Godzilla B.C. is an American Epic Monster film directed by Michael Dougherty. A "Ray Harryhausen-Esque" prequel to the other films and series, the film is the
sixth installment of the MonsterVerse and the 44th film in the Godzilla franchise. The film exploits how Godzilla's Species and the other giant monsters, called Titans, fought King Ghidorah before and during the Cretacous-Paleogene Extinction Event.
Director Michael Dougherty and writer Max Borenstein expressed interest in a Godzilla film with no humans since the release of Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019). Due to the success of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023-), the film was greenlit and was written by Borenstein, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and was filmed throughout mid to late 2025.
Godzilla B.C. was theatrically released on June 9, 2026 to critical acclaim, with praise for it's focus on monsters instead of humans, who don's appear in the film expect for narration by Bryan Cranston in the opening. The film also received praise for it's "60's to 70's style" marketing, music, cinematography, editing and tone. The film was a box office success, grossing $500 million at the end of it's theatrical run, against it's $250 million budget and a break-even point of $400 million. The film received several nominations at the 98th Academy Awards, as well as several other nominations.
Plot[]
A narrator opens the film by acknowledging the history of life on Earth and the Titans, prehistoric giants who have ruled, and may always rule the planet. During the Great Dying, a pack of Godzillas flee the ensuing chaos by entering the Hollow Earth, showing their survival instincts. A female Godzilla of the pack, Rozan, finds a nest and lays eggs.
In the Cretaceous Period of North America, Godzillas of the pack are led by Alpha Ultima, mate of Rozan, and their cubs. Spring had just begun, as swarms of MUTOs begin to migrate, starting a seasonal hunt. The pack successfully hunt down a male MUTO and return to the nest to share it. However, an Anguirus steals it, and Ultima fights it. The two titans battle in equal strength, but luckily Ultima wins back the dead MUTO. As Ultima and the other Godzillas enjoy their food, Ultima senses something.
Upon entering the Hollow Earth, Ultima spots another pack of Godzillas. Upon further investigation across the Hollow Earth, Ultima finally senses a disturbance.
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Cast[]
- T.J. Storm
- Jason Liles
- Alan Maxon
- Richard Dorton
- Terry Notary
- Eric Petey
- Andy Serkis
- Vincent Roxburgh
Titans and Superspecies[]
- Godzilla (Species)
- King Ghidorah
- Mothra (Species)
- Anguirus
- Rodan (Species)
- Megaguirus
- Baragon
- Desghidorah
- Fairy Mothra
- MUTO (Species)
- Gorosaurus
- Tiamat
- Shimo
- Tyrannosaurus Rex
- Triceratops
- Hollow Earth Lizard
- Dakotaraptor
- Ankylosaurus
- Edmontosaurus
- Pachycephalosaurus
- Quetzalcoatlus
- Leafwings
- Rock Critter
- Mosasaurus
- Meganulon
- Meganula
- Ornithominus
- Warbats
- Alamosaurus
- Anzu
- Struthiomimus
- Parasaurolophus
- Pachyrhinosaurus
- Dimetrodon
- Scutosaurus
- Genitor
- Death Jackal
- Hellhawk
- Snarehunter
- Ion Dragon
Production[]
Influences[]
Major influences for the film include One Million Years B.C. (1966), Primal, Godzilla: Rage Across Time, The Walking With... Series, 300, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970), Age of Reptiles, The Films of Akira Kurosawa, Fantasia's Rite of Spring and The Bear (1988).
Development[]
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Director Michael Dougherty first thought of Godzilla B.C. in 2019 after releasing Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
In 2019, Michael Dougherty thought of making a Godzilla prequel movie where it only focuses on the Monsters rather than human characters. He called this idea "Godzilla B.C.," which would be the final title of the film.
In August 2021, Max Borenstein said in an interview with Slashfilm about Dougherty's idea. "I do think it could be done. I was thinking about the same thing. I think it would be amazing, actually. Given the success of Godzilla vs. Kong, I'm kind of hoping in whatever the next phase Legendary decides to do that we would like to see that. I think it'd be pretty cool. I think it is possible. It would be ambitious. I think ambitious in that Mad Max: Fury Road way. I think it's possible to do that with the absolute minimum amount of human characters and really characterize the creatures. The idea received mixed reactions from fans, both positive and negative.
In March 2024, the film was announced, as well as Godzilla and Kong: Changing Nature (which would be released mere months later after this film), Godzilla: Resurrection (2027) and all of the second Phase of the MonsterVerse, called Gods and Monsters Assemble. In May 2024, Dougherty was announced as the director of Godzilla B.C. as well as the synopsis of the film, and Dougherty confirming that it won't have a human cast, stating that the idea he had is finally coming true. Director of Godzilla (2014) called this move away from the human characters "risky but possible." Godzilla Minus One (2023) director Takashi Yamazaki also called it risky, but Shinji Higuchi called it an "amazing idea that could show beauty, special effects and Monsters without the need to just put in human leads," and also said "it is a genius change of scenery."
Writing[]
In July 2024, it was announced that Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio and Max Borenstein would all write the film. Borenstein stating, "It is a pleasure to finally write this ambitious story with Godzilla and some old faces in a time before we even existed."
Filming[]
Lake Ashi in Hakone was one of the filming locations of Godzilla B.C.
Principal photography began on May 25, 2025, near Stewart, British Columbia, under the working title "Titans B.C." Cinematographer Larry Fong called it "a very beautiful first day. No clouds at all, just very beautiful and blue skies, the sun was beating down on all of us. It was hot, but we had water thankfully." Filming also occurred around Calgary, Alberta on May 26, 2025. Early June 2025 saw filming take place in Village Roadshow Studios, Iceland and the Dolomites in Italy. Scenes in the Hollow Earth were filmed in Manoa Falls in Australia in mid June. On June 19, 2025, one of the many battles of the film was filmed in Lake Ashi, as well as second and third units filming in Mount Hakone and Iceland.
Primary filming locations from late June to mid July include Hakone, Yellowstone National Park, Thermopylae, Western Norway, Canyon de Chelly National Monument and Pinewood Studios. Filming officially concluded in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico on July 22, 2025. Michael Dougherty said about the film's principal photography, "It was awesome, it was like filming a nature documentary about Godzilla and the Titans. It will be very beautiful to see once the film finally drops June of next year."
Post-production[]
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Music[]
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Release[]
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Reception[]
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