Criterion streaming Godzilla films + Criterion Showa Box Set

[king_ghidorah]

It’s mildly annoying to me that Criterion didn’t do a better job at remastering the English language versions of 54 and KKvG

For 54 in particular, GKOtM! is my preferred version of the film.

I’m 50/50 on KKvG. The Japanese version is better but I have a lot of nostalgia for the American version.

[goji1986]

It’s mildly annoying to me that Criterion didn’t do a better job at remastering the English language versions of 54 and KKvG

For 54 in particular, GKOtM! is my preferred version of the film.

I’m 50/50 on KKvG. The Japanese version is better but I have a lot of nostalgia for the American version.

…how could that have done a better job remastering KOTM?

They literally scanned and cleaned up a fine grain print from a collector, completely blowing away the video master we’d been subjected to for almost 30 years.

All back in 2012, when they actually did restorative work on their releases. It’s a fantastic presentation.

[king_ghidorah]

It’s mildly annoying to me that Criterion didn’t do a better job at remastering the English language versions of 54 and KKvG

For 54 in particular, GKOtM! is my preferred version of the film.

I’m 50/50 on KKvG. The Japanese version is better but I have a lot of nostalgia for the American version.

…how could that have done a better job remastering KOTM?

They literally scanned and cleaned up a fine grain print from a collector, completely blowing away the video master we’d been subjected to for almost 30 years.

All back in 2012, when they actually did restorative work on their releases. It’s a fantastic presentation.

I mean, compare it to the work that was done with the original version and it’s pretty obvious.

[goji1986]

I mean, compare it to the work that was done with the original version and it’s pretty obvious.

The goal from Criterion was to restore and preserve this version and make it feel as film-like as possible. You can only do so much restorative work based on the elements you are given. The Raymond Burr footage looks the best of the bunch because the print is not too far removed from the OCN. However, the Japanese footage is considerably degraded because it is so far removed from the original Japanese OCN. Trying to clean it up any further would have blown away grain and other fine details.

They put in an equal amount of effort on both versions.

[mikelcho]

Does anyone here have any idea when The Return of Godzilla's going to be released on Blu-ray by these guys?

[goji1986]

Does anyone here have any idea when The Return of Godzilla's going to be released on Blu-ray by these guys?

It took just over a year before the Biollante 4K was put out here, so use that as a measuring stick.

[mikelcho]

Does anyone here have any idea when The Return of Godzilla's going to be released on Blu-ray by these guys?

It took just over a year before the Biollante 4K was put out here, so use that as a measuring stick.

So I'm figuring sometime between the end of this year and the beginning, maybe the middle of next year, does that sound right?

[StreamOfKaijuness]

Does anyone here have any idea when The Return of Godzilla's going to be released on Blu-ray by these guys?

It took just over a year before the Biollante 4K was put out here, so use that as a measuring stick.

So I'm figuring sometime between the end of this year and the beginning, maybe the middle of next year, does that sound right?

Toho released Godzilla vs. Biollante on Japanese 4K disc on December 20, 2023. Criterion announced their North American release nearly a full year later on December 13, 2024 and they released it on March 18, 2025.

Toho just released The Return of Godzilla on Japanese 4K disc on June 18, 2025 as part of a six-movie box set. If Criterion follows the exact same timetable with G'84 as they did with Biollante, don't expect them to announce their G'84 release before June 2026. Hopefully they'll be able to release it by the end of 2026.

In the meantime, I'm hoping that Criterion will announce standalone 4K & BRD releases of King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster, Monster Zero, Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla vs. Hedorah for North America and the UK. Toho's 4K restorations of all of those films have been available on disc in Japan for at least as long as Biollante, so there shouldn't be anything standing in Criterion's way at this point.

[mikelcho]

It took just over a year before the Biollante 4K was put out here, so use that as a measuring stick.

So I'm figuring sometime between the end of this year and the beginning, maybe the middle of next year, does that sound right?

Toho released Godzilla vs. Biollante on Japanese 4K disc on December 20, 2023. Criterion announced their North American release nearly a full year later on December 13, 2024 and they released it on March 18, 2025.

Toho just released The Return of Godzilla on Japanese 4K disc on June 18, 2025 as part of a six-movie box set. If Criterion follows the exact same timetable with G'84 as they did with Biollante, don't expect them to announce their G'84 release before June 2026. Hopefully they'll be able to release it by the end of 2026.

In the meantime, I'm hoping that Criterion will announce standalone 4K & BRD releases of King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster, Monster Zero, Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla vs. Hedorah for North America and the UK. Toho's 4K restorations of all of those films have been available on disc in Japan for at least as long as Biollante, so there shouldn't be anything standing in Criterion's way at this point.

Thanks, this helps a lot. So, the middle of next year was a good estimate after all.

[Legion1979]

If I was a betting man, I'd put money on Criterion not being in a rush to put the Showa films on 4K because the big Showa set is still in print.

[miguelnuva]

If I was a betting man, I'd put money on Criterion not being in a rush to put the Showa films on 4K because the big Showa set is still in print.

Makes more sense to wait for the Minus One Sequel and Supernova at the earliest to try and use the hyoe of those films.

[Legion1979]

If I was a betting man, I'd put money on Criterion not being in a rush to put the Showa films on 4K because the big Showa set is still in print.

Makes more sense to wait for the Minus One Sequel and Supernova at the earliest to try and use the hyoe of those films.

I really don't know how necessary tying things into film releases is anymore. The last time that was really a thing with physical media was back in 2014. I think Godzilla as a franchise is strong enough now that it doesnt matter when you release something.

Aside from the already released Showa bluray set being a potential issue, I can see two concerns with getting the Showa films out on 4K. First, is there a strong enough market for 15 individual UHD releases of all these movies? And if there isnt, is another box set really feasible? I just don't see Criterion going that route again, especially considering how much more expensive a 15 film UHD set would be.

Personally, I dont think Criterion will be revisiting the Showa films any time soon. I think the best we can hope for are the Heisei films being drip fed to us slowly as they're able to release them.

[UltramanGoji]

Aside from the already released Showa bluray set being a potential issue, I can see two concerns with getting the Showa films out on 4K. First, is there a strong enough market for 15 individual UHD releases of all these movies? And if there isnt, is another box set really feasible? I just don't see Criterion going that route again, especially considering how much more expensive a 15 film UHD set would be.

I generally agree with your post, but it should be noted that they just put out a Wes Anderson 4K boxset recently which was about 10 films, so not outside the realm of possibility for them to do the same with an (arguably) bigger IP.

[goji1986]

I really don't know how necessary tying things into film releases is anymore.

The upcoming Criterion release of This is Spinal Tap would like to have a word with you…;)

[Legion1979]

Aside from the already released Showa bluray set being a potential issue, I can see two concerns with getting the Showa films out on 4K. First, is there a strong enough market for 15 individual UHD releases of all these movies? And if there isnt, is another box set really feasible? I just don't see Criterion going that route again, especially considering how much more expensive a 15 film UHD set would be.

I generally agree with your post, but it should be noted that they just put out a Wes Anderson 4K boxset recently which was about 10 films, so not outside the realm of possibility for them to do the same with an (arguably) bigger IP.

BUT this is why all these movies having already been released on bluray in one set less than a decade ago is the biggest issue. For a lot of people that set wasn't cheap, but it exists and has been available for a long time. Doing the entire set a second time, just with 4K masters might satisfy hardcore fans willing to shell out a lot of money to own it, but I just dont see it selling well. For a lot of casuals it's going to be a case of "been there, done that". It would be extremely hard to get people spend even more money this time just to double dip.

Added in 58 seconds:

I really don't know how necessary tying things into film releases is anymore.

The upcoming Criterion release of This is Spinal Tap would like to have a word with you…;)

....okay, and? I meant with Godzilla specifically.