Godzilla classics return to drive-ins: Destroy All Monsters, Megalon, Mecha

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Drive-In-Sanity Films has teamed up with Janus Films for an awesome "Godzilla Monsterama", bringing three classic GODZILLA films back to drive-ins for a triple feature that I'm sure would be a whole lot of fun to sit through in the drive-in atmosphere.

The films that make up this triple feature are 1968's DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, 1973's GODZILLA VS. MEGALON, and 1974's GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA. Here's how these movies were described for Criterion's recently released box set GODZILLA: THE SHOWA ERA FILMS, 1954-1975 (pick up a copy HERE).

DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: 

The original Godzilla team of director Ishiro Honda, special-effects supervisor Eiji Tsuburaya, and composer Akira Ifukube reunited for this kaiju extravaganza, which features no fewer than eleven monsters. Set in the remote future of 1999, when the people of Earth have achieved world peace by confining destructive creatures to Monsterland (until an alien race intervenes), Destroy All Monsters mounts a thrilling display of innovative action sequences and memorable images that have made it a favorite for generations of viewers.

GODZILLA VS. MEGALON: 

Nuclear testing unleashes mayhem on the undersea kingdom of Seatopia, causing a series of environmental disasters that nearly wipes out Rokuro, the schoolboy protagonist at the center of this film. To exact revenge, Seatopia unleashes Megalon, a gigantic beetle with the ability to fire ray beams and napalm bombs. Meanwhile, Rokuro’s brother creates Jet Jaguar, a flying robot with a built-in moral compass. The inevitable matchup of Godzilla and Jet Jaguar versus Megalon and Gigan decides the world’s fate.

GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA:

Godzilla’s evil twin Mechagodzilla first reared its head in this Jun Fukuda–directed film. A robot designed by aliens to conquer Earth, the enduringly popular villain has since been resurrected by Toho Studios several times. With the help of earnest direction, spectacular pyrotechnics, and guest appearances by veteran genre actors, this film recaptures the feel of the sixties Godzilla movies.

The "Monsterama" had its first screenings at the Hi-Way Drive-In in Coxsackie, New York last weekend. The films will be showing at the Ocala Drive-In in Ocala, Floria from October 30th through November 5th, and the Vineland Drive-In in City of Industry, California over Halloween weekend (October 30 and 31, and November 1st).

Drive-In-Sanity and Janus Films promise that "more big-screenings of this three-film monster mash will be announced soon!"