Mothra (2023 film)

Mothra is a 2023 fantasy monster film directed by Matt Shakman. Produced by Legendary Pictures and Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the second

prequel in the MonsterVerse franchise since Kong: Skull Island (2017) and the sixth film overall, the fifth film in the Mothra franchise, after Rebirth of Mothra III (1998) and the first Mothra film to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio. The film stars Zhang Ziyi, Pedro Pascal, Michelle Yeoh, Bruce Dern, Danai Gurira, Colin Hanks, Randall Park and Christoph Waltz. The film chronicles the origins of Mothra, from ancient times all the way to 2009.

In 2017, Legendary and Toho announced that a Mothra film in the same universe as Kong: Skull Island and Godzilla (2014) was in development, initially planned to release sometime between 2021 to 2022, and would be a prequel. It had no further updates until March 2021, when it was announced that Matt Shakman would direct the film, and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)'s Eric Pearson and MonsterVerse regular Max Borenstein have written it's screenplay. Filming began in November 2021 in New Zealand, and concluded in August 2022 in Hawaii. Shakman, Pearson and Borenstein took inspiration from the original 1961 film and James Cameron's Avatar franchise.

Mothra premiered in London on May 31, 2023, followed by it's mainline release in both North America and Japan on June 16 (concurrently with Disney and Pixar's Elemental) and an international release on June 17. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised it's story, action sequences, visual effects, acting and musical score. It was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $965 million against it's $190 million budget, beating Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, thus becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2023, as well as the second highest-grossing film in the MonsterVerse and the highest-grossing Mothra film ever as of 2023. At the 96th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound, winning the latter.

Mothra returns in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which released on March 29, 2024. A sequel, Mothra: The Queen of Titans, related on October 10, 2025.

Synopsis[]

Long ago, a legend was born. Witness the origins of Mothra, the master of the skies, from the time of ancient civilizations to the 1960s all the way to present day. New secrets will be revealed, new Titans will be fought and discover Mothra's relationship with the planet and humanity in this all-new chapter of the MonsterVerse.

Cast[]

Zhang Ziyi as:
- Moll and Lora
- Dr. Ilene and Ling Chen
Pedro Pascal as Velran
Michelle Yeoh as Snilua
Bruce Dern as Dr. Jerry Nelson
Danai Gurira as Lilly
Colin Hanks as Kyle
Randall Park as Dr. Frankie Ito
Christoph Waltz as Professor Lawrence Jackson

Crew[]

Matt Shakman - director
Jay Ashenfelter - executive producer
Herbert W. Gains - executive producer
Dan Lin - executive producer
Kenji Okuhira - executive producer
Roy Lee - executive producer
Jen Conroy - co-roducer
Tamara Kent - co-producer
Kevin Jenkins - production designer
Alexandra Byrne - costume designer
Scott Stokdyk - visual effects supervisor
Alessandro Ongaro - visual effects supervisor

Appearances[]

Titans and other superspecies[]

Weapons, vehicles, organizations and races[]

Monarch
Elias
Nilai-Kanai
Hollow Earth Aerial Vehicle
Nilai-Kanai Guardian Towers
UH-1 Iroquois
AH-1 Cobra

Locations[]

Infant Island
Hollow Earth
China
- Yunnan
  - Monarch Outpost 61
Barbados
Boston
London

Soundtrack[]

Michael Giacchino composed the score for Mothra. Opting for an original soundtrack, the film does not uses Mothra's Song, which is present in most of her appearances. One of it's tracks, "Like a Monarch Butterfly," released as a single on May 25, 2023 by WaterTower Music, who released the full soundtrack on June 15.

Track listing[]

Hatching
An Infant Island
The Life of a Larva
Battra's Rude Awakening
Another Hatching
There was a Hollow spot in the Hollow Earth
Defeat?
1961 - A Titan Odyssey
Like a Monarch Butterfly
Secret
A New Battle
Monarch's Discovery
Time Skipping
At the Hollow Earth's Core
The Battle for Infant Island
48 Years Later
Temple of the Moth
Mothra vs. Battra
Separate Ways
Mightiest Suite in All Creation

Merchandising and promotions[]

Playmates Toys released a Mothra-themed toyline, and their first Non-Godzilla MonsterVerse Toyline, since the previous MonsterVerse Toylines were based on Godzilla vs. Kong and Reign of Godzilla. Some of Mothra's figures for the line would be repackaged for Playmates' lines for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024). Other figures include ones for Battra, Fosphera, the Infant Island Serpent and the Skeleturtle. In Addition to Playmates, Funko, Jada Toys, Bandai, HIYA Toys and Youtooz would release figures based on the film, while Bioworld, Rubies and Mondo would release other merchandise based on the film. McFarlane Toys released figures of Mothra, Fosphera and Battra as well. Carl's Jr. released kid's toys based on the film as well.

Dairy Queen promoted the film with a pink, Mothra-themed cookie dough blizzard called the "Mothra Power Blizzard." Kellogg's promoted the film with special, glow in the dark, Mothra-themed spoons inside packages of their cereal brands like Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes. Outside of food promotions, mobile games like Lords Mobile, Roblox and Godzilla Battle Line promoted the film through collaborations. Legendary Comics released a graphic novel adaptation of the film shortly after it's release, with art by Christian Duce. Tim Lebbon published Mothra: The Official Movie Novelization on July 19, 2023.

Release and reception[]

Theatrical[]

Mothra had it's premiere in London on May 31, 2023. It released in North American and Japanese theaters on June 16, releasing concurrently with Disney and Pixar's Elemental, releasing in Japan via Toho. It was released in other territories and markets on June 17. It was released in 2D, 3D, IMAX, RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, ScreenX and Cinemark XD. Mothra is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for "Creature violence, mild blood and language."

Home media[]

Mothra was released on digital platforms on August 10, 2023. It was then released on DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray on September 15, 2023, with a streaming release on Max on September 26, 2023.

Box office[]

Mothra grossed $215.6 million on it's first two weeks in it's theatrical run, beating low expectations that it would only earn between $80 million to $95 million against it's $190 million budget. by the end of it's theatrical run, the film grossed $965 million at the box office, beating Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, thus becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2023, as well as being the second highest-grossing film in the MonsterVerse (with Reign of Godzilla last year being the first) and the highest-grossing Mothra film ever.

Critical reception[]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 400 critics gave the film a positive review. The site's critics consensus reads, "Matt Shakman makes giant butterflies take flight with overstuffed but epic battles that may leave more to be desired." Metacritic summarized the critical response as "generally favorable," based on a weighted average score of 70 out of 100 from 57 critics. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave Mothra an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported 95% of audience members gave the film a positive score, with 92% saying they would definitely recommend it.

Takao Okawara, who directed several Heisei Godzilla films and Godzilla 2000 (1999) praised the film, stating, "It is like a 90s film, but from modern day, and I like that." Shinji Higuchi also praised the film and met with Matt Shakman in the film's London premiere on May 31. He states, "The story is a breathe of fresh air for the character, following the footsteps of Reign of Godzilla. The effects, acting and music are amazing too. Matt Shakman's Mothra film is beyond beautiful." Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) director Michael Dougherty also praised the film, especially it's action scenes.