How Sony spent millions to market Godzilla

This took longer then expected.
Today we look at the Insane Marketing that Tristar's Godzilla received in 1998. From It's insane impact on the public, to it's unfortunate downfall towards the end of it. Please keep in mind this video is not going over the movie itself, but instead the Advertisement surrounding it.
Sources
Early Maneuverings for a Monster Hit - Los Angeles Times
G - Fan Magazine #31
GODZILLA Unmade: The History of Jan De Bont’s Unproduced TriStar Film - SciFi Japan
How Sony Created A Monster Sony spent $125 million to make Godzilla - Tim Carvell
Remembering Godzilla 1998's Wild Marketing Campaign - Jeff D Lowe
Size Does Matter: The Marketing of Godzilla (1998) - Lewis Rose
There Will Be No Escaping 'Godzilla' - Los Angeles Times
Music
Art of Balance - World A and B Music
Glover - Atlantis Realm Lobby
Hot Shots Golf World Invitational - Status
Sonic Mega Collection Credits Theme
Across The Ocean by JR Tundra
Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported- CC BY 3.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Music provided by FreeMusic109 / freemusic109
Fair Use Copyright Disclaimer: Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

[@kasaibouF29]

"PLOT DOES MATTER" after the Star Wars sequels, that aged gracefully.

[@sonofmovienerdking7230]

A co-worker said the 1998 film was the only Godzilla film he's seen. In my mind, I said, " You have no idea what you're missing."

[@brianz1574]

"So basically you've never seen a Godzilla movie" is what I'd think.

[@dolsopolar]

"uhm actually that movie isn't considered a godzilla movie by true godzilla fans!!"

[@SnorgYippee]

​@@dolsopolarYou mean the cry baby fans?

[@Zhu_yuan23343]

​@@SnorgYippeefr

[@DanTheMan2150AD]

I can imagine this was many western fans first exposure to Godzilla, it did put him on the map for good regardless of the quality of the movie. The marketing campaign only solidified this. Great video on this niche little topic and hope you’ll cover more.

[@aylasabatini7122]

It definitely was for me. I was one-two years old when I first heard of Godzilla, I never saw the movie in theaters though but my brother and I would hyped when we saw the marketing campaigns. I remember getting a rubber toy baby-zilla in a plastic green egg that showed the silohette when shined in front of the light. I loved that toy so much. Honestly though, despite neither one of us seeing the movie(I did years later after watching the original 1954 film and Shin Godzilla), it does show how making dinosaur anything will get a kid excited. Zilla is just trash compared to other Godzilla's, and as an actual film it boards on being bad or so bad it's good territory, it did at least brought in interest into a franchise with a long and fascinating history.

[@charleyzimmer2505]

I remember first hearing about Godzilla when this movie was coming out when my family got a King Kong vs Godzilla VHS from the local library, I thought "Whoa, they made a movie where King Kong fights Godzilla already, cool!" Watched that movie a bunch growing up, was my favorite Godzilla movie behind Godzilla 1985.

[@ladisneyprincesse]

My introduction was with the Hanna Barbera cartoon!

[@superstarthomas]

Yea it was for me, became an even bigger fan after I saw the Japanese version. Which was Godzilla vs Space Godzilla and Godzilla vs Destoroyah. My dad also rented Godzilla 2000 for me after I said I wanted to see more films. That was sometime a few days after me and my dad saw the end fight of Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla 2. Plus I had the gameboy game at the time when I was moving back to NC, it was Godzilla Domination. I got Save the Earth for ps2 a few years latter for Christmas since I didn't have a gamecube at the time for Destroy All Monsters.

[@MildlyDisgruntledPikachu]

There’ll never be nothing like the insane marketing hype for Godzilla ‘98 and Phantom Menace. It’s kinda sad but it just makes these events that much more special

[@Clay3613]

Less exposure and competition back then made it seem like it was everywhere.

[@leaderofnoone9087]

@@Clay3613 imagine if those two movies where is good as their marketing.

[@kerrex86]

@@leaderofnoone9087there’s a reason why The Matrix made the impact that it did, since it was everything these films weren’t, from quality storytelling to more anti-marketing telling practically nothing about the film

[@FlyingFocs]

On the other hand, that might be why so many felt disappointed. The expectations were HIGH.

[@DasNordlicht91]

I always liked how the excellent animated series acted as a sequel of sorts by directly giving us a continuation on the hatched egg at the end of the movie, and having said egg be the Godzilla that the cartoon revolves around. Plus, having him be more akin to a more "traditional" Godzilla that fights other giant monsters and uses atomic breath certainly helped.

[@voidkittyasmr]

My family used to go to New York a lot and stayed in a hotel around when Godzilla was being promoted. Because of the commercials I was fucking terrified that Godzilla would walk by our hotel room and peer into the window. Scared the absolute hell out of me thinking about it.

[@RaptorSauceH]

That opening scene was honestly really chilling to me and always will be

[@charlesroeckeriv6226]

I was at a New Years party back in the 90s. We were chatting with each other and not paying much attention to the TV until what we thought was the official countdown coming on. We quieted down, and when it turned out to be a monster movie commercial, we busted up laughing.

[@seanmckelvey6618]

I was around 4 years old when this movie and it's marketing blitz happened, I distinctly remember seeing loads of merchandise in Kmart and other stores, I even remember some of it lingering on shelves for MANY years afterwards. I remember renting the VHS of this and Godzilla 1985 over and over during my childhood & never really questioning that it was as much a Godzilla movie as the Japanese ones. For all the flaws the movie has, for me and many people of my age range in the west this was more or less our introduction to Godzilla, so it still holds a place in my heart as the thing that started this whole ride for me. I like the design of Godzilla, I love the Trendmasters toys made for it & for better or worse it will always remain an interesting part of the big guys legacy. I think the fact that this movie would probably have killed a lesser franchise is a testament not only to the character that is Godzilla, but to the love the fans have for him.

[@Vrahno]

The European side of the marketing wasn't as forceful but I remember seeing the Burger King ads on Cartoon Network UK (they also reran the Hanna-Barbera show at the time) and the Puff Daddy music video on other channels. I was also first exposed to the Japanese movies indirectly due to this film. Sometime during the summer a TV report show aired a few minute long segment hyping up the movie, calling it vastly superior to the Toho films and selectively using clips from the old movies to make them look as laughable and shoddy as possible, and contrasting them with the updated design and high budget effects from the TriStar movie. Some print media at the time also described the Japanese Godzilla movies as unwatchable, which gave a far more positive impression of the '98 film compared to American and Japanese media. So the hype around the movie was combined with a predisposed dismissal of the Toho films. From what I gather from other European fans, that still hasn't changed much. Though there was also a movie magazine that was originally published in Germany and distributed across Europe which actually gave a multi-page overview of the Toho franchise. That was one of the very few European sources for Godzilla info. I wish I could recall more from the merch. I saw Extreme Ghostbusters Trendmasters figures in many stores but I don't remember if I ever found their Godzilla toys. There was a small wave of cheap bootleg products though, like a really cheap and crappy rubber toy that barely looked like the movie design.

[@fokushigaru1310]

What confuses me is how the animated show was so good and was produced before the movie, but just released after the film, and yet the movie was so bad by comparison.

[@FlyingFocs]

Simple: the show was made by people who liked Godzilla, the movie was made by a guy who openly said he wasn't (and has a series of tropes he uses over and over). Granted, fans can still make crap, but that has an effect at least.

[@commonlogic7632]

Either they knew the new Godzilla design would piss people off so they hid it for as long as they could, or they thought it was so good it was worth waiting to see it in theater. Great video btw dude.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

To be honest I feel like it was the latter instead of the former, since there was still alot of hype surrounding the film after the design was leaked here and there. The hype only went downhill once the movie came out.

[@commonlogic7632]

@@Kaiju-bm4ts yeah I wonder if fans would’ve liked the design more if the movie was actually good. I enjoy it for what it is, but if it had good characters and dialogue and whatnot, maybe it would’ve landed better with the fans.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

@@commonlogic7632 well the animated series shows the design ain't bad if you give it the classic godzilla treatment, the movie on the other hand did not do godzilla justice mostly personality wise

[@christopherwall2121]

@@Kaiju-bm4ts I'm inclined to agree, judging by the arrogance with which Emmerich and Devlin made statements about their monster vs the original.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

@@christopherwall2121 and that's the same arrogance that makes me doubt Dean devlin was a fan if he agreed to so many of the dumb changes to godzilla's character

[@louismartinez7040]

I remember this marketing campaign very well. I was a little kid who had been exposed to MANY VHS tapes of Toho Godzilla movies. It would be an understatement to say I was hyped, but I was very excited when my folks took me to a movie theater in Los Angeles to see it...only to feel a tad disappointed when the monsters design didn't look like...well...GODZILLA!! It was the first time I ever felt really disappointed.

[@Jete385]

Great video well done! Yeah I was 13 when this all went down, being a G-fan since childhood I was super hyped and loved seeing all the publicity. The mystery of the monster's design really helped build anticipation. Then then movie came, and even as a young teen I realized they dropped the ball so damn hard. All that hype died off in the media SOOO fast. Seeing the second attempt and success years later with G14 and the MonsterVerse, helped redeem this unfortunate disappointment of my youth.

[@DirtiestDMusic]

I was 10-to-11 years old when the marketing began. It wasn't quite as oppressive in my small hometown, but it was still surreal to walk into Walmart or Taco Bell and see Godzilla's name everywhere. I vividly remember the special ad that ran during the Seinfeld finale and being caught off-guard by it. And I had forgotten about that New Year's Eve one! Fun stuff. But my most vivid memories from that time are of following the movie online in 1997 and 1998. There was already a robust online Godzilla scene, and several sites were dedicated to revealing Tristar's Godzilla design, going frame by frame through the trailers (which were hosted on the official Godzilla site in tiny resolution) and any other official images they could find. The infamous Nick Tatopoulos concept art eventually leaked online, and it was followed by all kinds of leaked photos of everything from commemorative cups to toys to underwear. Finally, a week or two before the movie released, a photo book leaked that gave us the full frontal reveal of Zilla. Of course everyone hated Zilla's design, but the fact that the leakers succeeded in spoiling it felt like a victory of sorts. It's my earliest memory of the internet--and online leaks--playing a major role in hyping a movie. (And I think that might make for a fun video sometime in the future!)

[@WASP87]

The hype was really for this movie. I was around 8 to 9 years old between the advertising and release. I grew up on the Toho movies through my dad and grandpa. I remember the three of us seeing it together. My grandpa didn't care for it, my dad was Ehh and I was excited, just to be able to see a Godzilla movie in any form in theaters. I remember this is what men and the boys played and talked about for almost a year. I never really got in the hate train for it, but did understand it when I got older. AVGN put into perspective, it was a multi million dollar popcorn flick that'd you rent from a blockbuster on a Friday night with nothing to do, with Godzilla's name slapped on it for markee value. It's definitely dated by it's time but still enjoyable. It's a piece of nostalgia for me.

[@LV426Resident]

Yeah it’s a awful Godzilla movie but I think it’s a fun monster movie. It’s more like Beast From 2000 Fathoms

[@CrazyGamerDragon64]

I think I had the same experience you did

[@danielz1666]

Godzilla's name wasn't "slapped on it", the movie was built around the concept of Godzilla

[@danielz1666]

​@@LV426ResidentI don't get when people say this. Either the movie's enjoyable or it isn't. It doesn't change the fact that it's still a Godzilla movie. It's simply a reimagining of Godzilla.

[@LV426Resident]

@@danielz1666 It’s a bad reimagining of Godzilla.

[@RHR199X]

I was born a year after the movie came out so I have no memory of the marketing but my first exposure was the Bandai creations figure of 1954 Godzilla but it was one of the first two films my dad rented from Hollywood video. I distinctly remember hating the ending so much I ran into my room and cried. I always kind of despised the film because the Godzilla I knew from then until 2013 was extremely different and seemed to be buried away from the public conscience and I’d hear all kinds of dumb things if I ever brought the character up. I’m very glad that’s far from the case now.

[@painkiller_j3071]

I really love Zilla's design, it makes him look so agile and stylish

[@Mr.Maguro]

The Animated Series and Rulers of Earth comic also showed this design could be seen with dignity, just not in this movie.

[@NotRuyaki]

I love zillas design but they should add more osteoderms to make zilla look more durable

[@winterv.4715]

I have the unpopular opinion that this design works as both a standalone kaiju AND as a new interpretation of Godzilla. Sure it’s radically different, but in a post Shin Godzilla world I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing and I think Patrick Titopolis did a good job at creating a sleeker, more realistic looking Godzilla. However, where the film dropped the ball for me was the fact that he acts not even remotely like Godzilla on any level other than the fact that he’s a giant lizard. I know that in trying to make him more realistic ya gotta sacrifice a few things but like…couldn’t you have at least made him less of a coward and actually have him fight the military instead of running away all the time? Thankfully tho, the cartoon fixed the large majority of my issues, so there’s always that.

[@NotRuyaki]

@@winterv.4715 the design works as a standalone kaiju nut not godzilla

[@winterv.4715]

@@NotRuyaki I recommend watching Godzilla the series, it’s a great watch that proves that this Godzilla could have worked

[@MourningCoffeeMusic]

It might not have been a live action film, but Godzilla was everywhere in the 90s. Anamaniacs, Trendmasters toys, Rugrats’ Reptar, tv shows.. almost everything had a reference to Godzilla that wasn’t as widespread in decades prior, and I think Jurassic Park’s release is what helped. 98 was the year of Godzilla, but there was a lot of buildup even before the marketing. The marketing move was massive on this film though, and any studio would’ve done the same thing.

[@thewhiterito2974]

Although I wasn't alive in 1998, this does make me kinda miss a more pre-internet era of advertisements. I've noticed that I honestly enjoy seeing ads for movies or shows in-person much more, it makes them feel more real and exciting. I remember seeing a bus in NYC that had the entire side of it advertising Tears of The Kingdom, with Link's arm having real, glowing lights. Over the summer I went to an "experience" advertising the new Ninja Turtles movies in NYC, while waiting in line I got to chat with other Ninja Turtles fans and it was a lot of fun. It's a magic of advertising that is sadly disappearing more and more.

[@glowinthefart]

I was around 6 or 7 when this Godzilla came out, I was a big Godzilla fan, I used to rent Godzilla’s Revenge a lot from the video store, I was excited to see Godzilla 98, I had the backpack with the Godzilla head sticking out, the pajamas, the toys, the chapstick and I loved the Godzilla ice cream, I enjoyed the movie when I seen it and I don’t ever remember questioning the design and I still enjoy the movie to this day.

[@CrazyGamerDragon64]

Despite what most people say about thr 1998 Godzilla movie i really enjoyed it. 1998 was s great year for me, i turned 10, this Godzilla movie came out, Pokemon was brought to America, Banjo Kazooie & Ocarina of Time came out fhat year such good times

[@dereknight861]

12:28 low blow yes but not entirely unfounded. I still have no idea what the hell was going on in Godzilla Vs Hedorah

[@stanwright4110]

I was working at Barnes and Noble at the time. I remember that I wanted to be surprised at how Godzilla would look in the movie, but we had gotten a magazine at the store about Godzilla. I couldn't resist and peeked and there was the pic of him. I was so disappointed in how he looked. I liked the scene in the movie where we first see him but didn't like the movie.

[@theharbinger00]

One of oldest birthdays I can remember was getting a few of these Godzilla toys!!! I was so amazed and it never dawned on me that this was a different Godzilla then the Toho. As a kid I was just excited for Godzilla anything

[@ShinGoji1987Official]

I was 11 years old when I saw my first teaser trailer for G98. It was the fisherman teaser and it played on a vhs before the main feature started that my sister rented. I was so ecstatic about it and watched it numerous times. Sometime later ads for it started playing on tv and I remember flipping through the channels trying to catch more ads for it, ahh the days before modern internet lol. I finally watched it and saw it twice in theaters and liked it at the time, even buying much of the toys etc. Even though I grew out of liking the film those were good innocent times to be a young G-fan and kid in general

[@grapeshot]

GINO= Godzilla in name only.

[@johnvan6082]

LOVE it dude !!!! G.I.N.O . will be what I call this shit sandwich for now on . Never heard that before .

[@ChuckD008]

The Godzilla NYE Ball Drop ad, the taco bell ad, & the memory of the Edy's ice cream live rent-free in my head. I was 7 when this came out & ate up the bait for this movie. I'd already tasted some Godzilla (Godzilla vs Megalon & Godzilla vs King Kong) but was more just 'Yay big monster'. I love the whole franchise but I will have a spot in my heart for this (luckily Godzilla 2000 would come out not too long after) Also, I was fooled by the NYE ad....I was a child.

[@FTChomp9980]

This was my first Godzilla movie as a kid knowing that Ferris Bueller was in this movie as a Scientist was a bit strange. Not to mention the Military destroyed most of New York instead of Zilla. Overall I prefer Tohos Godzilla more after watching my first Toho Film I saw was Destroy All Monsters.

[@johnvan6082]

I was in my thirties when this movie came out . Being a huge Godzilla fan all my life , I couldn't wait for it to be released . However , the non stop advertising blitz soon began to take it's toll . Very quickly you couldn't get away from the constant and annoying ads . You just wanted them to STOP ! I and my equally geeky friends began to joke about the ads and we all agreed , WERE SICK AND TIRED OF THEM ! ( like everyone else ) For the premier , we got together and rented an entire theater balcony for a private GODZILLA party . We even had it catered ! Before it started , we all filled up our plates as we talked excitedly about what we were going to see . FINALLY , the movie started we fell silent . After about half an hour , one by one , we all started to go eat some more. The movie was so DAMN BAD that if it wasn't for the food and booze , we would have walked out . THIS WAS NOT A GODZILLA MOVIE !!!!! It was was some cartooney. POS that had stolen the Godzilla name . We hated it . We had planned to watch it a second time , as we had rented out the balcony for four hours , but none of us stuck around . On the way out of the theater , we ( and other people who weren't with us ) told the people waiting to get in not to waste their money . It didn't take long for the TV ads to disappear , and the fast food tie - ins vanished even sooner . No kid gave a damn about the Godzilla meals and I NEVER saw a kid wearing any of the clothes merch For months you practically tripped over stacks of Godzilla toys ( and shirts , hats , mugs ETC ) piled up in store aisles ( marked down to almost free ) and fast food Godzilla paper cups.( And anything else with it's image ) were donated to charities . It wasn't uncommon to see homeless guys wearing Godzilla T shirts while drinking MAD DOG out of a Godzilla cup on the street corners . It wasn't the advertising that killed Godzilla , though by the time it was released people were already sick of it . The movie was so bad that far years afterwards , anything over marketed was said to be another Godzilla . It became a synonym for something annoying and a failure . .I always felt bad for any kids that got a Godzilla toy or sheet & pillow set as a gift from Grandma . I knew I never got a gift from my grandma that was any damn good , but my mom made me thank her and say ( lie ) how much I liked it . ( Why old ladies don't stick a twenty in your pocket and be done with it I'll never know ) .

[@Curlyheart]

Dayum❗❗

[@tskmaster3837]

The most insane part was "Don't show this Godzilla until day of release". Did I say "insane"? I meant prudent.

[@Curttehmurt]

I was 8 years old and all the advertising and merch got me hyped AF and it took me awhile to actually notice the film wasn't actually very good lol. I particularly remember being really obsessed with the first teaser and the idea that Godzilla's foot was the same length as a T.rex

[@Texmex386]

I was 5 years old during this and it was my everything that year. I became a fan a year earlier, watching the 1985 movie on VHS, so the new design wasn't a problem. And I played that CD everyday. Hope Zilla gets something good in the future.

[@grapeshot]

Godzilla on top of the Empire State Building. I would think King Kong would have something to say about that.

[@tallmex7183]

I was 2 tears old when this movie came out. One of my earliest memories watching thing in an empty theater. You were right about the merchandise. My room was full of it and when I started school they were giving toys for good behavior. Guess my school got them for cheap for prizes

[@dambreaker]

Family, friends, and colleagues were very much excited to Godzilla done the American way. Friends and I stayed away from as much spoilers as we possibly could, not paying attention that the promotions were intentionally hiding the appearance of Godzilla from the public. I mean, we did see the teasers all of the time but we kind of hoped that maybe what we saw would be Godzilla's foe or something. Perhaps Godzilla was going to fight a dinosaur like creature, or so we were thinking. I recall going to Taco Bell quite a lot that year, just to grab the cups they had promoting the film in hopes of maybe building a collection. But there was no real variety and therefore lost the ability to call it a collector's item. Then the big day came around. Friends and I set off to hang out all day long. Shopping, going out to eat (yes again at Taco Bell) all with the grand finale of the night to go see the King of the Monsters. We sat front row. And as the opening credits began to roll, disappointment started to sink in. For ALL of us. Once we saw that iguana, our hopes and dreams were pretty much shattered into dust. There are reasons why this creature is called GINO (Godzilla In Name Only) by fans. This was not what we signed up for. This was not the Godzilla we grew up on. We knew that there would be a complete change due to artistic differences.. but it was obvious that this was more of a creature feature, leaning on the sides of maybe a rogue or stand-alone Jurassic Park film and NOT a Godzilla film. Family, friends, and colleagues.. all of us...... hated it. And we felt cheapened and robbed and used that Hollywood had our money. Were our expectations too high? Maybe. But I don't think that they were. It just felt unfair and very wrong of Hollywood to toss up a T-Rex and call it Godzilla. I most recently watched this film again not that long ago. I guess within the last year? This film is a good film. Call it something else other than Godzilla, and you really got something that was worthy of watching in the time and era of Jurassic Park conquering everything Hollywood was doing at the time.

[@Red_Fives217]

I was 6 years old in 1998 but can remember the marketing for this movie being literally everywhere. Until recently, it was the main thing I associated with Godzilla (it was my first Godzilla film) and 1998 in general. I saw the movie a couple of times as a kid (and loved it) and had a couple of shirts (one that "roared" when pushing a button) and a few Zilla figures (still have them too!). But by 1999/2000 I'd already moved back to Jurassic Park, Star Wars, and Pokémon. I got back into the Godzilla franchise a couple of years ago and watching 98 again was pure nostalgia. I still enjoy it and think it's a good monster movie, it's just a "misfire" as a Godzilla film 🤷‍♂

[@ZombiesAteMyTestes]

My favorite movie growing up. This movie takes me back to my childhood. This was a good Godzilla movie or the best by far.

[@DraylianKaiju]

I remember seeing the movie at an early screening 2 days before its release and getting a lobby card that contained a film cell of "Zilla" (as he's been officially renamed by Toho) turning a street corner before his full reveal. Honestly, the movie should've been titled "Godzilla-is or a kind of Beast from 20,000 Fathoms"......it actually would been take more "seriously" lol

[@dirk8449]

Growing up a g-fan as a little kid and being 15 when THIS came out,I'm Still not over how bad this movie was. As an adult now tho, I am glad we finally made some decent godzilla movies.

[@jackhamilton9604]

Levin may have been right that the 98 film would put Godzilla back on the map, he was and still is wrong that Robert begins with a B

[@raymondtillotson6985]

Saw this on release as a teen. I was already a fan of the Big G, and while this new Godzilla was vastly different I still enjoyed it for what it was. Had no idea I was supposed to hate it until the internet told me so years later. Only made me like it more.

[@ChikinPluker]

I hated it when I saw it as a 8 year old and then my opinion has changed a bit over the years, I don’t hate it anymore accepting Zilla as a new Kaiju in the Godzilla universe. The movie is still only 5/10 to me at best

[@lebastion7812]

Your last sentence makes me think you are an idiot

[@raymondtillotson6985]

@@lebastion7812 One day you will look back at this portion of your life and sigh with the sad realization that you have squandered your precious time and energy on purposeless mean spiritedness and wasted vitriol, bringing others down when you could just as easily done something constructive, offered words of encouragement and otherwise have contributed to society in a positive, lasting manner. Until then, your a meanie poo-poo head.

[@kcadventures1454]

I was about 12 when all of this went down and I was so stoked for this film! It was the first time I was truly disappointed at the cinema. Thankfully years later Micheal Dougherty would make the Godzilla movie I had wanted since a child..Godzilla king of the monsters!

[@Godzillakuj94]

God I'm so glad my parents had bought me what few '98 merch they did. If I was older back then I would've definitely tried to snag that ultimate Godzilla figure.

[@superermac55]

Man as a kid i was obsessed with this movie. I remember the ad campaign, mostly the taco bell dog ad. As much as i say i dislike the movie now, i will admit, this is where my love of godzilla and kaijus began

[@SeparateWay]

Thank you for the very insightful video into this strange and almost forgotten Godzilla topic!

[@voronOsphere]

Another excellent documentary! Thanks, Paper Finz!

[@frankdux5785]

all the fottage u provided really brings me back. i was in high school and remember it was everywhere, what a great time. movie is def a guilty pleasure of mine.

[@obsidian179]

I was 16 when this movie came out. I remember being *so* excited to actually be able to see a Godzilla movie in theaters, since (barring 1985, when I was 3) that hadn’t happened in my lifetime. The ad campaign had definitely built my anticipation *waaaaayyyy* up, too. I drove the slightly over half an hour out to the closest theater showing it on opening day… and had the misfortune of walking past a toy store in the mall on my way to the theater itself, which had these odd-looking lizards featured prominently in the window. I made sure not to look at anything in the store closely as I went past, since I’d wanted to be surprised, but I had a distinctly bad feeling as I got to the theater to buy tickets. And sure enough, when the movie actually showed him in full, there was that stupid lizard, again. To be clear, I don’t think it’s a *bad* movie, per se. It isn’t *great* by any means, but it isn’t unwatchable, either. Unfortunately, they made the mistake of calling it “Godzilla”. We did get the animated series out of it, and the backlash did prompt Toho to bring Godzilla back out of his temporary retirement sooner than they’d originally planned (even releasing the first of the “Millennium” Godzilla movies in the states, so viewers of the ‘98 movie could see what he was *supposed* to be like), so I can’t really be too mad… but oh, man, was I disappointed that day.

[@vermis8344]

I remember driving into Belfast and seeing one of those 'his X is Xer than this X' billboards. The hype was _everywhere._ And now I'm looking back at these hints and teasers, it seems like, despite poking fun at Jurassic Park, they really relied on it. Even down to Zilla's design. Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Godzilla, and The Phantom Menace. The triple whammy over three consecutive years that made young me aware that filmmakers will shovel any old dross into movies and expect you to eat it up...

[@alamaru1]

I was very young but I remember going to toy stores with my family and seeing the merch and toys from this movie in bargain bins and at reduced prices. I ended up buying one of the baby Godzilla figures which I still have to this day.

[@fearoxfrank2568]

I remember this all Too Well, I was a young kid when this was happened, it was NUTZ, also bit of a Fun Fact: My dad and I got stuck in NYC Traffic in Late 97 and it turned out they were filming a few scenes for G98.

[@HydraSpectre1138]

If they showed the actual design for Godzilla and the film was released today, the film would get as much backlash as Ugly Sonic. Zilla is the Ugly Sonic of the Godzilla franchise, he was a heavily hated American redesign, until a parody in another film was made fun of (Ugly Sonic in Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers 2022; Zilla in Godzilla: Final Wars).

[@Trenzilla]

I was a kid during this whole marketing, but I wasn't living in the U.S at the time. I never got to see the ads on building and buses or any of the fast food ads until I saw them online. I didn't even know the movie got this level of hype until I found out online. I got to see tv spots here and there as they would play some U.S ads here and there. The first time I saw the design was during a toy ad they played(this was a few months after the movie had released). Family members from the states evenutally sent me some of the toys and the movie via VHS. I unforuntely only have one of those figures left now, but I did really love the toys a lot. I didn't really hate the movie, but was disappointed in Godzilla not doing Godzilla things, especially not doing his atomic breath and hated him dying at the end.

[@RodoChaska]

I was 10 years old when this movie came out, and I loved it, it was the first Godzilla movie I watched and it introduced me to Godzilla, now I think is a decent Kaiju movie but an atrocious Godzilla movie, but I appreciate it because it introduced me to the big G

[@tylerdamelondragon]

GODZILLA finna make me act up wit that badass marketing

[@Eyes-Scream0213]

Godzilla 98 is my 2nd introduction to Godzilla. When I was a kid my friend from the neighborhood have a Godzilla toy from Japan because her mother works their. He always lent me that Godzilla toy and I have watch the Godzilla vs. king Ghidorah movie on their house. So when Godzilla 98 came out I was totally wondering why Godzilla looks like that. I was amazed at first because its Godzilla but hated it because I already know how the true Godzilla looks like. But remembering all the TriStar and Sony doing for marketing is surely epic. I remmber goin on theaters with my parents and wanted to take pictures with the big Godzilla promotional stand on theaters hehe

[@oprf2k5]

I still remember seeing the NYE spot during a Conan O'brien New years special on NBC that night. Definitely got 11 year old me hyped!

[@DAngelProductions]

I was a kid in New York and you could not go anywhere without seeing full size ads in buses, buildings, it was insane!

[@SweetStevieAaron]

I live in the U.K. and remember the hype well. It actually had an unintended effect on me in that I had no desire to see the thing and knew it’d be nothing like the Japanese movies. I was 19 and just saw the marketing campaign as unbelievably tacky; especially the music videos (though I quite liked the songs tbf). Had Godzilla bore some resemblance to the original creation though, I may have shown more interest.

[@GenericProtagonist118]

I don't know if it's just my nostalgia goggles being so thick that they've literally fused to my skull but I honestly really love this movie. The characters aren't great but are still pretty fun and memorable in a way. The aesthetics and the soundtrack (not the album) were nice. And Godzilla himself despite being deservingly "in name only" isn't that bad if a design and in all honesty is a unique Kaiju. I was born 4 years after this movie came out and it's existence still lingered a bit even after it's dead hype. It's ingrained into my childhood firmly and despite it's glaring flaws is a personal favorite I occasionally watch now and again. Also without this movie I don't think the extremely strange but enjoyable fandom here wouldn't exist. Wether that's good or bad is up to you we all got different tastes man.

[@eddieblancher7557]

I went to go see it after my Kindergarten when I was 6 years ago. I collect some of the toys when I was little and I used to call it "Iguana Godzilla".

[@IronBeagle2003]

I’m a big Godzilla fan and in all honesty I love the 1998 movie. It’s what introduced me to the Toho films and got me interested the legacy of the character. But could you imagine what would happen if they revealed this Godzilla’s design today? We bullied an entire company to change the design of Sonic the Hedgehog but could you imagine?

[@searcher00211]

i was right there for opening day. I was so hyped for this movie. The design of Godzilla didn't bother me but the lack of atomic fire breath DID! I still collected a LOT of the related merch and toys. But Godzilla getting killed on a bridge by missiles was LAME. The follow up animated show did a better job.

[@Webhead731]

I had seen a few of the old movies in the 90s, and was excited for this one. Even as a kid I knew it was different and a reimagining. I really enjoy it still.

[@ksanbahlyngwa1998]

I was born later in 1998, I first saw this film in 2008. Didn't know about the real Godzilla back then, till 2014.

[@mkstoryland6151]

I never watched the film in theaters when it came out cuz I was a 2 year old child, so at the age of 5 or 6, my mother rented the movie at Blockbuster and we watched it in the living room. I didn't understand the movie pretty well because my learning disability was very severe back then, and thought that Zilla was some kind of giant demonic dinosaur. In like 2004, on the TV, I saw Godzilla vs Megaguirus for Godzilla's 50th anniversary and that's when I actually discovered godzilla for the "first" time. Until like 2011, I rediscovered the 1998 film and suddenly remembered that I watched this film as a kid, and I actually enjoyed it. After watching the film many times, I started buying the old merchandise on ebay and thrift stores. I don't care if anyone disliked this film, I'll still love it forever because it's been my very first Godzilla film to ever see.

[@excalibursaurusm5701]

The merch was cool though. I had a bunch of the action figures. I remember seeing the trailers as a kid and was super excited.

[@SchardtCinematic]

The Taco Bell dog Godzilla commercials are my biggest memory I have from 1998 and the hype for Star Wars episode 1

[@Megatonwhale]

Man, I was just the right age for this. The hype and all the Godzilla teasing put me in a frenzy for this film. I watched the teasers as often as I could, which, in a pre modern KZbin era, was tough but I ate it up. I loved the film too, granted, I was a sugar-fueled-hyped-up kid at the time, but I wrote a report about it for my school citing it as a masterpiece. I think because of this, I think of the film more fondly than most, but it was legit a "You had to be there" experience :)

[@chancecole437]

I was absolutely affected by this inaaaaane marketing push (Star Wars episode 1 too) they really just don’t do it like this anymore, maybe that’s for the best. That said, I have been a life long Godzilla fan ever since, and have no regrets. I actually just recently found and bought a Trendmasters Ultimate Godzilla, so this video was great timing.

[@pbfloyd13]

I feel like your opinion on this movie also depends on how old you are when it came out if you were under 18 when you went to see Godzilla 1998 you probably had a good time and loved it if you're over 18 you probably didn't... Kids and teenagers were expecting it a cool dinosaur / giant monster movie with lots of action and big name actors and they got what they wanted and they enjoyed it, adults were expecting a homage to the classic monster movies and Kaiju films and they didn't get it and were unimpressed.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

To be fair some kids and teens were already heavy into godzilla at the time and still didn't like the film, so far it would say it was 50/50 on kids/teens since any that weren't fans probably liked it meanwhile the ones that were most likely didn't. Meanwhile adults most definitely didn't like the movie.

[@ianbaker8017]

I was 2 years old when the movie was released and had no idea it existed until 2002 when I saw it for the first time. Regardless this campaign is both brilliant and silly. I like the idea of size comparisons but feel like hiding the design wasn’t the best move. Maybe it was a confidence thing but either way the movie is nostalgic and still very entertaining.

[@Nyctonaut]

I was born in 1990 and i remember all the hype. I absolutely LOVED the film when i saw it in theatres...but i wasnt exactly a film critic at 8, in fact i was so hyped up on soda and candy i just happy to see a pg-13 movie! I had never seen any other Godzilla films at that point, so i had no point of refrence until a few years later. I had that big Godzilla toy as well. Thought it was awesome. Anyways, thanks for covering this. Great episode!

[@pipoms]

I'm from Chile, for the time that the movie came out i was 3 years old (so maybe my memories are wrong) that being said, I'm sure that i saw an advertising of claw of Godzilla coming out of a big supermarket or a cinema maybe, but i mean like a huge 3d claw, that thing blew my mind. month later they changed it for part of a star wars ship I remember renting the VHS too

[@ricardodavis4730]

I feel that the last time we got to see advertising like this was the 2014 Godzilla movie. It was like a big event, a celebration of this beloved character. But after the film's release, the hype DRASTICALLY died down. Much like in 1998. History has repeated itself.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

Only difference is g98 got trashed on while g14 got positive reviews

[@Gunnumn]

You gotta understand being a 5 year old Godzilla fan at the time. I owned the heise era on vhs and watched them religiously. when the posters began appearing for Godzilla 98, i was on cloud 9. Then the toys. I had the Godzilla hand puppet and i used to bite the heads off my sisters barbie dolls for fun, obviously it upset my sister greatly. I have sentimental value for Godzilla 98, because of those times and i know its not a cinematic masterpiece, but i love it.

[@Rachel-ul3if]

When we first turned this on in my house I actually thought we where watching Jerasic park. They took a jewl and grinded it to dust.

[@diogoreina8892]

For my father this is still the godzilla he thinks about when someone talks anout the kaiju.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

Then he needs to watch REAL godzilla movie and not this

[@trevorstockwell8290]

If they didn't call it a Godzilla movie it would have been better received and it was a good monster movie

[@christianvalenzuela6734]

Godzilla 98 my all time favorite movie

[@Emmanuel-ms8pr]

I love the 1998 Godzilla film but they should have changed the name of Godzilla to zilla instead but still it’s my favorite Godzilla film I don’t care what the critics would say and also zilla deserves respect

[@DragonDino2122]

I always forget about the 1998 goji. Also first.

[@peterpiotrowski2245]

Ugg! I took a half a day at work. I didn't drive so I ended up walking to my nearest cinema to see this. Had my Godzilla vs King Ghidorah shirt on...I was ready for this! There was a Kay-Bee toy store next to the cinema. Tons of Toys and media. I mean TONS. They even had the infamous big Godzilla figure prominently displayed at the box office....shameful! After seeing this abomination (it played every hour) I was let down and a little angry at what Roland and Dean did to my Godzilla. I stopped at Taco Bell, got a cup and a holder and called it a day. Downtroddened I walked home on shame. I will confess I was a fan of the Hershey's chocolate eggs and I did like the Skybox cards, especially the original artwork cards. Sadly I am not a fan, even though I would like to be. That first viewing really soured me to this film. I am glad there weren't any sequels. Rant over!

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

Um.....you do realize this movie HAD an animated sequel with zilla Jr acting more like godzilla right?

[@SnorgYippee]

You're godzilla? Dawg you don't own it

[@RevengeOfMoctezuma]

I still have the Godzilla plushie with the vinyl head and arms.

[@TheJamesk01]

you forgot hardee's i remember as a 3 year old i got the godzilla pull flying thing with godzilla as the base i also still have my original godzilla toy that roared and moved his top half as it did so

[@Stonetemplepilot45]

I love the hell out of Godzilla '98, it's a solid creature feature and if it had a different name on the marquee, people would have looked back on the movie more fondly.

[@RiderNexus]

I think the movies that to me, had the same level of marketing push and hype were Spider-Man (2002) and Transformers (2007)

[@velociraptor4you3291]

I _definitely_ remember this ad campaign well (😊)! My mom (God Rest Her Soul) and I would go to Taco Bell on more than one occasion during '97 and '98, and I remember seeing "Godzilla 1998" plastered on the tie-in products. I remember seeing at least one of the theatrical trailers in the theater, the New Year's Eve TV spot, promos all around places like Kmart, and the like (surprisingly, I don't remember seeing any vehicles or billboards in _my_ old hometown, which was Pueblo, Colorado, sporting "Godzilla 1998" signage). Personally, even though I accept it's *not* a faithful adaptation of Godzilla. I still truly *love* the movie to this day (😊). When this film first came out, I honestly wasn't exposed to a lot of Godzilla at that time; I watched only two Toho films ("Mothra vs. Godzilla" and "Godzilla 1985") plus reruns of the old Hanna-Barbera 60s "Godzilla" cartoon series, but that was it. I was a _casual_ Godzilla fan then (and I still am today, though I have come to learn a lot more about Godzilla & Kaiju since then), which honestly got me into *this* flick more. Plus, the "Jurassic Park"-esque elements of the film left a big impression on me because, well, I'm a big "Jurassic" franchise fan (yes, that includes the "Jurassic World" trilogy as well).

[@dogzilla95]

i would totally have had some of the edys godzilla ice cream around if i was a fan back then.

[@Clay3613]

I never minded the plot of the movie, but most of the action and Godzillas design are really boring. A rare instance where the ads are cooler than the movie itself.

[@KingOfTheMonsters07]

Phantom Menace levels of Marketing

[@markmichel3855]

Ironically The monster verse movies haven’t made tons of money compared to other franchises but they have gotten lucky

[@davidmazur3623]

The New Year’s TV trailer was aired within 5 minutes of actual count down;and, yes, I was fooled, wondering why ALL my clocks were a little slow by the same amount; so, I was literally “blown away” when the tail smashed the Time Square Ball. You make a point of the trailers never showing the full Godzilla animal. I actually do not remember the full animal in the movie itself, other than the just hatched baby at the end.

[@vergil3687]

As a wise man once said "it's a great monster movie, but a terrible godzilla movie."

[@slycat128]

Yeah I agree. Canonically stated by characters in GMK, Zilla was just mistaken for Godzilla so when I remember that one scene, Godzilla 1998 is more enjoyable

[@wayned.ashford1704]

... still... despite all the negatives of the movie...how come it still made so much money in it's initial opening wknd ALONE?!? QUITE an actual achievement for such a disaster of a otherwise classic sf-horror character from the Land of the Rising Sun. Kudos.

[@YourLocalGummiBearsFan]

OMG GODZILLA X KFC CROSSOVER THAT FLIPPING SLAPS Sad it's Gone Now

[@evilcrashbandicootthetouho2753]

This actually the scariest Godzilla movie ever it's scary More than those monsters in Jurassic world

[@shiftctrlofficial1677]

Still love this movie to this day

[@fizz576]

To be honest I really like the design of the 98 godzilla I don't think it's a good adaptations of godzilla but it's a really cool design I think if it didn't have the godzilla name attached to it more kaiju fans would have liked it.