Kevin Smith enthusiastically praises “Godzilla Minus One,” declaring it as the best Godzilla movie he has ever seen.

Geek icon Kevin Smith has joined the ranks of admirers for “Godzilla Minus One.” On his Fatman Beyond podcast with Marc Bernardin, Smith not only hailed the movie as the best Godzilla film he has ever witnessed but also deemed it one of the standout movies of the year. Smith went so far as to suggest that Toho should submit the film for consideration in the Best Foreign Film category at the 2024 Academy Awards. Showering the movie with praise, he commended the kaiju elements for being scarier than ever, and the human characters for being compelling, ensuring that the film’s focus on their story didn’t feel like a waste of time.

“Godzilla Minus One, kids — by far the best Godzilla movie that I’ve ever seen. Just a clinic in how to make a movie with the giant monster, that keeps the giant monster alive throughout the whole movie, and is compelling on the human level,” exclaimed Smith. He expressed surprise at finding the human drama as interesting as the intense Godzilla scenes, a departure from his usual preference for more kaiju battles. The film’s success lies in crafting a narrative where the human and monstrous aspects are equally engaging.

Released in Japan in November and later in the U.S., “Godzilla Minus One” has achieved almost $100 million in earnings, surpassing its reported budget of under $15 million. The film boasts a remarkable 98% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Smith was particularly captivated by the fresh approach to Godzilla’s portrayal, emphasizing that it’s the first time he felt drawn to the human story over the kaiju battles. He praised a scene featuring Godzilla’s head in the water, comparing it to the terror of “Jaws” and commending the filmmakers for blending the monstrous with the suspenseful.

Written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki for Toho, “Godzilla Minus One” fits into the Reiwa storyline of the franchise. Set in post-war Japan, the film portrays Godzilla as a formidable and terrifying force, bringing a new threat to a nation already ravaged by war.