Varan poster
Where to stream

Varan

5.819581h 27mMovieScience FictionHorror

When a rare species of butterfly is found in a mysterious valley in Japan, a pair of entomologists go to investigate and find more. They discover Varan, a giant monster, who decides to leave the valley and head straight for Tokyo.

DirectorIshirō Honda
WritersKen Kuronuma·Shinichi Sekizawa
ProducerTomoyuki Tanaka

Where to watch

Criterion ChannelCriterion Channel
Availability shown for United States · rights vary by country

Cast · Directed by Ishirō Honda

KNKōzō Nomura
Kōzō Nomura
Kenji Uozaki
ASAyumi Sonoda
Ayumi Sonoda
Yuriko Shinjô
KSKoreya Senda
Koreya Senda
Dr. Sugimoto
AHAkihiko Hirata
Akihiko Hirata
Dr. Fujimora
FMFuyuki Murakami
Fuyuki Murakami
Dr. Majima
YTYoshio Tsuchiya
Yoshio Tsuchiya
Military Officer Katsumoto
MYMinosuke Yamada
Minosuke Yamada
Secretary of Defense
HIHisaya Ito
Hisaya Ito
Ichiro
YTYoshibumi Tajima
Yoshibumi Tajima
Captain of Uranami
NKNadao Kirino
Nadao Kirino
Yutaka Wada
AS
Akira Sera
Village High Priest
AKAkio Kusama
Akio Kusama
Military Officer Kusama

More from Kōzō Nomura · Lead actor

High and Low
High and Low
1963 · 8.4
Varan the Unbelievable
Varan the Unbelievable
1962 · 4.4
Mothra vs. Godzilla
Mothra vs. Godzilla
1964 · 7.0
Frankenstein Conquers the World
Frankenstein Conquers the World
1965 · 6.7
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
1964 · 7.0
The War of the Gargantuas
The War of the Gargantuas
1966 · 6.3
Gorath
Gorath
1962 · 6.3
Chûshingura
Chûshingura
1962 · 7.1
The Last War
The Last War
1961 · 6.8
Battle in Outer Space
Battle in Outer Space
1959 · 5.9
See all fromKōzō Nomura

More from Ayumi Sonoda · Co-star actress

Varan the Unbelievable
Varan the Unbelievable
1962 · 4.4
A Cat and Dried Bonito Flakes: The Story of a Swindler
A Cat and Dried Bonito Flakes: The Story of a Swindler
1961
I Love You
I Love You
1959
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
1960 · 8.0
The Blue Beast
The Blue Beast
1960 · 8.0
The H-Man
The H-Man
1958 · 5.8
Sararīman Gonza to Sukejū ren'ai kōsa-ten
Sararīman Gonza to Sukejū ren'ai kōsa-ten
1962
Don't Make a Mistake!
Don't Make a Mistake!
1958
Japan's No. 1 Playboy
Japan's No. 1 Playboy
1963 · 9.0
Ginza Tomboy
Ginza Tomboy
1960
See all fromAyumi Sonoda

More from Ishirō Honda · Director

Return of Ultraman
Return of Ultraman
1971 · 8.6
Ran
Ran
1985 · 8.0
Godzilla
Godzilla
1954 · 7.6
Kagemusha
Kagemusha
1980 · 7.8
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
1956 · 6.5
Invasion of Astro-Monster
Invasion of Astro-Monster
1965 · 6.8
Terror of Mechagodzilla
Terror of Mechagodzilla
1975 · 6.8
Echo Mountain
Echo Mountain
1959 · 9.0
Varan the Unbelievable
Varan the Unbelievable
1962 · 4.4
Mothra vs. Godzilla
Mothra vs. Godzilla
1964 · 7.0
See all fromIshirō Honda

More like this

Rodan
Rodan
1956 · 6.5
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion
1996 · 7.4
Godzilla 2000: Millennium
Godzilla 2000: Millennium
1999 · 6.9
Attack on Titan II: End of the World
Attack on Titan II: End of the World
2015 · 6.2
Shin Godzilla
Shin Godzilla
2016 · 7.2
Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla
Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla
2002 · 7.5
Godzilla: Final Wars
Godzilla: Final Wars
2004 · 7.1
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris
1999 · 7.4
Godzilla vs. Hedorah
Godzilla vs. Hedorah
1971 · 6.8
Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One
2023 · 7.6
Space Amoeba
Space Amoeba
1970 · 6.4
Godzilla vs. Biollante
Godzilla vs. Biollante
1989 · 7.4

Varan — streaming FAQ

Which OTT platform streams Varan?

Varan is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States. It's not currently on Netflix.

Is Varan on Netflix?

No, Varan is not on Netflix in United States as of September 2026. It's currently on Criterion Channel.

Is Varan on Amazon Prime Video?

No, Varan isn't on Amazon Prime Video in United States right now. It's on Criterion Channel instead.

Where can I watch Varan for free?

Varan is available on Criterion Channel in United States, but you'll need an active subscription — there's no free option right now.