Godzilla Minus One is a Japanese kaiju film directed, written, and with visual effects supervised by Takashi Yamazaki. Produced by Toho, it was released in Japan on November 3, 2023, and opened in U.S. theaters on December 1, 2023, distributed by Toho International.
Set in postwar Japan, already devastated and stripped of nearly everything by defeat, the film follows a country pushed further into the “minus” when Godzilla — portrayed here as a genuinely terrifying, overwhelming force rather than a familiar hero — emerges as a new, colossal threat.
Quick Facts
| Title | Godzilla Minus One |
| Composer | Naoki Satō |
| Director | Takashi Yamazaki |
| Genre | Kaiju / War Drama |
| Country / Language | Japan / Japanese |
| Japan Release | November 3, 2023 |
| U.S. Release | December 1, 2023 |
| Awards | Academy Award, Best Visual Effects (96th Oscars) — first Japanese film to win the category |
| Box Office | ~$107 million worldwide; highest-grossing Japanese live-action film in U.S. box office history |
| Soundtrack Label | Rambling Records (released October 28, 2023) |
Who Composed the Godzilla Minus One Soundtrack?
The film’s original score was composed entirely by Naoki Satō, a Japanese composer who scored and orchestrated the music independently, without an assistant, over roughly two and a half months. Satō graduated from the Tokyo College of Music in 1993 and has since composed music for a wide range of popular anime series and films, including the first five Pretty Cure series, X, Eureka Seven, Sword of the Stranger, and Blood-C.
The score also incorporates re-recorded cues from Akira Ifukube’s classic Godzilla themes, tying the 2023 film to seven decades of franchise history — 2023 marked Godzilla’s 70th anniversary.
Godzilla Minus One Soundtrack List
Here is the complete track list from the Godzilla Minus One original soundtrack (ゴジラ-1.0 Original Soundtrack), released by Rambling Records. You can listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and other platforms.
By Naoki Satō
- “Confusion” 5:30
- “Fear” 3:48
- “Portent” 3:25
- “Godzilla Suite I” 3:40
- “Divine” 2:12
- “Elegy” 2:34
- “Mission” 3:28
- “Hope” 0:53
- “Honor” 1:57
- “Pride” 2:41
- “Pain” 5:09
- “Resolution” 5:08
- “Godzilla Suite II” 4:48
- “Unscathed” 2:17
- “Last” 2:33
- “Pray” 4:14
- “Godzilla Suite III” 1:47
All of the above tracks were composed by Naoki Satō and released in 2023.
The cast includes Ryunosuke Kamiki as Kōichi Shikishima, Minami Hamabe as Noriko Ōishi, Yuki Yamada as Shirō Mizushima, Munetaka Aoki as Sōsaku Tachibana, Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji Noda, Sakura Ando as Sumiko Ōta, and Kuranosuke Sasaki.
Awards and Reception
Godzilla Minus One won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards in March 2024 — the first Godzilla film to win an Oscar, and the first Japanese film ever to win Best Visual Effects. Director Takashi Yamazaki, who also served as VFX supervisor, became the first filmmaker to win a VFX Oscar for his own direction since Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film holds a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned nearly $107 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film in U.S. box office history.
Official Trailer
Godzilla Minus One is available to rent or buy digitally, including on Prime Video, and the soundtrack can be streamed on Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify. Watch the film’s official trailer below.
Related reading: Movie Soundtracks, Streaming Soundtracks, and Prime Video Soundtracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Godzilla Minus One soundtrack?
Japanese composer Naoki Satō wrote and orchestrated the entire score by himself. He is the sole composer credited on the film.
Did Godzilla Minus One win an Oscar?
Yes. It won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards in March 2024, the first Japanese film to win that category.
Is Godzilla Minus One connected to the American Godzilla movies?
No. It is a standalone entry in Toho’s own Japanese Godzilla series, separate from Legendary’s MonsterVerse films, and requires no prior viewing to follow.
Is there a sequel to Godzilla Minus One?
Yes. Toho has greenlit Godzilla Minus Zero, again directed by Takashi Yamazaki and starring Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe, picking up the Shikishima family’s story in 1949. It is scheduled to open in Japan on November 3, 2026, and in the U.S. on November 6, 2026.
Where can I listen to the Godzilla Minus One soundtrack?
The official soundtrack by Naoki Satō is available on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify, released by Rambling Records in October 2023.
External Link: Wikizilla – Godzilla Minus One Soundtrack