As a dedicated fan of all things giant, scaly, and destructive (or just plain adorable when it comes to Kong), I’ve been on this MonsterVerse journey since its inception. And let me tell you, it’s been a rollercoaster ride!
In 2024, the movie “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” was a blockbuster hit at the box office, surpassing expectations as the most lucrative and entertaining installment in what’s now known as the MonsterVerse – a cinematic universe more profitable and enjoyable than many anticipated. Revitalizing and adapting the Japanese kaiju film genre proved to be a shrewd decision. The producers recognized a ripe market for epic crossovers featuring different colossal monsters, and the MonsterVerse has been thriving financially for a decade by capitalizing on audiences’ desire to watch these titans either battle or unite against common perils.
The MonsterVerse reintroduces age-old tales from both the “Godzilla” and “King Kong” series, along with numerous other colossal creatures beyond the giant lizard and the towering ape. All these legendary beings are woven into an expansive sci-fi narrative. If you’re eager to embark on your personal journey into the Hollow Earth and experience all MonsterVerse films, whether as a newcomer or a returning viewer, there are several viewing options available. In this article, we will guide you through each film in the MonsterVerse franchise in the order of their release, followed by two alternative watching sequences for your consideration.
Godzilla
2014 marked the commencement of the MonsterVerse with the debut of “Godzilla,” a production by Legendary and Warner Bros. This movie served as a modern-day reboot of the extensive “Godzilla” franchise. Noteworthy aspects of this release included:
As a passionate fan, I can’t help but share my excitement about Gareth Edwards’ “Godzilla.” This modern take on the legendary kaiju begins its tale in an intriguing way, setting the scene with the mysterious devastation of a Japanese nuclear power plant in 1999. Fast forward to 2014, and the film continues the tradition of Toho classics like “Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster.” In this rendition, Godzilla is portrayed as an uneasy ally to humanity, banding together with us against a common menace – in this instance, the two winged creatures that introduce the concept of Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms (MUTOs) unique to the MonsterVerse. Critics generally praised “Godzilla,” and it went on to become a global box office sensation with a staggering $525 million gross, paving the way for an American franchise based on monstrous creatures.
Kong: Skull Island
The “King Kong” series can be compared to the “Godzilla” series as American counterparts. Starting with Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack’s groundbreaking film “King Kong” in 1933, it’s a film series that alternates between adventure and horror, much like its Japanese counterpart. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, there were occasional releases for “King Kong,” although not as frequent as those for “Godzilla.” After a prolonged hiatus, the “King Kong” franchise was reborn in the 1960s due to renewed public interest in monster movies following the success of “Godzilla.” Subsequent films were produced, culminating in Peter Jackson’s highly acclaimed 2005 remake of the original 1933 film.
In the year 2017, following a popular resurrection of “Godzilla”, Legendary Pictures decided to venture into the world of “King Kong” with “Kong: Skull Island”. This new take on the “King Kong” story wasn’t a direct reboot, but rather a fresh retelling of the legend through a different perspective and with new human characters. The movie was set in 1973 after a brief prologue in 1944, and unlike previous films where filmmakers visited Skull Island, this time it was scientists and Vietnam War veterans who made the journey. “Kong: Skull Island” outperformed its predecessor at the global box office, earning $568 million worldwide.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
As a gamer, I’d say it like this: Back in the 50s, most Americans first encountered Godzilla not from the original 1954 movie, but through an American version called “Godzilla, King of the Monsters!” This was a re-edited film with added footage by Terry O. Morse, released in 1956. It’s interesting to note that the makers of the 2019 sequel decided to resurrect that same title, adding a hint of nostalgic humor to it.
In essence, “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” functioned as the sequel to the original film that launched the MonsterVerse, much like “Iron Man 2” for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Director and co-writer Michael Dougherty helmed this movie. Using superhero franchise analogies, one could label it as the American Godzilla reboot’s version of the DC Extended Universe’s “Justice League.” This film was instrumental in quickly introducing a slew of iconic characters into the franchise – King Ghidorah serving as the new main antagonist, Rodan as his accomplice, and Mothra teaming up with Godzilla to combat them. The human cast, however, was entirely fresh, except for Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn, and Ken Watanabe reprising their roles from earlier films.
Despite not being a cinematic masterwork, it certainly delights kaiju enthusiasts with numerous impressive scenes. Although it didn’t match the commercial success of the preceding MonsterVerse films (it grossed $387 million worldwide), it still successfully advanced the series and paved the way for the much-anticipated crossover event that transpired two years later.
Godzilla vs. Kong
The concept of a film bringing Godzilla and King Kong together isn’t a new one by any stretch. As a matter of fact, when the “Godzilla” franchise first took off in the mid-20th century and breathed new life into the monster movie subgenre, sparking the public interest that would allow King Kong to return to silver screens for the first time since 1933, the ape king’s comeback happened not in Hollywood, but in Japan — through a Godzilla crossover. Produced by Toho and directed by Ishirō Honda, 1962’s “King Kong vs. Godzilla” set the precedent for the film that would officialize the unity of Legendary’s MonsterVerse nearly six decades later: 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong.”
In the action-packed movie “Godzilla vs. Kong,” directed by Adam Wingard, we find an intricate narrative involving Apex Cybernetics utilizing Kong as a guide to explore the Earth’s core. The paths of monsters, corporations, and humanity intertwine in complex ways here. Godzilla and Kong initially engage in a series of confrontations, building tension between them. However, their rivalry serves as a setup for the true danger – the emergence of Mechagodzilla within the MonsterVerse.
Skull Island
After the successful release of four films – “Godzilla”, “Kong: Skull Island”, “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”, and “Godzilla vs. Kong”, the MonsterVerse was well-established as a media franchise. Two years following “Godzilla vs. Kong”, in June 2023, the next installment in the MonsterVerse wasn’t another movie but instead debuted as the first season of a Netflix animated series.
Titled “Skull Island” and penned by Brian Duffield, who authored all eight episodes of the initial season, this series offers a tale that largely aligns with its straightforward An expedition to Skull Island. This adventure is embarked upon by characters who are quite different from those typically featured in the depicted MonsterVerse action. Set in the 1990s, the narrative unfolds around a team of marine explorers and cryptid hunters who encounter a girl (Mae Whitman) drifting at sea, rescue her, and ultimately become separated and stranded on Skull Island when their ship is assaulted by a kraken.
On Skull Island, the storyline unfolds, revealing more about the girl, the enigmatic scientist (Betty Gilpin) commanding a group of mercenaries in pursuit, and the expansive past of Skull Island. Although not necessarily linked to the movie’s narrative, watching “Skull Island” is an engaging experience for any MonsterVerse enthusiast and definitely worth investing your time.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
In the year 2023, the MonsterVerse witnessed an unusual collaboration in the business sphere: Legendary Entertainment’s ambition to grow the franchise into a colossal multi-media empire met Apple TV+’s propensity for large investments, giving birth to the series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.” This high-budget sci-fi action show shares production quality with the cinematic MonsterVerse films and boasts an impressive ensemble cast. John Goodman reprises his role from “Kong: Skull Island,” alongside talents such as Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, and the Russell brothers, Wyatt and Kurt, portraying the same character in different time periods. The series, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” has a complex timeline that primarily spans 2015 (immediately following the events of 2014’s “Godzilla”) and the 1950s.
The show is divided into two sections, both centering mainly on Monarch, the clandestine agency that keeps tabs on giant monster activity within the MonsterVerse universe. The 2015 segment follows siblings Cate (Anna Sawai) and Kentaro (Ren Watabe), who are searching for information about Monarch after their father mysteriously vanished, with flashbacks providing insight into Monarch’s origins and early operations. This narrative setup serves to connect the MonsterVerse with the 1950s vibe of the original “Godzilla” movies. Despite its focus on character development, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” doesn’t skimp on monster action, as it includes encounters with Godzilla and later King Kong.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
2024 saw the fifth, financially triumphant MonsterVerse film: “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” This movie was particularly significant as it marked a full-circle moment, being the second film in the series directed by Adam Wingard and arriving ten years after the original “Godzilla.” Unlike previous installments, this film didn’t require any introduction or explanation of the kaiju, as their presence, personalities, and motivations were already well-established. The narrative primarily revolves around Kong and Godzilla’s actions and objectives, with humans serving mostly as bystanders or supporters, except for Jia’s (Kaylee Hottle) substantial character development, a native of Skull Island who was previously seen in “Godzilla vs. Kong.
Most of the action unfolds within the Underground World, where Kong encounters a surviving group of his kin and interacts with them. At the same time, Godzilla has transitioned into a guardian for mankind against new Titans, and appears to be growing stronger in preparation for an impending clash with an imminent danger. The destinies of these titanic beings collide when Skull King, a malevolent ape king seeking to conquer the Earth’s surface, breaks free from his centuries-old captivity within the Underground World, set by Godzilla. It is now up to Kong, Godzilla, and Mothra to thwart Skull King and his controlled Titan, Frost Titan Shimo, before they plunge the Earth into another ice age. This upcoming film in the series will be followed by a movie directed by Grant Sputore in 2027.
How to watch the MonsterVerse in chronological order
As a diehard MonsterVerse fan here, I’ve been pondering the best way to dive into this thrilling universe. While some might jump right in by watching each movie as they hit theaters, I found that there are other paths worth considering for an immersive experience. Since the franchise is known for its intricate timelines and time jumps, watching it in the sequence of events within the universe itself can be quite rewarding – although you may need to make some educated guesses about the exact chronology due to flashbacks. Hope that helps!
For a clear and cohesive viewing experience, it’s impractical to separate the prologues, flashbacks, and episodes of “Godzilla,” “Kong: Skull Island,” and “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” as you suggested, since that would require watching only brief segments at a time. A more feasible approach would be to watch them in this sequence instead: Start with the prologue of “Kong: Skull Island,” followed by various episodes of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” (in any order), and then conclude with the “Godzilla” prologue. This way, the storylines should flow more smoothly while still allowing you to appreciate the individual backstories and connections between the films.
First, you should watch “Kong: Skull Island,” with its 1944 prologue — the earliest point in the timeline we’ve seen yet — and its 1973 plot. Next up is the ’90s-set “Skull Island” show, and then you can simply watch the other films in release order after that. As for “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” you can watch it after “Kong” if you want to focus on the ’50s flashbacks depicting the creation of Monarch, or right after “Godzilla” if you’d rather have the full context for the show’s 2015 timeline. As far as we’re concerned, this is the best way to experience the entire MonsterVerse timeline.
Watching the MonsterVerse movies and shows from worst to best
There’s another way to order the MonsterVerse movies and shows that wouldn’t really work for a newcomer who cares about following the narrative continuity, but might just do the trick in a rewatch — or if you’re someone who’s in it for the kaiju set pieces alone and doesn’t really care about following the plot. That way would be to watch the MonsterVerse films in ascending order of quality, so that each subsequent viewing (theoretically) improves on the previous one.
Regarding the MonsterVerse series, opinion on quality can vary, but if you turn to review aggregators like Metacritic, they can help determine which titles are the least and most well-received. In this case, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” seems to be the least favored among these productions. It’s worth noting that even in a typical year, it might not have been a critical hit; however, its release coincided with “Godzilla Minus One,” an enormously acclaimed Japanese production that made Oscar history only a few months earlier. This may have put additional pressure on “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” to meet the high expectations set by its predecessor.
Following “The New Empire” rated 47, we have “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” scoring 48, then comes Netflix’s “Skull Island” animated series with a score of 51. If you prefer works that were not as well-received, these are your picks. For more respected titles, proceed to “Godzilla vs. Kong,” which garnered a commendable 59 on Metacritic. The remainder of the MonsterVerse boasts green scores in the 60s range: “Kong: Skull Island” and “Godzilla,” both at 62, followed by Apple TV+’s “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” currently the highest-rated critical gem of the MonsterVerse with a score of 68. If you’re considering rewatching the MonsterVerse in order of critical acclaim, then this is an alternative sequence for you.
What other media is there in the MonsterVerse?
Beyond the movies and television series, the MonsterVerse has branched out into various other types of media as well. A selection of novels connected to the franchise have been released, such as “Godzilla” penned by Greg Cox, “Kong: Skull Island” written by Tim Lebbon, and the entire series of “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” “Godzilla vs. Kong,” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” all authored by Gregory Keyes. Moreover, each film has been complemented by art books that delve into their production process.
In addition to the movies, there have been multiple comic book series and graphic novels related to these films. For instance, “Godzilla: Awakening” functioned as a prequel to the film “Godzilla,” followed by “Skull Island: The Birth of Kong,” which served both as a prequel and sequel to “Kong: Skull Island.” This was then followed by “Godzilla: Aftershock,” a prequel to “King of the Monsters.” The release of “Godzilla vs. Kong” came with two comic book prequels, “Kingdom Kong” and “Godzilla Dominion.” Furthermore, “The New Empire” had “Godzilla x Kong: The Hunted.” Additionally, there was a seven-issue crossover between DC Comics and these characters called “Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong.
As a hardcore gamer, I can tell you that my gaming world has been expanded by the MonsterVerse! From me to you, there are not one, not two, but three mobile games based on “Godzilla” and even a web game. In 2024, they dropped a double whammy with a “Godzilla x Kong” mobile game and a Kong-led 2.5D platformer. And for the little ones, there are two adorable picture books: “Kong and Me” by Kiki Thorpe, and “Godzilla vs. Kong: Sometimes Friends Fight (But They Always Make Up)” by Carol Herring. No matter if you’re a kid or an adult, the MonsterVerse has got something for everyone to enjoy!
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2024-10-29 14:30