Godzilla

Godzilla (1998)

Timing: 2:19 (139 min)

5.649/10
4187

6.843/10
62145

5.5/10
213000

All about film

Video 10

Photo 76

Actors and characters

Release date

1998-05-20

Country

Japan, United States

Production

TOHO, Centropolis Entertainment, TriStar Pictures, Independent Pictures (II), Fried Films, Independent Pictures

Genre

Science Fiction, Action, Thriller

Budget

$130 000 000

Revenue

$379 014 294

Website

https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/godzilla

Director

Roland Emmerich

Actors

Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, Hank Azaria, Kevin Dunn, Michael Lerner, Harry Shearer, Arabella Field, Vicki Lewis, Doug Savant
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich, Ute Emmerich, William Fay

Operator

Ueli Steiger

Composer

David Arnold

Artist

Maya Shimoguchi

Audition

April Webster, David Bloch

Editing

Peter Amundson, David Siegel, George Merkert
All team (231)

• An incredible amount of wood was used to build the sets. This amount would be sufficient to build 50 houses. Approximately 35 tons of steel structures were also used for the sets.
• 321,000 cubic meters of water were used to film the downpour.
• On May 6, 1997, a tornado raged in Jersey City. The film crew was forced to halt filming and revise the schedule. However, even in this situation, the crew managed to capture a small fragment of the disaster, and some footage made it into the final cut of the film.
• When Godzilla walked through the city streets, cars bounced in the frame. Approximately 20 special devices were used for this.
• Matthew Broderick's character is named Dr. Niko Tatopoulos. He owes this surname to the designer and builder of Godzilla – Patrick Tatopoulos.
• Tomoyuki Tanaka produced all the Japanese films dedicated to Godzilla. He died a month before filming began. As a result, it was decided to dedicate the film to this legendary Japanese film producer.
• According to the producers' plans, two more sequels to the film were supposed to appear after some time. However, after scathing critical articles and a weak box office performance, these plans remained just plans.
• Actor Kenpachiro Satsuma, who played Godzilla from 1985 to 1995, walked out mid-screening, saying, "This isn't Godzilla. I don't see the soul here."
• Director Roland Emmerich admitted that he didn't like any of the films from the original Japanese series. He agreed to participate in the project only because he was given complete freedom on set.
• The initial script drafts and the portrayal of Godzilla on screen were intended to closely resemble the Japanese original. In particular, Godzilla was supposed to fight a monster named Griffin.
• The first teaser appeared in cinemas a year before the official release. The trailer featured footage of a paleontological museum and, in the finale, showed Godzilla’s foot destroying a dinosaur skeleton. This scene was ultimately decided against for the final version of the film.
• The first drafts of the project appeared back in 1990. At that time, James Cameron was considered the main candidate for the director's chair. Later, the project was linked to Tim Burton and Joe Johnston, until Roland Emmerich came on board in 1997.
• Godzilla's fiery breath was not included in the original script. The film crew was prompted to make changes to the script by communicating with fans of the franchise.
• Sony acquired the rights to film “Godzilla” from Toho studio, which filmed the first Godzilla movie back in November 1954.
• A soundtrack was recorded for the Godzilla movie, including several dozen instrumental compositions and songs, with composer David Arnold, rapper Puff Daddy, the band Jamiroquai, and others participating in its creation. It was released on audio cassettes and CDs some time after the film's theatrical release. A remix, Come With Me (Morello Mix), was also released separately.
• The Godzilla from this film was later renamed “Zilla.” Under that name, the monster appears in the film “Godzilla: Final Wars” (2004). The name wasn't mentioned in the film, but was used during filming.
• At the 51st minute of the film, you can notice the film “It Came from the Sea” (1955) playing on television in a video rental store.