The film follows Kōichi Shikishima, a former kamikaze pilot haunted by his past, who chooses to forge a new life in the war-torn ruins of Tokyo.
Shikishima finds solace with Noriko, a young woman, and Akiko, an orphaned baby they take in as their own.
Just as Shikishima finds a semblance of peace, Godzilla returns, empowered by nuclear testing, to wreak havoc on mainland Japan.
Faced with annihilation, Shikishima joins forces with a group of survivors to devise a daring plan to defeat the monstrous Godzilla.
The plan involves luring Godzilla into a trap and using a combination of freon tanks and rapid decompression to vanquish him.
The plan is a success, but at a heavy cost. Shikishima believes he has lost Noriko in the battle's devastation.
In a surprising turn of events, Noriko is revealed to be alive, though suffering from radiation sickness. The film ends on a hopeful note, with Shikishima reuniting with his makeshift family.
The movie leaves the door open for a sequel. A piece of Godzilla's flesh is shown regenerating in the ocean, hinting at the possible return of the king of the monsters.
Godzilla Minus One is not just a monster movie. It explores themes of hope, survival, and the enduring impact of war.