'Godzilla Minus One' Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects

Godzilla Minus One is the first Godzilla film to receive an Oscar Nomination in the franchise's 70 year history.

It's earned nearly $52 million at the North American box office. It's the highest grossing Japanese-language film ever released in America. It's the fifth-highest grossing non-English language film in North American box office history. And now, Godzilla Minus One has made history by receiving a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

“I feel that the times have changed in that the character Godzilla is able to be nominated for an Academy Award," said Director, Screenwriter, and Visual Effects Supervisor Takashi Yamazaki, "I think it is a wonderful day for Godzilla!”

Not only is Godzilla Minus One the first Godzilla film to earn an Academy Award nomination in the franchise's 70-year history, it's also the first ever Japanese language film to earn a nomination in the Best Visual Effects category.

“For nearly 40 years I have been making films while admiring the artistry of Hollywood Visual Effects, and I feel that I have finally come this far. I had not set my sights on being nominated, but I am very happy to have been brought to this place.”

The Academy Award nomination follows Godzilla Minus One's nomination for Best International Film by the Critics Choice Awards, which Yamazaki attended on January 14 in Santa Monica, California.

“For us Japanese, the Academy Awards is really a 'very far away place,' a place we have seen on TV and admired from afar. Being able to step into such a place with Hollywood is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we can’t wait!” said Yamazaki.

The new black and white version of Godzilla Minus One, Godzilla Minus One/Minus Color, will be released in theaters across North America, January 26 and run for one week only, concluding the film's theatrical run about a month before the Academy Awards ceremony on March 10.

“We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to the many people who have supported the film and helped us get this nomination," said Yamazaki, "I hope everyone is excited by this announcement!”