For Godzilla fans around the world, November 3rd is recognized as "Godzilla Day", the anniversary of the monster's first onscreen appearance in the original GODZILLA (ゴジラ, Gojira, 1954). This year, Toho Co., Ltd. and Fathom Events are celebrating Godzilla Day with a special 20th anniversary screening of director Masaaki Tezuka's GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA  (ゴジラ×メカゴジラ, Gojira × Mekagojira, 2002).  In addition to the feature film, this screening will include Japanese content never before seen on the big screen along with an exclusive special message from Keiji Ota, Toho's Chief Godzilla Officer in Tokyo.

GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA was part of the "Millennium Series" of Godzilla films produced from 1999-2004 which offered alternate takes on the mythos, using only the original 1954 movie as a springboard. In this film, the skeleton of the first Godzilla is recovered from the ocean floor. This enrages a second Godzilla, who comes ashore to wreak havoc on Japan,  prompting the JSDF to construct the cyborg countermeasure Mechagodzilla from the original monster's remains. The beast's restless soul is discovered to inhabit the machine as Mechagodzilla's pilot Akane Yashiro (Yumiko Shaku) must learn to find value in her own life.

While this will be the first wide screening of GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA in American theaters, Fathom's claim that this will be "the first time ever in US cinemas" for fans to see the film is a bit misleading. Toho's International office in Los Angeles began offering GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA for theatrical bookings in North America as far back as 2004, with the film's U.S. theatrical premiere taking place on June 24, 2004 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood as part of the American Cinematheque's "Godzilla's 50th Anniversary Celebration" (the direct sequel, GODZILLA: TOKYO SOS was shown the following night with director Masaaki Tezuka in attendance for both films). The premiere was followed by additional screenings around the country that year, including on September 8th during the "They Came from Toho: Godzilla and the Kaiju Eiga" festival hosted by the Film Forum in New York City,  and Bay Area Film Event's "Godzillafest" screening at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on November 18th. In the years since, GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA has been screened at a handful of repertory cinemas and events, including G-Fest's Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, Illinois.

Now fans will have a chance to see the film at more than 450 theaters across the United States. Tickets are on sale now, so visit the official website for additional information, locate a theater near you and get your tickets!

GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA (Godzilla Day)