Godzilla is, without a doubt, the undisputed King of Monsters to this day. We will never forget all that Godzilla has given us thanks to its long-running popular series. But, if you’ve exhausted all of the components, including last year’s King of the Monsters, this list will serve you well, surprise you, and perhaps even calm you down for a while! Do you want to know what a Godzilla rip-off has to offer?
If nothing else, some of these are likely to make you uncomfortable. Of course, when there isn’t a new Godzilla film to look forward to, the wait can feel forever, but this list has been compiled to keep you entertained while you wait. We’ve compiled a list of the most talked-about Godzilla films over the years so you don’t have to go looking for them. They’re definitely Godzilla wannabes, but wait until you see what they have in store for you!
VARAN
Varan was released in 1958 after Toho Studios in Japan carefully studied the burgeoning popularity of the kaiju subgenre. Toho released their first attempt at delivering a new huge monster while the film industry prepared for more of these monsters and beasts.
But in all seriousness, this Godzilla turned out to be a poor bargain. What we got was a giant triphibian that could walk, swim, and even soar through the air. It aimed at being all of Godzilla but, unfortunately, lacked most of the Godzilla-feels.
The tale represents the impact of nature’s arrogance on a power-hungry human species. And we give it a thumbs up for this portrayal. However, as it confronts the country’s military troops, you can see the gigantic lizard monster’s lethal back spikes.
When the rip-offs became too hard to refute, Toho Studios just agreed on Varan as a Godzilla character. This is the curious case of a rip-off stumbling backward on the franchise that it wanted to rip-off. Forget the movie and witness this historic event!
YONGARY
When Godzilla began to make a lot of money, this South Korean film company may have felt it wasn’t such a huge issue. What would it take to develop a movie about a huge monster with all kinds of heinous deeds entrenched in him? Only a monster suit and some experiments at pyrotechnics?
Well, they went ahead with this thought and came out with Yongary, Monster from The Deep – and we are assuming this could have been the realization they were waiting for!
The fact is that Godzilla was never merely a video or a costume. Also, there’s money! But then there’s Yongary, a massive dinosaur-like creature with a single horn on its snout. Its bright yellow eyes and rows of spicules on its back were unable to pull off the act it desired, but instead provided an unusual viewing experience.
The plotline is about a legendary kaiju who has a chanceful awakening due to atomic bomb testing. But as you see this, notice if you can catch them stealing on Godzilla’s original special effects. But more than that, you should see Yongaryto find out whateffect a rip-off, of this scale has on you!
GAPPA
A newborn reptile is discovered as an earthquake destroys a subterranean cavern. Some Westerners ignore the various cautions of the villagers and transport the hatchling to a Japanese zoo. Expectedly, this disappearance angers the parent reptiles much, and they go on a rampage destroying the city to find out their child, Gappa.
Of course, you cannot miss noticing how Gappa sounds more like a ridiculous slur than a terrifying monster, and well, that is what you get for this movie.
Gappa is deserving of a spot on our list because it is unlike any previous Godzilla film. The angry mama and papa reptiles provide a lot of havoc and danger, but the movie then removes everything that you would expect after that. Mr. Funazu, the captivator of Gappa, is resolute on not giving it up, as he continues to experiment and torment this baby monster. Watch this one unwind all that you thought of Godzilla!
DAIGORO
When Toho and Tsuburaya Productions teamed up to make Daigoro, they were under the impression that Godzilla was only for kids. To make it more child-friendly, the choice to remove the rich allegorical tale and replace it with slapstick comedy and wild battle sequences yielded an outstanding box office success.
Following up on this, Daigoro was conceptualized, which surprisingly ended up making way for one of the strangest rip-offs ever made. As cute as the name goes, Diagoro is first seen as a poor orphan and is later assigned a caretaker.
This monster’s caretaker raises it to ensure that it follows the righteous path. After being assaulted by Goliath, the city confronts a dire crisis, and Diagoro must rise to the occasion and protect the place where he grew up. The movie also offers a kaiju training montage as Daigoro readies himself to put up a good fight against Goliath.
But this battle is unlike something you would have imagined. With ample doses of comedy and ridiculousness, and along with uplifting musical numbers, this rip-off promises to give you a one-of-a-kind experience. In the ocean of rip-offs, this rip-off definitely needs to be acknowledged.
THE X FROM OUTER SPACE
Meet Guilala, a Martian monster who began life as a small spore and finally made her way to Earth on a Japanese starship manned by scientists. Guilala, the titular X, evolves into a gigantic lizard with a characteristic triangle-shaped head that looks like a UFO. And most importantly – though, we don’t know why, but this monster can even become a moving ball of hot fire.
The narrative is a significant improvement over traditional rip-offs, with a compelling science-fiction plot centred on planetary exploration. But in the end, you’re left with a lame climax that’s just right for a lame character. However, this lame character is also a beast whose presence risks an invasion attack on Earth.
This film was the first-ever monster movie produced by Shochiku and was directed by KazuiNihonmatsu. To this day, this film remains one of the more memorable horror flicks.
GALGAMETH
Following the success of Godzilla, the ’90s saw a spike in kid-friendly films. Galgameth was merely another attempt to persuade children to force their parents to buy them a poor film like this one. But the question remains: how do you make something like this particular rip-off? Make a list of things kids love, mould all that mess into another ball of mess, and there you go!
Galgameth, on the other hand, did not want to be one of those mediocre want tobe films that keep flooding the market. The film took the famous theme of “huge monsters destroying stuff” and set it in a mediaeval setting, complete with sword fights and jousts. The movie stars Devin Neil Oatway, Johna Stewart, and Stephen Macht , and the script was written by Sang-ok Shin .
Galgameth was actually inspired by his 1985 Godzilla -based film Pulgasari . With all that the movie delivers and broadly misses, one thing is certain: this one has to be one of the most original amongst the bunch of crazy rip-offs. Of course, by that, we also mean that this movie is equally crazy!
GORGO
The movie’s tagline is “like nothing you’ve seen before,” and we’d like to repeat it. Gorgo is a rip-off of Godzilla by an American effort, and what a rip-off it is! Some movies hide their intentions, and some blatantly throw it on your face. Gorgo is a movie that distinctly belongs to the second category, wearing its bootleg crown proudly.
Gorgo, the monster, returns from his long hibernation after a dormant volcano erupts anew. Initially, he is kidnapped by some daring souls and sold to the circus as a kind of show-stopper. However, this is not a quiet film; a second monster and a great deal of carnage await you as you continue with this obvious rip-off. But of course, the good points about this movie also needs to be acknowledged. This one is not the worst Godzilla flick out there.
Also, the special effects and cinematography deserve a fair mention and credit. The original setting of the film was supposed to be Japan, meaning to be a sort of homage to Godzilla, but the team finally settled with the UK. This one is a decent rip-off and deserves to be given a casual watch.
REPTILIAN
Can we ever get tired of seeing giant creatures tearing through the city on a devastating rampage? Reptilian was released in 1961, and it followed the same tried-and-true formulae. The movie is set in Denmark, where the remains of a prehistoric reptile are discovered – and scientists soon manage to make it regrow itself into an entire reptile. But this is one of the silliest looking reptiles in the rip-off history, making the movie a rather shameful flick.
This film is one of Denmark’s only monster movies, and after viewing it, you’ll agree that it should stay that way. This kaiju’s sole purpose is to walk around the lovely city, destroying its buildings and other valuables while also making a complete fool of itself. You wouldn’t understand why there is a need to make something like this unless you watch this out for yourself. But of course, the kids loved the movie!
GAMERA
Finally, we arrive at a rip-off that is neither unfair nor unlucky. Gamera, for what it’s worth, is a memorable monster with all the proper ingredients. It resembles a turtle in size and appearance, yet it can also soar into the sky and fly. But the best thing about the movie is that it has managed to make a name for itself simply by playing second fiddle to the original Godzilla.
The franchise is today recognized as a rip off obviously, but more than that as a rip-off that managed to find a voice of its own. More importantly, it suggests that all rip-offs are not necessarily a waste.
Gamera was first featured in the 1965 film of the same name as an evil monster, but as the character grew in popularity among children and in subsequent publications, Gamera was converted into a friendly man, earning the nickname “Friend of the Children.” Gamera is notable for the fact that it remained a hero figure throughout the film franchise. This is one rip-off that overcame its boot-leggedness to stand on its own right.
PULGASARI
Do you want to become completely insane? Take a look at this suggestion. All of the Godzilla rip-offs were the result of the directors’ free will. But have you ever heard of a film that had to be directed as a result of kidnapping?
Now you know! When South Korean director Shin-Sang ok was abducted under the eye of the dictator Kim Jong-il, they were forced to star and direct several pro-North Korean movies. This movie, as strange as it is, was the product of this abduction.
The plot revolves with feudal Korea and a peasant uprising against the corrupt King of the time, before the film makes a U-turn and focuses on the peasants. When the King learns of the revolution, he confiscates all of the people’s utensils and tools in order to create weapons to defend the peasant army.
A peasant makes a figurine monster that comes to life with the blood of his daughter, and there you have Pulgasari, the monster and savior! But there are twists and turns in this absolutely weird-ass rip-off. We take the liberty to say that this one is the weirdest of all.