Unleashed by nuclear testing, Gojira (a combination of the Japanese words for gorilla and whale) wreaks havoc in Tokyo mirroring the destruction of Nagasaki and Hiroshima just nine years before Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
Godzilla was the first of many kaiju (strange beast) films in Japan Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
Godzilla battles his prehistoric rival Anguirus in Osaka and destroys it with his atomic ray. Eiji Tsuburaya was again responsible for the special effects. He was a big fan of stop-motion animation but it was too expensive, hence the rubber suit. The film was released in the US in 1959 with the title Gigantis, the Fire Monster Photograph: Photos 12/Alamy
This American release used most of the 1954 film footage dubbed into English with added fresh scenes shot with Raymond Burr Photograph: Alamy
The monsters take turns attacking Tokyo then meet up for a mighty duel. At the end of the film Kong gets the upper hand … or does he? Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
This time Godzilla attacks Nagoya. Mothra is enlisted to attack Godzilla but the puny insect is no match for the beast's atomic breath. The film was released in the US entitled Godzilla vs the Thing Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
Godzilla, the radioactive Mothra and the mutated pterosaur Rodan team up to take on the evil alien King Ghidorah. This movie saw Godzilla, somewhat reluctantly, turn into a good guy Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
Godzilla and Rodan are captured by flying saucers from Planet X, taken back there to battle King Ghidorah Photograph: Paramount/Allstar
Godzilla battles the giant lobster Ebirah while being attacked by a giant condor. Mothra flaps around ineffectually Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive
Godzilla adopts the baby Godzilla, Minilla, and teaches him the ways of the atomic death ray. They make an all powerful father and son act and destroy Kumonga, a giant spider, easily. They then go off to hibernate together. Sweet! Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
Originally intended as the last Godzilla film, 11 of the meanest monsters break out from captivity and go on a global rampage trashing London, Paris, Moscow, Beijing and NYC Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
This was the first Godzilla movie aimed specifically at kids with the emphasis on the relationship between Godzilla's son and an urchin from Tokyo Photograph: Public Domain
Also known as Godzilla vs The Smog Monster, this movie was an anti-pollution entry into the series. A microscopic alien lifeform, Hedorah, feeds on Earth's pollution and grows into a poisonous, acid-secreting sea monster, which Godzilla smashes Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive
The producers didn't like the last film. They wanted a return to well known monsters and alien invasion plots. This movie is notable for being the last film in which actor Haruo Nakajima donned the famous rubber suit, a costume he had worn with distinction since the first film in 1954 Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
Heavily influenced by superhero TV shows, the film had Godzilla playing second fiddle to a huge robotic character called Jet Jaguar. Here he is taking on Megalon but he needed Godzilla's help to finally defeat the sea god Photograph: Moviestore/Rex Features
The film, aka Godzilla vs Bionic Monster, sees our hero battle his robot double created to enslave humanity by aliens of the Third Planet from the Black Hole Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
This was the final, and least commercially successful, film in the original series of Godzilla films and a fitting place to leave our favourite rubber monster Photograph: Alamy
