0
0
Ah yes, one more time for those in the cheap seats. To know me is to know me as a diehard Kaiju/Godzilla enthusiast ever since I was…like…maybe 5 years old? Watching the king of the monsters destroy Japan as well as other Kaiju was a weekly weekend routine in my house and to this day, there is nothing, and I do mean nothing, like hearing his iconic roar. 48-some-odd years later, my love of the beast amongst beasts has only deepened.
I had to pick a favorite flick of the decades long franchise; I’d have to go with the dark horse that is Godzilla: Final Wars. I know, I know, that movie is a dumpster fire (in the best way possible) and it is literal bat shit craziness fusing Kaiju elements with matrix style action and martial arts madness tipped with a Star Wars tinge. It’s just something about seeing the King take on each and every kaiju from the history of films that resonates with me and seeing Toho’s original version stomp down on Sony’s bitter take is the stuff of legends.
With that all said and done, it’s now time to announce that Alamo Drafthouse, who is keeping the movie theater experience alive and well, has partnered with Toho to celebrate Godzilla’s 71st birthday complete with movie marathon and some pretty rad merch. The only said thing about this is that there is no Alamo Drafthouse near me so I will not be able to partake in the event but as a blogger, it’s my rightful duty to inform all of you who can take advantage of this. I will be ordering some of the merch though. that goes without question. Scroll below for the official press release and intel!
On Monday, November 3rd, audiences at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations across the country will join together for Godzilla Day, the 71st birthday of the screen icon and true living legend, Godzilla. But what birthday gifts do you get for a skyscraper-sized septuagenarian with a temper?
To properly celebrate the King of the Monsters, Alamo Drafthouse and their partners at Toho International plan an expansion of their merchandising partnership that includes the first-ever Godzilla popcorn bucket, a rare screening of THE RETURN OF GODZILLA at over 40 locations, and a top-secret mystery marathon at Alamo Drafthouse Valley Fair, the company’s new kaiju-themed location near San Jose.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Toho International on this exclusive Godzilla Day celebration and first-of-its-kind merchandise collection,” said Chaya Rosenthal, Chief Marketing Officer at Alamo Drafthouse. “We know Alamo Drafthouse fans are Godzilla fans, and they’re going to lose their minds over these collectibles – from the Mothra Mug to the very first Godzilla-shaped popcorn bucket. As a lifelong Godzilla fan myself, I already have a spot saved in my display case for these incredible pieces. We couldn’t be more excited to share our love of all things kaiju and Godzilla at our Valley Fair theater and at all Alamo Drafthouse locations nationwide.”
On November 3rd, Alamo Drafthouse theaters will celebrate Godzilla Day 2025 with a rare screening of THE RETURN OF GODZILLA, the first film in the legendary “Heisei” era. Originally released in Japan in 1984 and later re-edited for U.S. audiences as GODZILLA 1985, this action-packed entry remains one of the most beloved installments in the Godzilla franchise.
Super-fans in the San Francisco Bay Area can spend the day with their monster pals at a Mystery Marathon on Sunday, November 2nd, at Alamo Drafthouse’s kaiju-themed Westfield Valley Fair location in Santa Clara, CA. Open since June, the location is, fittingly, the largest in the Alamo Drafthouse circuit, and boasts dozens of vintage kaiju posters on the walls, Godzilla-themed snacks, and an eye-popping two-story window display of Godzilla.
To mark the occasion, fans will also have the chance to secure an exclusive, limited-edition Godzilla Day 2025 t-shirt, designed by acclaimed artist Chris Bilheimer. This collectible shirt is only available with tickets purchased before October 17th, and will be available for pickup in theaters on November 3rd.
“Any day is a day worth celebrating the G Man,” says Jake Isgar, Head of Alternative Content & Specialty Programming. “But this year, we’re pulling out all of the stops for a birthday celebration befitting our atomic pal.”
For fans everywhere who need a little (or a lot) more Godzilla in their lives, the Alamo Drafthouse x Godzilla collection will expand with a half dozen new products available in-theater and on AlamoMart.com on Monday, October 27th. Topping the list is a wildly anticipated first for Godzilla collectors – the very first popcorn bucket created in partnership with Toho International and based around the “Showa Era” of Godzilla. Designed by Alamo Drafthouse’s Scott Sugiuchi, it’s the first of a line of popcorn buckets planned to continue into 2026 and beyond. Each Showa Godzilla Popcorn Bucket will be numbered in a limited run of 6,000 and will come in a custom collector’s box.
In Godzilla’s vast universe of friends, foes, and frenemies, one name stands above them all: Mothra! And thanks to a gorgeous winged handle design by Alamo Drafthouse’s very own Godzilla superfan Scott Sugiuchi, lepidopterophiles have their new favorite drinking vessel – the Mothra Winged Mug. The Mothra Winged Mug, packaged in an exclusively designed collector’s box, is limited to just 5,000 units.
Fans can show their respect to their favorite monsters on their lapels with the Kaiju Enamel Pin Set designed by Scott Sugiuchi, confirm their allegiance with the King of the Monsters Hat designed by Scott Sugiuchi, or don a new Godzilla in Color hoodie designed by Tom Whalen.
The pin set, hat, and hoodie will be available on Monday, October 27th, at AlamoMart.com and in limited quantities at select Alamo Drafthouse locations. Pre-orders for the Showa Godzilla Popcorn Bucket and the Mothra Winged Mug will also be available on Monday, October 27th, at AlamoMart.com for shipment in December.
Alamo Drafthouse Social Media
Facebook: facebook.com/alamodrafthouse
YouTube: youtube.com/alamodrafthouse
Instagram: instagram.com/drafthouse
Website: drafthouse.com
Godzilla Social Media
Facebook: facebook.com/tohogodzillaofficial
YouTube: youtube.com/@GodzillaToho
Instagram: instagram.com/godzilla_toho
Website: godzilla.com
