The Return of Godzilla (1984): cast, story & where to watch
1984 · Film · ★ 7.2
Released in 1984, The Return of Godzilla is an action, thriller, horror and science fiction film directed by Koji Hashimoto, running about 103 minutes. “Breaking 30 years of silence comes the anticipated-worldwide latest "Godzilla" work!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. After a fishing boat is attacked, the sole surviving crew member realizes it is none other than a resurrected Godzilla. However, efforts to bring the story to light are suppressed by the Japanese government amid growing political tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, who are both willing to bomb Japan to stop the monster.
Who’s in it. The Return of Godzilla stars Ken Tanaka as Goro Maki, Yasuko Sawaguchi as Naoko Okumura, Yōsuke Natsuki as Professor Makoto Hayashida and Keiju Kobayashi as Prime Minister Seiki Mitamura, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, The Return of Godzilla has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $11M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and Cinemax Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Return of Godzilla page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Return of Godzilla tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Return of Godzilla (1984)?
- In US, The Return of Godzilla is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Return of Godzilla worth watching?
- The Return of Godzilla holds an audience score of 7.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller, horror and science fiction. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Return of Godzilla?
- The Return of Godzilla stars Ken Tanaka, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Yōsuke Natsuki, Keiju Kobayashi and Shin Takuma.
- When was The Return of Godzilla released?
- The Return of Godzilla was released in 1984, with a runtime of about 103 minutes.