Toho almost chose a different monster to be the final villain of the 1980s and 1990s series of Godzilla movies. Introduced in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, the titular antagonist has a reputation as the last opponent Godzilla fought before his death in the same film. In spite of only appearing in one movie, Destoroyah is remembered as one of the most fearsome kaiju in Godzilla’s entire cinematic history.

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah holds a special place in the King of the Monsters’ legacy. Before the film, Godzilla had only died one time on the big screen, which was in the 1954 classic that started it all. Since then, Toho brought him back, allowing him to evolve into a beloved anti-hero who saved Japan from all sorts of powerful threats. In the mid-1990s, Toho made a shocking choice when it elected to end Godzilla’s story. Godzilla beating Destoroyah and performing the...