All The Cities Destroyed By Godzilla
Godzilla is one destructive creature. Over the course of 28 Japanese films and four American films, the monster (and the other kaiju that have appeared in the franchise) has nearly destroyed 19 cities in addition to fighting in space and underwater. Whether it's intentional or not—sometimes Godzilla is nearly protecting us from alien creatures bent on destroying Earth—cities fall under the brute strength, physical size and eternal frustration of the mutated amphibian.
In the new film, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen and Ken Watanabe, the creature expands his destruction count by rampaging Honolulu, Las Vegas and San Francisco. All three cities are a far cry from Tokyo, a city that has been destroyed more times than an other location in the long-running franchise. In a handy little guide to destruction, VH1 has compiled a complete list of cities destroyed by the monsters.
Tokyo
The capital of Japan has served as the site of destruction a number of times since the monster first appeared on the big screen in 1954. Since then it's fallen under the rampage of King Kong, King Ghidorah and a countless number of creatures. But somehow, the city miraculously rebuilt itself just in time for the next installment of the Godzilla franchise.
Appearances: Godzilla (1954), Godzilla, King of the Monters! (1956), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), The Return of Godzilla (1984), Godzilla 1985 (1985), Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995), Godzilla 2000 (1999), Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000), Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003), Godzilla: The Final Wars (2004)
New York City
Not surprisingly, New York City is the second most attacked city of the Godzilla franchise. In three movies, the city was laid wasted by Godzilla as well as Rodan—a mutated pterosaur initially believed to be in the 2014 installment.
Appearances: Destroy All Monsters (1968), Godzilla (1998), Godzilla: The Final Wars (2004)
Osaka
Japan's commercial center—and home to the headquarters of companies like Panasonic and Sharp—got a serious bruising when it served as a location for a fight between Godzilla and Anguirus in Godzilla Raids Again.
Appearances: Godzilla Raids Again (1955), Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)
Paris
Paris, France has only been destroyed in two brief appearances when all the kaiju of the Godzilla franchise raid cities throughout the world.
Appearances: Destroy All Monsters (1968), Godzilla: The Final Wars (2004)
Other cities with single appearances:
Beijing -- Destroy All Monsters (1968)
Faro Island -- King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
Fukuoka -- Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)
Hakone -- Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)
Hong Kong -- Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995)
Honolulu -- Godzilla (2014)
Kyoto -- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)
Las Vegas -- Godzilla (2014)
London -- Destroy All Monsters (1968)
Moscow -- Destroy All Monsters (1968)
Nagoya -- Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
Okinawa -- Godzilla: The Final Wars (2004)
San Francisco
The California city is the new home of destruction for Godzilla and two new kaiju in the 2014 film. The city is the setting of the third act of the film—getting truly ripped apart for the first time since the 1936 earthquake film.
Appearance: Godzilla (2014)
Shanghai -- Godzilla: The Final Wars (2004)
Sydney -- Godzilla: The Final Wars (2004)