Mothra

Mothra (1961)

  • 70% of critics liked it
    (10 reviews)

  • 65% of users liked it
    (1,048 ratings)

Mothra was the third major addition to the Toho Studios' giant-monster stable after Godzilla and Rodan, and the first female beast in the series. The creature begins Ishiro Honda's entertaining film as a giant larva worshipped by island tribesmen and guarded by twin sisters (Emi and Yumi… More

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In Theaters
Jan 1, 1961 Wide
Sony Pictures Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com

    ... a marvelous mix of science fiction, monster movie and adventure fantasy filled with colorful characters and an unmistakable socio-political subtext.

  • Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

    Give me Rodan or Godzilla, but forget a giant moth!

  • Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

    Silly Japanese sci-fi that's a classic of its kind.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    A goofy monster film done with sensitivity.

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Christopher H


    One of the best non-Godzilla Toho monster flicks. Not as dark as "Gojira" or "Rodan" but still possesses artistic merit. The special effects are remarkable and the story is full of colorful characters.

  • Luke B


    They'd done Godzilla. They'd brought us color monster madness with Rodan. Now Toho continue to improve their Kaiju films with Mothra. Once again Mothra is the result of nuclear radiation, but those themes are just around to explain her size. The main plot is Mothra's… More

  • John B


    Mothra is always an uncomfortable mix with Godzilla, Rodan and the rest of them. Someone once commented suggested to me that Mothra could do no better than "piss off" Godzilla or Ghidorah in battle. Thankfully we have just Mothra alone in her debut and it is thoroughly… More

  • Duncan R


    It's one of Ishiro Honda's more entertaining post-<i>Godzilla</i> monster mashes (certainly better than the painfully dull <i>Rodan</i>), but it sort of feels like Honda's run out of anything to say. It's a charming little B-grade monster… More

  • Anthony V


    One of the better kaij? (giant monster) movies.

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Cast

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