TheGameraseries is best defined as the second most popular giant monster (or kaiju) series from Japan. It’s one that’s always stood in the shadow ofGodzilla, the most popular of all kaiju characters, given that series began in 1954, whileGamerafirst came to the big screen in 1965. Still, theGameraseries hasrun for an impressive 12 moviesso far, and like Godzilla, Gamera as a characterseemsto refuse to ever stay dead.
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Gamera is set to return in anew anime series titledGamera-Rebirth!, meaning there’s never been a better time to rank the giant flying fire-breathing turtle’s past films. Below are all 12Gameramovies released so far, ranked according to their average rating from users on IMDb. Like most long-running film series, there are certainly highs and lows to be found within theGameraseries.
12’Gamera vs. Zigra' (1971)
IMDb Rating: 3.5/10
The lowest-ratedGamerafilm is the seventh in the series,Gamera vs. Zigra. Starting in 1965, there was aGamerafilm released every year up until 1971, whereby it was decided the series had run its course, and it was put on hiatus until 1980.
The saturation ofGameramovies likely led toGamera vs. Zigraonly managing a meager3.5/10 average rating on IMDb. The action and special effects are cheaper and sloppier than ever, meaning that while at least some of it is so bad it’s funny, the non-monster scenes are a slog to get through, marking this as a definite low point in the series.
11’Gamera: Super Monster' (1980)
IMDb Rating: 3.6/10
It’s a little surprising thatGamera: Super Monsterisn’t the lowest-rated film in the series, even if it’sonly 0.1 points aheadof the film in last place. It’s remarkably lazy, with a plot allegedly involving an alien race sending all the monsters Gamera’s already fought to Earth again for a series of rematches to defeat him for good.
That sounds like it could be fun, and maybe it would be if any of the action sequences were original. Instead, all the fights simply use footage from pastGameramovies, meaning all the rematches literally play out the same way. It’s a dull cash grab of a movie, and among the worst kaiju movies of all time.
10’Gamera vs. Giron' (1969)
IMDb Rating: 4.2/10
When it comes to rankingGameramovies,Gamera vs. Gironis the point where things at least start getting fun and oddly charming. Much of it takes place on an alien planet and features Gamera trying to rescue two children from a group of aliens who like to eat human brains.
It’s simultaneously childish and creepy/violent, with a surprising amount of blood in its action scenes, thanks to Gamera’s foe, Giron, having a giant blade for a head. It’s a strange film, and may have divided IMDb viewers who’vegiven it a 4.2/10, but it should prove entertaining for kaiju movie fans.
9’Gamera vs. Viras' (1968)
IMDb Rating: 4.5/10
Gamera vs. Viraspits Gamera against one of the most unusual movie monsters of all time: Viras. It’s a gigantic squid-like creature that can change sizes, and it’s hard to properly explain how bizarre it looks without seeing it in action.
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As such, this movie - which once again sees aliens trying to take over the world - provides some silly yet solid entertainment when it comes to the monster fights. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie doesn’t fare so well, especially because there’s a good deal of dreaded stock footage used for the special effects scenes before the climax.
8’Gamera vs. Gyaos' (1967)
IMDb Rating: 5.0/10
Gamera vs. Gyaosintroduces themost prominent antagonistof theGameraseries, a bat-like pterosaur known as Gyaos. Unlike mostGamerafoes, Gyaos isn’t used by an alien race to take over Earth and is instead awoken by unusual volcanic activity, with Gamera the only one who has a chance of defeating it.
As a film,Gamera vs. Gyaosis also important in helping to further establish Gamera as afriend of all children, given the bond he develops with one young boy in this film. Its5.0/10 IMDb ratingmight not make it sound all that impressive, but it’s a fun kaiju film that’s a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre.
7’Gamera vs. Barugon' (1966)
The first of many sequels for Gamera,Gamera vs. Barugonmarked the first time a movie in the series was filmed in color, and also the first time Gamera was given another giant monster to battle. That monster is Barugon, who hatches from an egg that was previously believed to be an opal, and begins attacking Japan.
So begins the formula that the rest of the series would follow, and it’s pulled off reasonably well here. Granted, that’s also the main premise for mostGodzillamovies, and here, it’s done a little more sloppy than it is there, but it’s still a solid enough kaiju flick that’s probably a little better than its5.0 IMDb ratingwould suggest.
6’Gamera' (1965)
IMDb Rating: 5.1/10
Right from the start of theGameraseries, it’s hard not to compare it toGodzilla. Like that series' original movie from 1954, the firstGameramovie from 1965 is also in black-and-white, has more of a focus on horror than action, and doesn’t feature another giant monster for the title character to fight.
Gamera is charmingly straightforward. The monster is introduced, he causes some damage, and then a group of scientists need to work out how to get rid of him. ItsIMDb rating of 5.1/10is likely due to it paling in comparison to the first film from theGodzillaseries, but when judged as its own thing,Gamera(1965) still works okay.
5’Gamera vs. Jiger' (1970)
IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
The highest-rated of all theGameramovies before the series was rebooted in the 1990s,Gamera vs. Jigeris certainly a fun time. Beyond being another movie where Gamera has to fight another big monster,Gamera vs. Jigerstands out for its story involving two young boys needing to go into a submarine inside Gamera to prevent eggs - laid by Jiger - from hatching and killing him from the inside.
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It’s very silly, but also decently entertaining, and has more action than most of theGameramovies released in the 1960s and 1970s. It ends up being one of the better-receivedGameramovies according to IMDb users, who’ve given it anaverage rating of 5.3/10.
4’Gamera The Brave' (2005)
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Gamera The Braveis something of an outlier for the series, as it doesn’t quite fit in neatly with either the 1990s reboot trilogy or the original eight movies in the series. Instead, it feels quite self-contained, and follows a young boy who finds an egg that contains a new version of Gamera inside it.
There’s a certain novelty to seeing Gamera start small and grow into a huge monster by the film’s end, but otherwise, this is a pretty standard kaiju movie. Still, it works well enough and is likely to entertain fans of the series, leading to it having asolid IMDb score of 6.6/10.
3’Gamera: Guardian of the Universe' (1995)
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Gamera: Guardian of the Universekicks off the best grouping ofGamerafilms within the overall series: three films that have come to beknown as theHeisei Trilogy, released between 1995 and 1999. The production values dwarf the earlier films in the series, and no longer doesGamerafeel like a mereGodzillaknock-off.
Its plot brings back Gyaos from the 1967 film, with the bird-like creature now being a species instead of a lone monster. Gamera rises once more to defend Earth from these creatures, and the results are extremely entertaining. This film and its direct sequels are highly acclaimed, and mark the point where the series becomes essential viewing for all kaiju fans.
