Latest news with #ShinGodzilla
Geek Tyrant
4 days ago
- Business
- Geek Tyrant
GKIDS Is Bringing SHIN GODZILLA Back to Theaters in Glorious 4K; Watch the Trailer! — GeekTyrant
If you missed seeing Shin Godzilla on the big screen back in 2016, this summer just gave you a second chance, and it's bigger, sharper, and louder than ever. I also included a trailer for you to watch below. GKIDS has officially acquired the North American distribution rights to Shin Godzilla , the acclaimed Japanese reboot directed by Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno and Shin Ultraman director Shinji Higuchi. The distributor will be unleashing the film in U.S. theaters on August 14th, complete with its original Japanese audio, restored text cards, and for the first time in North America, a 4K remaster. A home release is also on the way. GKIDS President David Jesteadt had this to say about the announcement: 'With an incredibly timely story of people struggling to work together to stop imminent destruction, backed by some of the most explosive action scenes the franchise has ever seen, Shin Godzilla is a modern masterpiece. We are honored to play a part in bringing the film back for American fans, better than ever.' This marks GKIDS' first venture into the Godzilla universe since Toho's acquisition of the franchise in 2024. It also continues the studio's commitment to spotlighting essential Japanese cinema, following their nationwide theatrical rollout of Hideaki Anno's Love and Pop earlier this year. Shin Godzilla is a political thriller, a disaster film, and a bold reinvention of the Godzilla mythos. The movie follows the Japanese government as it scrambles to respond to a nightmarish creature's sudden emergence in Tokyo. As the beast evolves with each new form, so too does the crisis, escalating into a full-blown bureaucratic and existential nightmare. And then... the U.S. arrives, with a folder marked only: Godzilla. I loved this movie, so if you've never seen it, it's definitely one worth watching! The movie went on to become a legitimate phenomenon in Japan. Toho's Chief Godzilla Officer, Keiji Ota, shared: 'Shin Godzilla marked the first Japanese-produced Godzilla film since the release of Godzilla Final Wars in 2004. Upon its release, it became a social phenomenon in Japan, playing a pivotal role in reviving the Godzilla franchise after a 12-year hiatus, and we're thrilled to bring this landmark film back to the big screen in North America. 'For some, this will be their first time experiencing it — and there's no better way to feel the overwhelming presence, power, and terror of Godzilla than in a theater. Enjoy the film!' Shin Godzilla went on to gross $79 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese-produced entry in the franchise, a title it held until 2023's Godzilla Minus One took the throne. The film was also a critical hit, landing 11 Japan Academy Prize nominations and winning seven, including Picture and Director of the Year. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this re-release is the perfect opportunity to (re)experience a truly wild, fun, intelligent, and visceral take on one of cinema's most iconic monsters.
Hypebeast
5 days ago
- Business
- Hypebeast
'Shin Godzilla' Is Receiving a North American 4K Remastered Theatrical Re-Release
Summary Shin Godzillais returning to North American theaters for a 4K remastered re-release. Varietyreports that Gkids acquired the North American distribution rights to Hideaki Anno's 2016 Godzillais now slated to hit the big screen in its 4K glory, complete with its original Japanese language, subtitles and restored text cards. This will mark the first release of aGodzillatitle since Toho acquired Gkids last year. Gkids President David Jesteadt said, 'With an incredibly timely story of people struggling to work together to stop imminent destruction, backed by some of the most explosive action scenes the franchise has ever seen, 'Shin Godzilla' is a modern masterpiece. We are honored to play a part in bringing the film back for American fans, better than ever.' ''Shin Godzilla' marked the first Japanese-produced Godzilla film since the release of 'Godzilla Final Wars' in 2004,' Keiji Ota, Toho's chief Godzilla officer, added. 'Upon its release, it became a social phenomenon in Japan, playing a pivotal role in reviving the Godzilla franchise after a 12-year hiatus, and we're thrilled to bring this landmark film back to the big screen in North America.' Ota continued, 'For some, this will be their first time experiencing it — and there's no better way to feel the overwhelming presence, power, and terror of Godzilla than in a theater. Enjoy the film!' Shin Godzillagrossed $79 million USD worldwide. It was once the highest-grossing Japanese-producedGodzillatitle, but was overthrown byGodzilla Minus Onein 2023. Shin Godzillahits North American theaters on August 14.
Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
‘Shin Godzilla' Is Getting the Re-Release It Deserves
When Shin Godzilla hit US shores back in 2016, its home releases were a bit of a mess—especially after it exited theaters in what was, before the release of Godzilla Minus One at least, a historic run for the franchise. But, almost a decade later, the film is now stomping back to theaters… and beyond that, finally getting the home release scenario it deserved in the first place. As revealed by Variety today, GKids has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Shin Godzilla (which had previously been owned by Funimation, who released the film back in 2016 as the first Japanese Godzilla film to hit US theaters since Godzilla 2000). GKids will release a new 4K version of Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno's modernized spin on the kaiju icon in theaters starting August 14, but crucially the studio will also be releasing a new, UHD home release of the film in 4K, the first time the film will have been made available in the format in the U.S. Something has surfaced in Tokyo Bay. Newly remastered in 4K, SHIN GODZILLA from directors Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi returns to North American theatres starting August — GKIDS Films (@GKIDSfilms) June 2, 2025 Beyond the remastering, the new home release will also restore the stylized text cards that were removed in subtitled versions of Shin Godzilla's previous U.S. home release. Part of the film's commentary on the administrative absurdity of Japanese governmental bureaucracy, giving officials and projects overtly long and formalized titles, the theatrical release displayed the text captions in a stylized manner alongside the original Japanese, but home releases instead ran a clean version of the film removing them, replacing the titles with default subtitling. Sure, the commentary still came across, but it just didn't look anywhere near as good, and arguably made for an even worse subtitling experience. But after the runaway success of Godzilla Minus One in 2023, it's good to see Toho and GKids capitalizing to do justice to another entry in the Godzilla saga that remains just as timely as it did a decade ago. Shin Godzilla will return to American theaters from August 14, with the new 4K home release set to follow at a later date.
The Mainichi
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
A new Netflix film features a hurtling Japanese bullet train with a ticking bomb
TOKYO (AP) -- The highspeed bullet train says Japan as much as Godzilla, sushi and Mount Fuji. And it takes center stage in Shinji Higuchi's new film, "Bullet Train Explosion," which premieres on Netflix Wednesday. Higuchi, the director of the 2016 "Shin Godzilla" (or "New Godzilla,") has reimagined the 1975 Japanese film "The Bullet Train," which has the same premise: A bomb will go off if the train slows down below 100 kph (62 mph.) That original movie also inspired Hollywood's "Speed," starring Keanu Reeves, which takes place mostly on a bus. Higuchi recalls being fascinated by the aerodynamically shaped bullet trains growing up as they roared by, almost like a violent animal. To him, as with many Japanese, the Shinkansen -- as the trains are called in Japan -- symbolize the nation's efforts to become "top-rate," superfast, precise, orderly and on time. "It's so characteristically Japanese," Higuchi said in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday. "To complete your work, even if it means sacrificing your personal life, is like a samurai spirit living within all Japanese." The film's realism was achieved by a smooth combination of computer graphics and miniature train models, built to one-sixth the size of the real thing. A huge LED wall was used on the set to project visuals of passing landscapes as seen from the train window, and those shots were juxtaposed seamlessly with footage shot on a real train. The explosions are strangely exhilarating, and beautifully depicted with scattering sparks and smoke. Higuchi stressed that the filmmakers were careful to make sure the criminal act, as depicted, is not physically possible today. He said "Bullet Train Explosion" marked a challenging departure from his past movies that were about heroes and monsters. "I examined the question of evil, and how we pass judgment on a person," he said. "That's what my predecessors did as directors before me: Try to show what happens if you commit evil," he added. "And I tried to give my answer." One departure from the original, which starred the late Ken Takakura as the bomber, is that Higuchi chose to focus on the train workers. Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, formerly a member of boys' band Smap who portrayed a transgender woman in Eiji Uchida's "Midnight Swan," is convincing as a dedicated Shinkansen worker. "I always have fun working with the director," Kusanagi said of Higuchi at a Tokyo premiere earlier this week. "I've loved him for 20 years." Kusanagi starred in "Sinking of Japan," Higuchi's 2006 science-fiction thriller about a natural catastrophe that threatens Japan's very existence. East Japan Railway Co., formed after the national railway was privatized, which operates the bullet train featured in Higuchi's reboot, gave full support to the film. It allowed the use of real trains, railway facilities and uniforms, as well as helping train the actors to simulate its workers and their mannerisms. The bullet trains have long been a symbol of Japan's blossoming as a modern economy and peaceful culture in the decades following World War II. The first leg, connecting Tokyo with Osaka, opened with much fanfare in 1964. The system now connects much of Japan, from the northernmost main island of Hokkaido through southwestern Kyushu. The train featured in Higuchi's work connects Tokyo with northern Aomori.
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Bullet Train Explosion director Shinji Higuchi on examining evil in the Netflix movie
The high-speed bullet train says Japan as much as Godzilla, sushi and Mount Fuji. And it takes centre stage in Shinji Higuchi's new film Bullet Train Explosion, which premiered on Netflix this week. Advertisement Higuchi, the director of the 2016 film Shin Godzilla , has reimagined the 1975 Japanese film The Bullet Train, which has the same premise: a bomb will go off if the train slows to below 100km/h (62mph). That movie also inspired Hollywood's Speed, starring Keanu Reeves , which takes place mostly on a bus. Higuchi recalls being fascinated by the aerodynamically shaped bullet trains growing up as they roared by, almost like a violent animal. To him, as to many Japanese, the Shinkansen – as the trains are called in Japan – symbolise the nation's efforts to become 'top-rate', superfast, precise, orderly and on time. 'It's so characteristically Japanese,' Higuchi says. 'To complete your work, even if it means sacrificing your personal life, is like a samurai spirit living within all Japanese.'
