Godzilla vs Megalon Celebrates 50 Years

On March 17, 1973, “Godzilla vs Megalon” was released in Japan. This Showa era cult classic introduced two of the Godzilla franchise’s most iconic characters–the villain Megalon and new hero Jet Jaguar. The film also marked the second appearance of Gigan, first introduced one year prior in “Godzilla vs Gigan,” as it joined Megalon to protect the underwater population known as the Seatopians. One of Earth’s most colossal tag team matchups followed and provided fans with some of their favorite battle scenes in Godzilla history. Not to mention the biggest handshake ever recorded… 

In 1976, three years after its original debut, “Godzilla vs Megalon” was released in the United States and promoted in some unique ways. This included a four-page comic book that called the characters Gigan and Jet Jaguar “Borodan” and “Robotman,” as well as a poster that pit Godzilla and Megalon against each other on top of the World Trade Center. The movie was also heavily edited down and shown on primetime television, hosted by the late John Belushi wearing a Godzilla costume.

Today, you can still find new merchandise based on the film, including the ReAction Jet Jaguar figure from Super7.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of the film or gearing up for your first viewing, the 50th anniversary is the perfect time to experience “Godzilla vs Megalon,” available on HBOMax, The Criterion Channel, or Tubi.