The film was filmed in Manhattan, New York, in May 1997. The main creators chose to shoot in New York because the urban landscape composed of row upon row of skyscrapers and famous attractions such as Wall Street and Central Park has become the ideal backdrop for the behemoth Godzilla. However, shooting in New York is not easy. The crew has to illuminate many buildings and neighborhoods based on its figure. The New York City government only allows the filmmakers to clear the streets after 8 pm, and all cameras, lighting equipment, trucks, related equipment and personnel And extras must be evacuated before 6 in the morning. The shooting time of only 12 hours a day, the strict restrictions of the city government and the short nights in New York spring have severely hindered the progress of the filming.
In the production of this film, only the first week of filming required 200 extras, a large number of military vehicles including Hummers and tanks, various giant cranes, scissor lifts that can lift the camera up to 40 feet, Searchlights, powerful Masco lighting system, multiple "Huey" helicopters and more. In the film, the military uses fish piles to lure Godzilla into the most complicated scene. The producer controlled the entire Central Park on a stormy night, and when shooting in Central Park, the crew was asked by the government to suppress the gunshots made during shooting; Although the formal shooting of the film only takes half an hour, the preparation work can take up to 6 or 7 hours.
