The seminal classic that introduced the world to "kaiju eiga" and everyone's favorite city-stomping radioactive monster. Directed by Ishiro Honda, Godzilla provided the ultimate allegory for post-war nuclear anxiety through the story a prehistoric sea creatures rampaging through Tokyo after being awakened by underwater H-bomb testing. A domestic box office hit that went on to enrapture international audiences and spawn over two dozen sequels and countless imitations, the original film still retains the power to inspire awe in its evocation of humanity's confrontation with the ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation.

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