Invasion of Astro-Monster
Movie, 1965, Showa era, Set in Planet X
Invasion of Astro-Monster is #6 of 35 in release order and #6 of 35 in chronological order in the Godzilla.
The story
Astronauts Glenn and Fuji investigate Planet X and encounter mysterious aliens known as the Xiliens, who ask Earth's people to help save their world from "Monster Zero". In exchange for borrowing Godzilla and Rodan, the Xiliens offer a cure for cancer. As Glenn investigates, he develops a romance with Miss Namikawa and uncovers the Xilien's true intentions.
Invasion of Astro-Monster recap
Astronauts Fuji and Glenn discover Planet X behind Jupiter and meet the Xiliens, who live underground because King Ghidorah, which they call Monster Zero, ravages their surface. The Xiliens ask Earth to lend them Godzilla and Rodan to drive it away, offering a cure for every disease in return. Earth agrees, the Xiliens carry the two sleeping monsters into space, and Godzilla and Rodan defeat Ghidorah. Back on Earth, Fuji's sister Haruno is dating Tetsuo, an inventor whose personal alarm makes a piercing noise, and Glenn is dating Miss Namikawa, who turns out to be a Xilien agent. The promised tape is played, and it is an ultimatum: the Xiliens now control Godzilla, Rodan and Ghidorah and will destroy Earth unless it surrenders.
Invasion of Astro-Monster ending explained
Earth breaks the Xiliens' mind control with the sound of Tetsuo's alarm, and the invaders destroy themselves. Namikawa, who has fallen for Glenn, is executed but slips him a note about the sound, and Glenn and Tetsuo escape to help broadcast it. Freed, Godzilla and Rodan fight Ghidorah and all three fall off a cliff into the sea; Ghidorah flies off, and Godzilla and Rodan are believed to have survived.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Invasion of Astro-Monster
Invasion of Astro-Monster is streaming on Shout! Factory TV, YouTube (free), HBO Max, and Tubi in the US. You can rent or buy it on Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Ratings
IMDb 6.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes 50%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, before Ebirah, Horror of the Deep.
- Chronological order: after Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, before Ebirah, Horror of the Deep.
What to watch before Invasion of Astro-Monster
In release order, the essentials before Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965) are Godzilla (1954), Godzilla Raids Again (1955), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), and Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964).
Cast
- Akira Takarada as Astronaut Kazuo Fuji
- Nick Adams as Astronaut F. Glenn
- Kumi Mizuno as Miss Namikawa
- Keiko Sawai as Haruno Fuji
- Jun Tazaki as Dr. Sakurai
- Yoshio Tsuchiya as Controller of Planet X
- Akira Kubo as Tetsuo Torii
- Takamaru Sasaki as Chairman of Earth Committee
- Fuyuki Murakami as Medical Representative
- Yoshibumi Tajima as Mobile Commander
- Kenzō Tabu as President of World Education Corporation (Xilien)
- Noriko Sengoku as Delegate
Directed by Ishirō Honda.