Destroy All Monsters (1968)

 Director: Ishiro Honda

Written by: Ishiro Honda, Takeshi Kimura

With Godzilla facing an uncertain future, Toho decided to pull out all the stops on what could well have been the final film in the franchise.

Kaiju.... Assemble!

Destroy All Monsters was the Avengers Endgame of the Showa Era and brought back not only Godzilla but almost his entire cadre of foes for one mighty monster mash.

A new alien threat looms, this time the sinister Kilaaks, who have somehow taken control of all Earth's monsters in a diabolical plot to ensure humanity’s surrender. With the research crew at Monster Island missing, it falls to the crew of Earth's first functioning moonbase to investigate.

Eventually, the brave astronauts are able to thwart the Kilaak's mind control and send Earth’s monsters to Mount Fuji in a desperate counterattack against the alien base. But the Kilaaks have one final trick up their sleeve.

Space? Aliens, did you say? Well, you can’t have these in a Godzilla movie without cosmic asshole King Ghidorah crashing the party. Sure enough, the three-headed menace comes to the alien's defense but he proves to be no match for the combined might of Earth’s monsters and once again, Godzilla saves the day. This time, with more than a little help from his friends.

The sheer variety of monsters on display here makes this one of the most easily enjoyable and popular entries in the Showa era and with veteran Ishiro Honda performing both Directorial and writing duties, the audience is clearly in good hands.

Featuring one of the standout Godzilla designs, the SoshingekiGoji suit boasted a bell-shaped body, a prominent breast bone, an elongated neck, and a head reminiscent of the classic DaisensoGoji, featuring distinct brows and fiercer eyes compared to its predecessors, the DaisensoGoji and MusukoGoji suits. It would also be used in 'All Monster's Attack', 'Godzilla vs Hedorah' and 'Godzilla vs Gigan', where ultimately the suit can be seen falling to pieces in parts onscreen.

The fan service and skilled filmmaking on display here proved that Godzilla could reliably bring in audiences. However, the resources committed to this film would be sorely lacking in the often-maligned, next installment in the franchise.

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