The original Godzilla films of the Shōwa Era captivated international audiences. The 1954 series debut was a sobering commentary on the aftermath of Japanese nuclear devastation and a masterclass in innovative film production. It also introduced the world to a cool-ass monster. The films realized the fears that we didn’t know we had, even though the films got sillier at the years went on. Their charm is not lost, though. Catch four examples from the time period—including Godzilla vs. Megalon and Godzilla on Monster Island—on the big screen in their original 35 millimeter format before getting Criterion Collection's Blu-Ray box set slated for release later in the year.