Godzilla Minus Zero had no choice: It had to go bigger. That’s because the highly anticipated sequel to Godzilla Minus One has a lot to live up to, as writer/director Takashi Yamazaki’s Oscar-winning box office hit featured engaging characters, grounded pathos, great action, and plenty to say about life in post-World War II Japan. When you make an elevated take on cinema’s most famous kaiju that’s also a rip-roaring good adventure… Yeah, the pressure’s on to top yourself.

Fortunately, Yamazaki found the obvious but also smartest solution to the problem: Why not have two giant monsters on the attack?…