- After gaining international critical and commercial success quickly after release, Godzilla Minus One has now made a rare turn to South African cinemas.
- Nu Metro has been showing the foreign language film since 15th December, quickly followed by Ster Kinekor.
- Godzilla Minus One is now available in cinemas across six different provinces in South Africa.
Everyone’s favourite nuclear war metaphor has had a resurgence in the last few years, thanks to efforts from both the US with Legendary Studios and in Japan with originator Toho. The latest film in the Godzilla mythos is Godzilla Minus One, another retelling of the first kaiju attacking the isles of Japan.
Unlike the upcoming giant monster team up Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, Godzilla Minus One takes the kaiju film back to its roots. An unstoppable monster attacks recently post-war Japan, and powerless humans must now survive in its wake. Godzilla here takes the role of both a natural disaster, and of an allegory for the horrors of war.
The last Toho Godzilla flick was the critically revered Shin Godzilla, from the creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Hideaki Anno. Despite rave reviews, the film wasn’t a notable commercial success outside of Japan but far from a box office bomb, racking up $78 million internationally. Godzilla Minus One, however, helmed by blockbuster director Takashi Yamazaki, has already made headlines for its success outside of the giant lizard’s home nation.
In the US alone, Godzilla Minus One has now racked up more than $30 million according to Variety, a surprise coup for a foreign film entirely in Japanese with subtitles. It also doesn’t hurt that it is being lauded as one of the very best films of the year, with Academy Award-winning director and turbo nerd Guillermo del Toro calling it a “miracle.”
Local interest has also been significant, so much so that while late to the plate, both Ster Kinekor and Nu Metro are showing Godzilla Minus One at select theatres from 15th December 2023. However, you will have to be living in or near one of South Africa’s three largest cities to check it out at Ster Kinekor. Nu Metro, however, has a wider reach.
Here are all the places where you can watch Godzilla Minus One in South Africa:
Ster Kinekor:
Gauteng –
- Brooklyn Commercial,
- Eastgate,
- The Zone @ Rosebank.
KwaZulu-Natal –
- Gateway Commercial.
Western Cape –
- Cavendish,
- Tygervalley.
Nu Metro:
Gauteng –
- Bedford,
- Clearwater,
- The Glen,
- Hyde Park,
- Menlyn Park,
- Emperor’s Palace,
- Woodlands,
- Westgate.
Free State –
- Loch Logan,
- The Strip.
KwaZulu-Natal –
- The Pavillion,
- Galleria,
- Ballito Junction,
- Cornubia.
Western Cape –
- Canal Walk,
- Mountain Hill,
Eastern Cape –
- Boardwalk.
Limpopo –
- Masingita Mall.
Unfortunately, the film is only available in 2D via both companies. We would have liked to see an IMAX experience brought over, but beggars can’t be choosers. It’s surprising the Japanese film made it to South Africa.
Godzilla Minus One is rated 13, and tickets go from R100 to R185 per seat.
