adam Wingard's Godzilla x Kong to have its time in the spotlight. Now, everyone can start talking about the Toho movie again.

Is Godzilla Minus One worth watching on Netflix?

Godzilla Minus One takes the kaiju franchise right back to its roots, following the 1954 original's lead as a commentary on the dangers of nuclear weapons. It follows a kamikaze pilot who fails to take a shot at Godzilla during a brutal early attack and is later plagued by fear of his own shortcomings as the monster's threat looms over Japan.

By setting Godzilla Minus One in the final months of the Second World War and just beyond, writer-director Takashi Yamazaki is able to use the monstrous story to speak about the horrors of conflict and the echoing trauma of survivor's guilt.

Read more: The Reasons Godzilla Minus One’s Postwar Setting Was Important For Its Story, According To The Director (CinemaBlend)

But, of course, it's also a massive action spectacular, making the most of every penny of its $15m (£12m) budget — Godzilla x Kong cost nine times that — to create jaw-dropping set pieces. When the team responsible for its visual effects won the Oscar for their work, it was a recognition of how much they were able to achieve with limited resources.

Watch: Learn more about the visual effects in Godzilla Minus One

So in short, Godzilla Minus One is likely to be one of the best movies you watch on Netflix this year. It's thoughtful and thrilling in equal measure, striking the perfect balance between seriousness and silliness. This is exactly what a monster movie should be.

It's certainly a better take on the kaiju landscape than Godzilla x Kong, which was a pretty leaden blockbuster that failed to match the outrageous chaos of its predecessor — 2021's very entertaining Godzilla vs, Kong. In the battle of the kaiju movies, there's only one winner: it's Godzilla Minus One.

Godzilla Minus One is available on Netflix in the UK and USA now.