Godzilla Minus Oneis now an Oscar-winning film. It became the first film in the long-running franchise to be nominated and win an Academy Award. It certainly is a significant achievement for a franchise mocked for its cheap visual effects for years to win the prestigious award for the category. It was the Cinderella story of the year.
That extended to the film’s box office, asGodzilla Minus Onewas both a hit in Japan and the North American box office. Despite a smaller release in the United States in the often barren post-Thanksgiving weekend,Godzilla Minus Onebecame a sleeper hit and grossed $107 million at the worldwide box office. Themovie broke records, making more in the United States than Japan.
Despite an impressive box office track record, glowing reviews across the board, and now an Academy Award, many people cannot actually watchGodzilla Minus Oneafter it left theaters. The film is unavailable for streaming, and no home video release date has been set. Why can’t you watchGodzilla Minus One? It might have to do with an upcomingGodzillafilm.
Godzilla Minus One Has a Home Video Release for Japan (But Nowhere Else)
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On Aug 19, 2025, just six days beforeGodzilla Minus Onewon its Oscar, it was confirmed that the movie would be getting a home video release in Japan on August 02, 2025. The movie will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray, regular Blu-ray and DVD. The Ultra HD Blu-ray will feature both the original film and the black-and-white version that had a limited release in theaters.Godzilla Minus Oneis set for a home video release in the United States, but notably, no date was given.
In addition, no streaming release date has been confirmed. Most, if not all, of the majorAcademy Award-nominated filmswere available to stream before the telecast. EvenAnatomy of a Fall, which won Best Original Screenplay, will be available to stream on Hulu on Jul 25, 2025, and it was announced before the ceremony. There has been no official streaming or PVOD release date forGodzilla Minus One,and now, days after its Oscar win, there is no news.
Godzilla Minus One Ending, Explained
Let’s break down the ending and ultimate meaning of the giant lizard’s newest film, Godzilla Minus One.
Fans of the movie certainly would want to watch it again, and moviegoers stunned by the Academy Awards are likely more curious to check out the Godzilla movie that finally won an Oscar. Why is it not available? It might be due to original Godzilla rights holders Toho and American production company Legendary Pictures, the company behind the shared cinematic universe The MonsterVerse.
It Might Have to Do With Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse
Many film fans know the complicated web that is the film rights ofSpider-Manshared between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures, butGodzillaalso has an equally interesting and confusing one. In 2010, Legendary Pictures announced they were making a new Godzilla movie and struck a deal with Toho, the rights holders toGodzilla.
At the time, Toho had no interest in making another Godzilla film following the disappointing box office ofGodzilla Final Warsin 2004, which was released to celebrate the franchise’s 50th anniversary. Legendary, meanwhile, had big plans, as they wanted to make an entire shared universe. In 2015, they gained the film rights to King Kong and began developing plans to have the twolegendary titans face offonce more as they did inKing Kong vs. Godzilla.
Legendary licenses out Godzilla characters and characters from that franchise. Full details have never been made clear, but Legendary does not have the rights to all the characters in the Godzilla franchise and has to get permission from Toho.Godzillawas released in 2014 for the 60th anniversary, but he had to fight an original monster for his first film as Legendary did not have the rights to any other kaiju from the Godzilla franchise. For the sequel, Toho allowed Legendary to use Motha, Rodan, and King Ghidorah.
The original contract expired in 2021 following the release ofGodzilla vs. Kong. Many thought it would be the final film in the MonsterVerse, as the box office disappointment ofGodzilla: King of the Monstersmay have caused Legendary Pictures to lose interest in the brand. Meanwhile, Toho found tremendous critical and commercial success with the2016 filmShin Godzilla.
FollowingGodzilla vs. Kong’s impressive COVID-19 box office, Legendary and Toho renewed their deal, leading toGodzilla X Kong: The New Empireand the Apple TV seriesMonarch: Legacy of Monsters. Notably, the series and possibly the upcoming film use original titans created by Legendary as opposed to classic Godzilla villains.
Godzilla Minus One Is the Perfect Oppenheimer Double Feature
Viewing these two films side by side will certainly highlight the unspoken dialogue between Nolan’s historical biopic and Yamazaki’s Godzilla renewal.
Toho retains the ability to make its ownGodzillamovies but with the reported limitation of not releasing them in the same year as a Legendary production. This might explain whyGodzilla Minus Onewas given a November 2023 release date in Japan with a December 2023 release in the United States, as it allowed Toho to release their ownGodzillafilm ahead of the franchise’s 70th anniversary and not step on the toes ofGodzilla X Kong: The New Empire.
DespiteGodzilla Minus Onebeing a sleeper hit and likely could have benefited from a post-Oscar nomination bump, the movie was quickly pulled from theaters on Jun 15, 2025. The movie was still in the top 10 when it was pulled from theaters and was likely done so as not to interfere with the upcoming release ofGodzilla X Kong: The New Empire. While no explanation was given, it is rare for a movie that is still making money to leave theaters while in the top 10. Limited-release movies get pulled from theaters, butGodzilla Minus Onehadalreadyextended its theatrical releasebecause of high demand, so why did it leave that week specifically? Two weeks later, a new trailer forGodzilla X Kong: The New Empirewas set for release, and the marketing for that film would be in full swing.
To keep attention onGodzilla X Kong: The New Empire, there might be a hold on whenGodzilla Minus Onecan arrive on home video so as not to draw audiences away from seeing the new film in theaters. Both Legendary and Toho don’t want the two different versions of Godzilla competing with one another.
When Godzilla Minus One Could Be Available for Streaming (And Where)
Currently, there is no release date in the United States forGodzilla Minus Onefor PVOD, streaming, or home video release. It is safe to know that it will be afterGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which will open in theaters on Jul 12, 2025. Fans certainly would like a day and date release date with its Japanese release on May 1, which is entirely possible if not a bit unprofitable.Godzilla Minus Onemight not arrive on home video until afterGodzilla x Kong: The New Empiredoes, which will likely be in early May in the summer season. It seems almost certain that the film will arrive on streaming and home video sometime in 2024 to capitalize onGodzilla’s 70th anniversary.
As for where it will be streaming, with its recent Oscar win, there is a chance many different streaming services will bid to have the movie play on their platform. Max currently has the Shōwa era (1954 through 1975)Godzillafilms as part of theirCriterion Collection dealin addition to the MonsterVerse films. Crunchy Roll currently has 2016Shin Godzilla, while AppleTV+ hasMonarch: Legacy of Monsters. Netflix, Peacock, and Paramount+ could be streamers that could gain the rights toGodzilla Minus One, and only time will tell.
That does mean thatGodzilla Minus Onefans will have to wait a little longer until they can rewatch the film. It is a long wait, one similar to the six months fans used to wait for a film’s home video release. When it finally does arrive on streaming and hits video shelves, don’t be surprised to see anotherGodzilla Minus Oneboom, as more people will be given the chance to see it and likely be captivated by it the same way film audiences did at the end of 2023.
Between the release ofGodzilla X Kong: The New Empireand theGodzilla Minus OneOscar win, Godzilla’s 70th anniversary looks to be a good year for the King of the Monsters and shows that his best days are far from behind him.Godzilla x Kong: The New Empirewill head to theaters on Aug 09, 2025.
