Press room

As the much-anticipated Godzilla Minus Zero, from Japan’s Toho studio, roars onto cinema screens in November, Barbican Cinema is pleased to present All Kaiju Attack – All Stars! a two month seasonthat celebrates some of the greatest kaiju superstars to emerge from the history of the genre. 

This follows on the from the success of the two previous Barbican Kaiju film seasons in 2024 and 2025, and includes two UK Theatrical Premieres: Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (Japan 2001) and Godzilla 2000: Millennium (Japan 1999). 

Curated by Alex Davidson and Steven Sloss, this looks at the craft, skill and extraordinary creation behind the best of kaiju filmmaking, and includes giant apes and mecha-monsters, mutated Frankenstein creatures, and Godzilla himself! 

The season kicks off on Sun 23 August with an Outdoor Cinema screening of Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster (Japan 1964), in which Godzilla meets his most iconic nemesis, King Ghidorah, for the first time in this action-packed kaiju extravaganza, with thunderous support from Mothra and Rodan.

This film has some of the strongest performances of the franchise, with Akiko Wakabayashi as a possessed princess and Takashi Shimura as a psychiatrist. Best of all, of course, is the monster mayhem, a tremendous spectacle on our Outdoor Cinema screen. 

This follows with a UK Premiere of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (Japan 2001), on 35mm, a highly creative monster movie in which Godzilla is possessed by the souls of WWII victims and goes on a terrifying rampage that inspires other kaiju – Baragon, Mothra and King Ghidorah – to rally against this threat to Japan. 

The season also includes a second UK Theatrical Premiere of Godzilla 2000: Millennium (Japan 1999), in which Godzilla thunders into the twenty-first century with a vengeance, facing one of his most intriguing foes – a UFO with the ability to absorb DNA and transform itself into another creature. The new, intimidating design of Godzilla was hugely popular, and this is a rare opportunity for UK audiences to see this on the big screen. 

September’s screening is King Kong vs. Godzilla – 1963 US Version (Japan 1962), which features the thundering showdown of cinema’s two greatest monsters and remains the most successful Godzilla film of all time. The Americanised version of the film features new scenes with US actors, with a greater focus on the monster battles. 

The programme continues in October with Frankenstein vs. Baragon (Japan 1965), which sees two of Toho’s less familiar kaiju face off in this cult movie, bursting with imagination and featuring great special effects by the legendary Eiji Tsuburaya. It remains one of the kaiju films which most explicitly draws links between monster mayhem and nuclear warfare, and the special effects are captivating throughout. 

The season concludes on Sat 17 October with King Kong Escapes (Japan 1967), one of the most vibrant kaiju movies from the 1960s. The film took inspiration from an American animated series rather than its own Toho predecessor, King Kong vs. Godzilla. It bursts with colour from its opening moments, and boasts a memorable villain, grand monster battles and a thrilling finale. 

Season co-curator and kaiju cinema scholar, Steven Sloss, says:  

“I'm so excited to be back at the Barbican co-curating a season celebrating some of the biggest names in kaiju cinema, both on and off-screen! It's a true privilege to present not one, but two UK premieres of classic Toho Godzilla titles, including Shusuke Kaneko's fan favourite Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack on 35mm in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Get ready for Godzilla, King Kong, Frankenstein's monster, and more to rampage across Barbican screens. This is All Kaiju Attack: All-Stars!”

Screenings

Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster + Recorded Intro by Kaiju Expert Steven Sloss  (PG)
Japan 1964, Dir  Ishirō Honda, 93min
Sun 23 Aug, 8.30pm 
Sculpture Court 

One of the best Godzilla films brings back the dream team of director Ishirō Honda, special effects maestro Eiji Tsuburaya, composer Akira Ifukube and some of Toho’s most beloved monsters – Mothra (making her third movie appearance), Rodan (his second) and the greatest adversary Godzilla ever faced, King Ghidorah, making his debut. Will Godzilla, up until now a malevolent force, battle Ghidorah and help save the earth? 

Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack on 35mm [DUBBED] + Introduction (12A*)
Japan 2001, Dir Shusuke Kaneko, 105min
Sat 29 Aug + Tue 1 Sep
Cinema 1 

Following his acclaimed revitalisation of the Gamera franchise, Shusuke Kaneko took huge risks with his first (and, to date, last) Godzilla film. In this wildly inventive monster movie, Godzilla is possessed by the souls of WWII victims, going on a terrifying rampage that inspires other kaiju – Baragon, Mothra and King Ghidorah – to rally against this threat to humanity. 

We are delighted that this screening is the UK Theatrical Premiere of this film, giving you a first-time chance to see this on the big screen.

Godzilla 2000: Millennium + Introduction (12A*)
Japan 1999, Dir Takao Okawara, 108min
Sun 30 Aug, 2pm + Tue 22 Sep, 6.20pm 
Cinema 1 

The Millennium Era of Godzilla movies began with this sci-fi spectacular, with the iconic kaiju combatting a new foe - an ancient, extraterrestrial UFO. The new, intimidating design of Godzilla was hugely popular, and the monster battles are as strong as ever, with a jaw-dropping climax. An up-close encounter with Godzilla near the end is particularly chilling. 

We are delighted that this screening is the UK Theatrical Premiere of this film, giving you a first-time chance to see this on the big screen.

King Kong vs. Godzilla – 1963 US Version + Introduction (PG)
Japan 1962, Dir Ishirō Honda and Thomas Montgomery, 90min
Fri 4 Sep, 6.20pm + Sat 17 Oct, 2pm 
Cinema 1  

Ishirō Honda’s movie, featuring the thundering showdown of cinema’s two greatest monsters, remains the most successful Godzilla film of all time. 

The Americanised version of the film features new scenes with US actors, with a greater focus on the monster battles. The final showdown, with a backdrop of Mount Fuji, is one of the most beloved of the franchise. The film’s playful tone would continue throughout the Godzilla films of the 1960s and 70s. 

Frankenstein vs. Baragon + Introduction (12A*)
Japan 1965, Dir Ishirō Honda, 90min
Thu 1 Oct, 6.20pm 
Cinema 1 

As with the best kaiju films, Frankenstein vs. Baragon boasts a wild, fantastic plot, involving Frankenstein’s heart being transported to Japan, resulting in the materialisation of a humanoid monster following the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Meanwhile, a gigantic horned beast attacks rural villages and appears to be unstoppable in its rampage. Can Frankenstein end the destruction of this new menace? 

It remains one of the kaiju films which most explicitly draws links between kaiju mayhem and nuclear warfare, while the special effects, courtesy of legendary Eiji Tsuburaya, are a joy throughout. 

King Kong Escapes [dubbed] + Introduction (PG)
Japan 1967, Dir Ishirō Honda, 96min 
Sat 17 Oct, 4pm 
Cinema 1 

Following the runaway success of King Kong vs. Godzilla, Ishirō Honda took the reins once again on another Kong vehicle, one of the most colourful and delightful kaiju movies from the 1960s. 

The wicked Dr. Who (no, not that one) creates a robot Mechani-Kong to do his bidding. He kidnaps the real King Kong, leading to a wild climax atop Tokyo Tower, as Kong battles Kong. The film bursts with colour from its opening moments, and boasts a memorable villain, grand monster battles and a thrilling finale.