Complete Rodan: Giant Monster Movies

February 7, 2022 Chris Well

The supersonic beast Rodan was unleashed on the world in 1956's Rodan (Toho Studios). Like studiomates Godzilla and Anguirus (Godzilla Raids Again), it was imagined as a type of prehistoric reptile mutated by radiation. The Japanese name for the monster, "Radon," is both a shortened version of "pteranodon" as well as suggesting its radioactive origins.

“Rodan is the next step to the growing number of kaiju films. It serves more like a continuation of the genre and pushes filmmaking limits in 1956 toward bigger and better monsters to come.”--Film Threat

Following the events of the original film, Rodan reappeared in several Godzilla films, as both ally and enemy. IGN ranked Rodan #6 on their list of “Top 10 Japanese Movie Monsters.” Complex placed Rodan at #15 on its “The 15 Most Badass Kaiju Monsters of All Time.”

Rodan Film Appearances

Rodan (1956)

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)

Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)

Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)