Godzilla Minus Zero Receives Franchise-First R Rating From MPA

Godzilla Minus Zero has received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association (MPA). The classification makes it the first film in the 72-year history of the Godzilla franchise to receive an R rating.

Takashi Yamazaki returns as writer and director for the upcoming sequel to Godzilla Minus One. The film will arrive in Japanese cinemas on November 3. It will then open in the United States on November 6.

A New Chapter After Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus Zero takes place in 1949, two years after the events of Godzilla Minus One. The story follows Godzilla and the Shikishima family in post-World War II Japan.

According to Film Ratings, the MPA has classified the new film as R. The rating marks a major change from its predecessor.

Godzilla Minus One received a PG-13 rating. Several Monsterverse films also received PG-13 classifications. Those titles include Godzilla, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Godzilla Franchise Has Seen Different Ratings

The original Godzilla arrived in 1954. It does not carry an MPA rating because the American ratings system began in 1968.

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Later franchise entries received several different classifications. Destroy All Monsters received a G rating. Meanwhile, Godzilla vs. Hedorah, released in 2004, received a PG rating.

The R rating for Godzilla Minus Zero therefore sets it apart from previous entries in the long-running franchise.

Yamazaki Returns With a Darker Sequel

Yamazaki’s previous film brought Godzilla back to a postwar Japanese setting. Godzilla Minus One also earned praise for its darker portrayal of the monster.

ScreenRant previously highlighted the film’s balance of horror and curiosity. Its review also praised the movie’s ability to restore a sense of fear around Godzilla.

The new R rating could signal a similarly intense approach in Godzilla Minus Zero. However, the MPA classification alone does not reveal the specific scenes or content that led to the rating.

Cast Includes Returning Stars

Godzilla Minus Zero stars Ryunosuke Kamiki as K?ichi Shikishima and Minami Hamabe as Noriko Shikishima.

The cast also includes Yuki Yamada, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Jun Kunimura and Miou Tanaka. Sakura Ando, Masami Nagasawa, Min Tanaka and Hidetaka Yoshioka also appear.

Sae Nagatani rounds out the announced cast.

With Yamazaki returning behind the camera, Godzilla Minus Zero will continue the story established by Godzilla Minus One while introducing a new chapter in the franchise.