Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Movie, 1964, Showa era, Set in King Ghidorah arrives
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster is #5 of 35 in release order and #5 of 35 in chronological order in the Godzilla.
The story
After a meteorite unleashes a three-headed beast upon Tokyo, Mothra tries to unite with Godzilla and Rodan to battle the extraterrestrial threat.
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster recap
A meteor lands on Mount Kurodake, and Princess Salno of Selgina, flying to Japan with assassins after her, leaps from her plane moments before it explodes. She reappears in Tokyo as a prophetess claiming to come from Venus, warning of disasters. Detective Shindo, assigned to guard the princess, and his reporter sister Naoko take her in, while the assassin Malmess hunts her. Her warnings come true: Rodan rises from Mount Aso, Godzilla comes ashore, and the meteor cracks open to release King Ghidorah, the three-headed space dragon that she says destroyed life on Venus thousands of years ago. Godzilla and Rodan fight each other across Japan while Ghidorah burns cities. The Shobijin summon Mothra, still a larva, who tries to persuade Godzilla and Rodan to help; they refuse, saying humans have never helped them.
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster ending explained
Godzilla, Rodan and Mothra drive King Ghidorah back into space. Mothra goes to fight Ghidorah alone, which shames Godzilla and Rodan into joining her, and Mothra's silk and the other two's attacks send the dragon fleeing. Malmess falls to his death, and Salno recovers her memory, forgetting her time as the prophetess. Godzilla begins its turn from villain to defender, and Ghidorah returns in Invasion of Astro-Monster.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster is streaming on HBO Max and Amazon MX Player in the US. You can rent or buy it on Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Ratings
IMDb 6.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 77%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Mothra vs. Godzilla, before Invasion of Astro-Monster.
- Chronological order: after Mothra vs. Godzilla, before Invasion of Astro-Monster.
What to watch before Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
In release order, the essentials before Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964) are Godzilla (1954), Godzilla Raids Again (1955), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), and Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964).
Cast
- Yōsuke Natsuki as Detective Shindo
- Yuriko Hoshi as Naoko Shindo
- Hiroshi Koizumi as Professor Murai
- Takashi Shimura as Dr. Tsukamoto
- Emi Ito as Shobijin
- Yumi Ito as Shobijin
- Akiko Wakabayashi as Princess Maas Doulina Salno of Selgina
- Hisaya Ito as Chief Assassin Malmess
- Akihiko Hirata as Chief Detective Okita
- Minoru Takada as Prime Minister
- Someshō Matsumoto as Alien Expert
- Ikio Sawamura as Honest Fisherman
Directed by Ishirō Honda.