Godzilla Minus One has finally broken a 70-year curse, even beating out some of the biggest movie franchises in the world at the 2024 Oscars.
The 96th Oscars took place on March 10, 2024 with Oppenheimer taking home the biggest prize of them all. Poor Things also managed to rake in the awards, but there was one huge surprise win – and let's be honest it was even a surprise nomination – and that was Godzilla Minus One.
The Godzilla franchise first came into existence in 1954 with the Japanese film "Gojira" directed by Ishirō Honda. Since then, it's become one of the biggest film franchises with multiple films from all over the world, but one prize has always evaded the movies and that was an Oscar. Until now.
Godzilla Minus One Wins Big At Oscars 2024
Godzilla Minus One, the latest Godzilla movie, had a mere budget of $10-12 million and yet managed to create something magical. The movie, written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, was a box office success, earning around $107 million worldwide.
It was also nominated for an Oscar in the best visual effects category. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One were also a part of the category. Both films had budgets spanning between $250-290 million. Now, which film should win the best visual effects with a budget discrepancy like that?
Spoiler alert: It wasn't the big productions this year that took home the Academy Award. Instead, the small scale production from Japan managed to take home the franchise's first ever Oscar. Yes, even though Godzilla has been a household name for years, no Godzilla movie has ever won an Oscar, making this one even more meaningful.
Godzilla Minus One tells the story of kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima, haunted by survivor's guilt from WWII and the loss of his family, faces Godzilla, a monster mutated by nuclear testing. It's a great story about post-war Japan, as well as exploring the haunting reality of Survivor's Guilt.
Other big winners this year were Oppenheimer, Poor Things and Hayao Miyazaki managed to win his second Oscar with The Boy and the Heron for best animated feature film.