Godzilla 2000

Godzilla 2000: Millennium (ゴジラ2000 ミレニアム, Gojira Nisen: Mireniamu) is a 1999 Japanese kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara, with special effects by Kenji Suzuki. Distributed by Toho and produced under their subsidiary Toho Pictures, it is the 24th film in the Godzilla franchise, Toho's 23rd Godzilla film, and the first film in the franchise's Millennium era. The film stars Takehiro Murata, Hiroshi Abe, Naomi Nishida, Mayu Suzuki, and Shirō Sano, with Tsutomu Kitagawa as Godzilla and Makoto Itō as Orga. The film follows a group tracking Godzilla while an extraterrestrial UFO appears and poses a new threat to Japan. Godzilla 2000: Millennium ignores the events of the previous installment, as well as every other entry in the franchise aside from the original 1954 film. Godzilla 2000: Millennium premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival on November 6, 1999, and was released in Japan on December 11. TriStar Pictures later distributed it throughout North America on August 18, 2000, under the title Godzilla 2000. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $28 million worldwide against an estimated $10–13 million budget, performing below expectations in Japan and the United States. A direct sequel was planned but ultimately abandoned. The film was followed by Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, set in a different continuity, which was released on December 16, 2000.