In a star-studded moment, the dynamic duo of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito graced the stage at the 96th Academy Awards (Oscars) to reveal the winner of the prestigious Best Visual Effects category.

The honor was bestowed upon “Godzilla Minus One,” directed by Takashi Yamazaki, marking a historic triumph for Japanese cinema alongside Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron.”

Facing stiff competition from contenders like “The Creator,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” and “Napoleon,” Godzilla Minus One secured its victory.

This milestone represents both the first Academy Award nomination and win for the iconic Godzilla franchise, coincidentally occurring in the 70th anniversary year of Ishiro Honda’s original Godzilla film, released in 1954.

The acclaimed film, which opened in Japan on November 3, 2023, followed by an international release on December 1, was distributed worldwide by Toho through both direct and local channels.

Toho aptly describes Godzilla Minus One as a postwar narrative set in Japan, introducing a new terror in the form of Godzilla.

The synopsis teases the struggle of a devastated populace against this colossal menace, posing the question of survival and resistance.