History Heartwarming / Godzilla2014

** And once the female MUTO takes the warhead from the male, she eagerly holds it up to her pregnant belly, as if to say "Look what Daddy brought you!"

* Godzilla himself showed he had no quarrel with the humans. He several times over the course of the movie goes out of his way to ''avoid'' casualties, and when ships get in the way he tries to dive to ''avoid'' them. Hell his first scene he could have ''easily'' cut through the ''USS Saratoga'' to get to the male MUTO. Instead, he took the time to dive underneath the ship and surface on the other side. And when he first appears in San Francisco? He stops and tries an alternate route through the blockade, only slamming through when he has no choice. And when the movie's all said and done...he's earned a hero's send off from the city!
** After Godzilla has defeated the male MUTO, a skyscraper falls on him, he falls crashing to the streets as Ford is running by, and they see each other. Ford looks on with awe and respect; while Godzilla returns an exhausted but somewhat peaceful expression, before vanishing in a cloud of dust and smoke. Thinking about it, if one believes Godzilla's intelligence, it might be influenced by Ford destroying the MUTO nest, saving Godzilla's life. It's like Godzilla is saying, non-verbally, both "Nice job, human" and "You all right down there, buddy?" Or at least "Hello, human. Thanks for the help..." or "We fought well today, rest now."

* The reunion between the Japanese kid that Ford rescues and his parents, who managed to live through the attack on the airport.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/godzilla_sanfrancisco_3.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''Kaiju feel the love tonight?'']]

!!Film:

!!Meta:
* The fact that the hype this movie generated was able to get three older Godzilla movies (''[[Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster]]'', ''Film/GodzillaVsHedorah'', and ''Film/GodzillaVsGigan''), rescued from their KeepCirculatingTheTapes status is awesome and heartwarming at the same time.
** It's also revived interest in the Toho flicks ''as a whole''. Not just those three films but other films are being picked up for Blu-ray releases, younger audiences have been inspired to go and watch the Toho flicks, and [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes torrent downloads]] of the old flicks have been given a considerable boost too.
*** Not only that, but it's because of its box office success and the revival of the Godzilla fandom that Toho has started making Godzilla movies again. The Reiwa era of Godzilla films directly owes its existence to this film clearing the path.
* It's very needs to be said. Gareth Edward's treatment and respect of the monsters presented in the film is so beautifully done it deserves applause alone. They aren't just these soulless, giant malicious creatures that are hellbent on destroying everything and anything in their path. They breathe. They live. They thrive. We can see just how natural and primal they are. They act and react just according to how an animal would. These aren't shown to be the old men in rubber suits thrashing around. But as actual animals who are doing what simply comes naturally to them.
* After the premiere, many of the Toho executives and staff were seen smiling, but some were actually ''crying tears of joy'' at their most beloved and famous character's respectful treatment in the film.
* Creator/GarethEdwards getting to direct the movie. He has been a fan of Godzilla since he was a young boy, having watched Godzilla cartoons, before going on to watch the movies a few years later. Every time Edwards brings up getting the chance to direct the film and how it's been a dream, you can see his face light up and fill with that child-like joy as he excitedly describes it. You can truly tell that his dream has come true, and that he couldn't be happier.
** Even more so, even though we don't know for sure, but stomping out with over $200 million opening weekend must've felt unbelievable. Then learning that the movie is spawning a Godzilla ''trilogy'' might have caused a few tears of joy.
** Not only that but Edwards got to be the director who finally gave Godzilla the successful Hollywood film many fans feared we would never get again after the 1998 film. Further more, this film has gotten a lot of younger viewers into Godzilla and Kaiju films in general, meaning he's helped create a whole new generation of fans.
** Creator/HaruoNakajima, the man who played Godzilla in the first twelve films, watched and approved of this film. Kenpachiro Satsuma, who played Godzilla through the Heisei era, likewise approved.
** This really needs to be emphasized; Kenpachiro Satsuma walked out of [[Film/Godzilla1998 our previous attempt at an Americanized Godzilla]] in frustration due to that Godzilla lacking the spirit of the original. Knowing that an American Godzilla film did things right the second time around and earned his approval just feels good.
** During Nakajima’s viewing, he not only enjoyed the film in itself, but turning around and watching the happy reactions by the audience. 60 years later and seeing a character he helped bring to life bring such joy to others warmed the retired stuntman’s heart.
* Dr. Serizawa's name pays tribute not only to the original Serizawa, but he is also given the first name "Ishiro", after the director of the original film.

%%% Administrivia/SpoilersOff
%%% All spoiler tags in this Moments page have been removed.
%%% Warning about unmarked spoilers added
%%%%

!!Moments pages are Administrivia/SpoilersOff per policy. All spoilers are UNMARKED. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned

!Meta:

* [[spoiler:Joe's parting words to his son. The guy's just seen the creature that killed his wife 15 years ago, however indirectly; and it drops the bridge he's standing on. Yet, what does he say to Ford, with his dying breaths? "Go...Go back to your family. You keep them safe. Whatever it takes." Nothing about {{revenge}}, nothing about [[TakeUpMySword telling the world the truth]]--no, Joe tells Ford to do what he couldn't: protect his family. Oh, Joe, we hardly knew ye...]]
* [[spoiler:When the male and female MUTO finally meet, there is a rather cute mini-courtship scene where the male presents a nuclear warhead to the female as a food-present. They nuzzle each other and touch mouths while making small clicking noises before the female takes the warhead.]] Fans who saw Gareth Edward's previous film ''Monsters'' will recall similar sympathetic treatment of its titular monsters.

* Tied with a bit of a tearjerker but [[spoiler:the two M.U.T.O.s see an explosion over by their nest and react much the same as the various other parents in the movie do when their children are in danger.]]

* Godzilla himself [[spoiler:showed he had no quarrel with the humans. He several times over the course of the movie goes out of his way to ''avoid'' casualties, and when ships get in the way he tries to dive to ''avoid'' them. Hell his first scene he could have ''easily'' cut through the ''USS Saratoga'' to get to the male MUTO. Instead, he took the time to dive underneath the ship and surface on the other side. And when he first appears in San Francisco? He stops and tries a alternate route through the blockade, only slamming through when he has no choice. And when the movie's all said and done...he's earned a hero's send off from the city!]]
** After Godzilla [[spoiler:has defeated the male MUTO, a skyscraper falls on him, he falls crashing to the streets as Ford is running by, and they see each other. Ford looks on with awe and respect; while Godzilla returns an exhausted but somewhat peaceful expression, before vanishing in a cloud of dust and smoke. Thinking about it, if one believes Godzilla's intelligence, it might be influenced by Ford destroying the MUTO nest, saving Godzilla's life. It's like Godzilla is saying, non-verbally, both "Nice job, human" and "You all right down there, buddy?" Or at least "Hello, human. Thanks for the help..." or "We fought well today, rest now."]]
*** The above might not even be a matter of interpretation; the novelization even touches on this. Ford is totally awestruck [[spoiler:at the intelligence in Godzilla's eyes - this is not some primitive beast.]]

* [[spoiler:Godzilla being honored as a hero, given two titles: King of the Monsters and Savior of our City[[DestructiveSavior ?]].]]

* The ending. [[Film/Godzilla1954 Will Godzilla be atomized by an Oxygen Destroyer?]] [[Film/GodzillaRaidsAgain Will he be buried under a mountain of ice?]] [[Film/TheReturnOfGodzilla Will he be tricked into a volcano?]] [[Film/Godzilla1998 Will he be shot down by jets on the Golden Gate Bridge like a very similar kaiju did on the Brooklyn Bridge?]] [[spoiler: Nope! He'll go back home, head held high, as a ''borderline hero''.]]

* It's been mentioned multiple times, but it bares repeating. [[spoiler: At the end of the movie, Godzilla is honored not as a monster, not as some feared and despised creature, but as a HERO. In almost all of his other movies, even after he has saved humanity from [[MonsterOfTheWeek the monster of the week]] no one has ever cheered for him. They would just stand by, wondering whether or not he was a [[NecessarilyEvil necessary evil]]. Not in this one. Godzilla gets up, and the people cheer. The big man finally gets a proper send off, and it can bring a tear to any Godzilla fan's eye.]]
** Reflected in the music during this scene: as [[spoiler:Godzilla walks to the shore]], the soundtrack plays [[GeniusBonus a major-key reworking of the four-note leitmotif known as "Godzilla's Fury"]] (Duuuun, dun dun DUUUUUUUN...), changing what was originally a song of dread at the prospect of a Godzilla rampage into a [[spoiler:[[TriumphantReprise triumphant celebration]] of Godzilla's survival and victory.]]

** Not only that but Edwards got to be the director who finally gave Godzilla the successful Hollywood film many fans feared he would never get again after the 1998 film. Further more, this film has gotten a lot of younger viewers into Godzilla and Kaiju films in general, meaning he's helped create a whole new generation of fans.

* GarethEdwards getting to direct the movie. He has been a fan of Godzilla since he was a young boy, having watched Godzilla cartoons, before going on to watch the movies a few years later. Every time Edwards brings up getting the chance to direct the film and how it's been a dream, you can see his face light up and fill with that child-like joy as he excitedly describes it. You can truly tell that his dream has come true, and that he couldn't be happier.

* The fact that the hype this movie generated was able to get three older Godzilla movies (''[[Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster]]'', ''Film/GodzillaVsHedorah'', and ''Film/GodzillaVsGigan''), rescued from their KeepCirculatingTheTapes status is awesome and heartwarming at the same time.
** It's also revived interest in the Toho flicks ''as a whole''. Not just those three films but other films are being picked up for Blu-ray releases, younger audiences have been inspired to go and watch the Toho flicks, and [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes torrent downloads]] of the old flicks have been given a considerable boost too.
*** Not only that, but it's because of its box office success and the revival of the Godzilla fandom that Toho has started making Godzilla movies again.
* In the leaked Wondercon footage, Ford Brody saves a little kid from falling to his possible death, this after comforting him when all of the power goes out at the airport.
** He also reassures the kid when the lights go back on. Notice that he's holding his hand.
** Earlier, he's shown giving the kid the action figure that he saved from the wreckage of his old home.

* It's very Meta but needs to be said. Gareth Edward's treatment and respect of the monsters presented in the film is so beautifully done it deserves applause alone. They aren't just these soulless, giant malicious creatures that are hellbent on destroying everything and anything in their path. They breathe. They live. They thrive. We can see just how natural and primal they are. They act and react just according to how an animal would. These aren't shown to be the old men in rubber suits thrashing around. But as actual animals who are doing what simply comes naturally to them.

* A meta-example: After the premiere, many of the Toho executives and staff were seen smiling, but some were actually ''crying tears of joy'' at their most beloved and famous character's respectful treatment in the film.
* Ford's interaction with Elle and Sam.

** A whole bunch of people in the crowd are smiling - even ''cheering'' - for him. The news even has the subtitle: "King of the Monsters - Savior of our City?"
* Meta-example: Creator/GarethEdwards getting to direct the movie. He has been a fan of Godzilla since he was a young boy, having watched Godzilla cartoons, before going on to watch the movies a few years later. Every time Edwards brings up getting the chance to direct the film and how it's been a dream, you can see his face light up and fill with that child-like joy as he excitedly describes it. You can truly tell that his dream has come true, and that he couldn't be happier.
** Even more so, even though we don't know for sure, but stomping out with over $200 million opening weekend must've felt unbelievable. Then learning that the movie is spawning a Godzilla ''trilogy'' might have caused a few tears of joy.
** Not only that but Edwards got to be the director who finally gave Godzilla the successful Hollywood film many fans feared he would never get again after the 1998 film. Further more, this film has gotten a lot of younger viewers into Godzilla and Kaiju films in general, meaning he's helped create a whole new generation of fans.

* A Meta example: Creator/HaruoNakajima, the man who played Godzilla in the first twelve films, watched and approved of this film.
** This really needs to be emphasized; he walked out of [[Film/Godzilla1998 our previous attempt at an Americanized Godzilla]] in frustration due to that Godzilla lacking the spirit of the original. Knowing that an American Godzilla film did things right the second time around and earned his approval just feels good.

** Even more so, even though we don't know for sure, but stomping out with over $200 million opening weekend must've felt unbelievable. Then getting the deal to direct a Godzilla Trilogy, might have caused a few tears of joy.