I admit that I was not a huge Godzilla fan. I tend to group monster movies along with things like "Transformers" and "Fast & Furious." When I saw Godzilla: Minus One, that stance changed. 

This long-standing opinion would be a huge understatement to say that when I saw the latest Toho "Godzilla" movie in theaters last year, a sky scraper-sized lizard is all the power to flatten a big city this epic monster movie blew me away. This blockbuster opened my eyes to the strengths of the genre and I felt like a fool for being negative at first.

I've been desperate to re-watch this modern masterpiece for months, and when Netflix confirmed that "Godzilla: Minus One" has been added to the streaming catalog this month, I practically cried with joy. And streamers aren't letting subscribers wait to start watching either, it's now available in the US and UK

After a surprise drop over the weekend (Saturday, June1), "Godzilla: Minus One" is already ranked No. In 4 of the platform's most watched lists, all but guaranteed at this point have risen to No. 1. Let's explain why it's one Netflix movie you need to watch now, and briefly the best Godzilla movie ever made. Period. 

In Godzilla: Minus One, released in 1945, a Kamikaze pilot named Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) first encountered a giant laser-spitting lizard while trying to give up his duty as a soldier. This experience traumatizes him and he returns home to find his country in ruins after the bombing of Tokyo during World War II. 

Plagued by an intense guilt over his military abandonment and failure to take action against Godzilla, he begins to grow into a family unit as three homeless women and orphans named Noriko Oishi (Minami Hamabe) rebuild Japan, but as he slowly makes his way through the sea, the shadow of the kaiju looms in the background. 

When a giant creature emerges off the coast of Tokyo, Koichi joins a group of military veterans who are planning to defeat the beast and gain redemption in the process."Godzilla: Minus One", which mixes the thrill of a blockbuster with a Qiang character drama, is a powerful mix more than a movie in which a giant dinosaur destroys shopping.

In the past, I have found that the "Godzilla" movie is more than the equivalent of a children's movie bashing action figures together. In particular, 2019's "Godzilla: The King of Monsters" was a mess like a CGI monster doing a no-bet fight, so I made it one of my least favorite films of the year 1 But "Godzilla: Minus One" is a very different type of beast. 

When I say "Godzilla: Minus One: The eponymous monster is not a real star." In fact, in a 125-minute movie, Godzilla is on screen for less than half an hour. And there is a period of first act in which he is a non-factor, as it focuses on Japan's attempts to rebuild following the devastating bombing of World War II. I liked the dynamic relationship between Koichi and Noriko, so this part of the movie might be my favorite. 

The focus on first sketching convincing characters is only when Godzilla appears even more powerful, unlike previous "Godzilla" movies, where action sequences Titan destroys cities with reckless abandonment and the stakes feel small.

It also helps that "Godzilla: Minus One" looks downright fantastic with some of the best special effects I've ever seen. That oscar for best visual effects was earning well, and I kept stunned that this film was made with a budget of aboutと15 million, yet it looks noticeably better than many films that cost upwards200 million or more (yes, I'm calling the rubber CGI effect from "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania" here).

"Godzilla: Minus One" really has it all. Not only is it a phenomenally well-made action movie, but its characters are convincing and well-fleshed out. Heck, even if the giant monster didn't show up at all, I probably still adored this movie. This is a testament to the strength of the film's writing and its fascinating postwar setting. The fact that the film offers both riveting stories and engaging characters alongside epic action is a pure marvel.  

I'm certainly not the only admirer of "Godzilla: Minus One", it has quickly become a favorite around the Toms Guide Office, and critics have heaped praise on the film too. 

The 2023 film currently has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And viewers agreed, rating the film to the same almost perfect score of 98%, making it a "Godzilla" movie with the highest rating. 

The site's critical consensus is that ""When engaging human stories that fix the action,""Godzilla Minus One"" is really convincing during scenes of mass destruction"" This reflects my thoughts about this must-see movie. 

Kevin Maher of The Times of London called the film "outrageously spectacular" and Lucas Trevor of The Washington Post was even more impressed, saying, "The results are not magical: Feast of the eyes, every word

" Bob Strauss of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote in another, very positive writing, which has taken decades. "Here is a Godzilla movie with compelling human interest in the end," he noted.

I think the answer to the above question is pretty obvious at the moment, but in case I'm not clear, yes, streaming "Godzilla: Minus One" on Netflix and you need to stream this incredible epic as soon as possible. Cancel your weekend plans, put the kids to bed early, or call them sick from work if necessary (okay, maybe do the last one

"Godzilla: Minus One" is a monster movie of unusual quality. The combination of an emotionally devastated human drama and a giant scaly lizard that left a trail of destruction is a powerful, brain-and-heart blockbuster to match its brute strength.

If you need more Netflix recommendations, check out our list of all the new movies and shows on the popular streaming service this week.It also includes excellent "hitman". 

Watch "Godzilla: Minus One" on Netflix now