Nearly six months after it opened theatrically in the U.S./Canada, Toho’s Oscar Special Effects-winning “Godzilla Minus One” is finally available at home.
As of Saturday June 1, the Takashi Yamazaki film is now available free for subscribers on Netflix. It is also on VOD for $5.99 as a 48-hour rental or $14.99 as a digital download on platforms like iTunes (where it is already #1), Fandango, and Amazon Prime.
It is unheard of for a Saturday to be a VOD release date, and very unusual for Netflix. That suggests the contractual agreement between Toho and Legendary Pictures (the producers of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”), which called for delayed availability for the Japanese title, specifically set June 1 as the earliest for home release.
A six-month window for home release is unheard of these days. Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” had a four-month delay before hitting PVOD. Streaming came after seven months.
There is pent-up demand for “Godzilla Minus One,” and the delay likely cost Toho — but the company also benefits financially from their partnership with Legendary on “Godzilla x Kong.”
Netflix tweeted out the availability at 9pm PT Saturday, but otherwise avoided publicizing not only the date but also having made this deal. This sort of acquisition usually comes with significant media coverage ahead of play.
The $5.99 rental, rather than the usual initial $19.99, also will cost Toho — but it’s logical, since it is free for Netflix subscribers. At that price, expect it to be very popular irrespective of the alternative.
“Godzilla Minus One” is available a little more than two weeks after “Godzilla x Kong” hit PVOD. No announcement yet as to when that title will stream on Max.
