Think of it as Little Shop of Horrors meets Godzilla, only it’s not as bad or as goofy as it sounds.
The kaiju kiddos love this entry in the Godzilla franchise and I don’t blame them. This one is purposefully outrageous and full of fun. Complete with piano wires in which to get the monsters to move, Godzilla Vs. Biollante is the film in which G-Cells become all the rage in the war against mindless kaiju rampages.
Part plant, part monster, all dead in its wake. That’s right, Kaiju fans, Criterion has freed Biollante for its 4K debut. And the results are as awesome as the movie itself. And that praise extends to its Dragon Quest-esque score!
For those who aren’t in the know, Godzilla Vs. Biollante is one hell of a wild gem in the Godzilla franchise. It is highly imaginative and filled with so many moments of crazy biotechnological gaggles (and giggles) that one can’t help but fall deliciously under its spell. There are interesting characters running throughout this feature as scientists race against each other to try and figure out how to use Godzilla’s cells. It’s an international race and is complicated when it becomes apparent that all these explosions are going to free the beast, as it were.
With Godzilla back on the prowl and the newly created Biollante calling out for more and more power, it’s up to a psychic Miki Saegusa (Megumi Odaka, in her first appearance) and a handful of others to get the beastie back in the cage.
Whether you are laughing at it or not, Godzilla Vs. Biollante remains a fan favorite as the resurgence of this kaiju gains momentum. 
The film, directed and written by Kazuki Ōmori, with special effects by Kōichi Kawakita, marks the second film in the franchise's Heisei period, and is a direct sequel to 1984's The Return of Godzilla, which features a super-armed flying fortress of steel, The Super-X.
But, here, in Godzilla Vs. Biollante, fans get one of the craziest kaijus to ever be featured in the ongoing series: a mutant plant by way of a renegade scientist’s dead daughter. Yup, it’s as crazy as it seems. More to the point, Biollante is a rose (yes, the flower) which has been infused with Godzilla’s cells. It’s a venus flytrap with tentacles. It also has the ability to turn into a heavy cloud of spores and travel huge distances. Cool, huh?
And now, the mutant madness arrives on 4K thanks to the Criterion Collection! Check it out, Kaiju Kingdom!
Home Video Distributor: Criterion Collection
Available on Blu-ray - March 18, 2025
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English
Video: HDR10
Audio: Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0
Discs: 4K UHD + Blu-ray Disc; two-disc set
Region Encoding: Region-free playback
Diving into delirious realms of imagination, this second film of the Godzilla franchise’s 1980s resurgence showcased the towering beast for a new generation of fans. This time, Godzilla’s foe is one of the series’ most wondrously strange kaiju creations: Biollante—a mutant plant genetically engineered from the cells of a rose, a renegade scientist’s dead daughter, and Godzilla itself. With a wild plot encompassing spies, psychic children, and bonkers biotechnology—and some of the coolest special effects in the history of Japanese cinema—Godzilla vs. Biollante stands as a high point in the ever-evolving mythology of the King of the Monsters.
Video
Framed in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the new 4K transfer from Criterion looks detailed and layered with a new crispness which has been missing from prior releases. The tones are natural and amped up on saturation and dark tones. Since this is primarily set at night, the dark tones are important and with this release they are dark and natural; effective in creating a sense of disturbing moodiness.
Audio
The 5.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is king of them all. Turn it up!
Supplements:
Featuring a new cover designed by Eric Powell, Criterion’s handling of this cult classic includes a new commentary, a making-of featurette, a short documentary about Biollante, a look at the special effects, and TV spots.
Commentary:
- See below for details
Special Features:
- New 4K digital restoration, with 5.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
- New audio commentary featuring film historian Samm Deighan, host of the podcast Eros + Massacre and co-editor of the book Revolution in 35mm
- Making-of program from 1993 featuring director Kazuki Omori and special-effects director Koichi Kawakita, among others
- Short documentary from 1993 about the Biollante and Super X2 vehicle concepts
- Deleted special effects
- TV spots and trailers
- New English subtitle translation
- PLUS: An essay by science-fiction and horror film expert Jim Cirronella
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MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime: 104 mins
Director: Kazuki Ômori
Writer: Shinichiro Kobayashi
Cast: Kunihiko Mitamura; Yoshiko Tanaka; Masanobu Takashima
Genre: Kaiju | Monster Horror
Tagline: The Super-Beast Battle of the Century
Memorable Movie Quote: Godzilla and Biollante aren't monsters. It's the unscrupulous scientists who create them that are monsters.
Theatrical Distributor: Toho
Official Site: https://www.criterion.com/films/33023-godzilla-vs-biollante
Release Date: November 25, 1992 (Video)
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: March 18, 2025
Synopsis:Godzilla’s foe is one of the series’ most wondrously strange kaiju creations: Biollante—a mutant plant genetically engineered from the cells of a rose, a renegade scientist’s dead daughter, and Godzilla itself.
