Japanese audiences were captivated by the storytelling and visual effects but equally hushed by the spectacle of mass destruction unleashed on a miniature Japan, which served as a fitting allegory for the horrors of nuclear warfare.

The film’s international release saw the monster’s popularity soar, with Godzilla eventually becoming one of the most memorable screen icons of the 20th Century and the first character to spawn a global film franchise.

Exactly 70 years after the release of the first film, ACMI is celebrating the king of monsters with screenings of seven key films in the eight-decade franchise; panel talks that explore Godzilla’s profound impact on filmmaking and on our social and cultural imagination; a movie marathon with trivia hosted by comedian Alex Hines; a nocturnal Halloween party featuring live music from local DJs and food and drinks; plus pop-ups, playable games and hidden treats for Godzilla fans throughout our centrepiece exhibition The Story of the Moving Image.

GodzillaFest
31 October – 3 November 2024
ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne
www.acmi.net.au