Let's be real for a second. If you’re walking into a movie theater to see a giant radioactive lizard and a 300-foot ape team up, you aren't exactly looking for a Shakespearean monologue. You want to see buildings crumble. You want to see monsters punch each other through the Pyramids.
Honestly, Godzilla x Kong The New Empire knows exactly what it is.
The critics? They weren't so kind. Over at Rotten Tomatoes, the professional "snobs" slapped it with a mediocre 54% score, grumbling about thin plots and too much CGI. But the people? The fans who actually buy the popcorn? They gave it a massive 93%. That is a chasm. It’s a total disconnect between what "cinema" is supposed to be and what "fun" actually looks like.
The Monsterverse Finally Embraces the Weirdness
This isn't your grandfather’s Godzilla. We've moved far past the somber, grounded tone of the 2014 reboot. Director Adam Wingard basically took the leash off and let the franchise go full Saturday morning cartoon.
Basically, the plot picks up with our two leads living in a sort of "long-distance relationship." Godzilla is up on the surface, napping in the Colosseum like a giant cat after burning down half of Rome. Meanwhile, Kong is down in the Hollow Earth, feeling a bit lonely and—hilariously—dealing with a toothache.
Yes, a toothache.
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Meet the New Guys
The movie introduces some wild new additions to the Titan roster:
- Skar King: Imagine an orangutan that spent too much time in the gym and has a serious ego problem. He’s the anti-Kong. He doesn't lead through respect; he leads through fear and a whip made out of a Titan’s spine.
- Shimo: This is the heavy hitter. She’s an ancient ice-breathing Titan that the Skar King has basically enslaved using a painful crystal. She’s the reason we had an Ice Age, according to the movie's lore.
- Suko: The "Mini-Kong." At first, he’s a little jerk who tries to lure Kong into a trap, but they eventually bond in a way that’s actually kinda touching for two CGI primates.
Why Godzilla x Kong The New Empire Shattered Records
Despite the critical side-eye, the movie was a massive financial win. It pulled in over $572 million worldwide. That makes it the highest-grossing film in the entire Monsterverse history. It even outpaced the massive hype of Godzilla vs. Kong.
Why? Because it’s pure, unadulterated spectacle.
When Godzilla evolves into his new pink form—thanks to a pit stop in the Arctic to eat a Titan named Tiamat—it’s not about logic. It’s about how cool he looks glowing magenta while sprinting toward a fight. The movie treats its monsters like professional wrestlers. There’s a scene in Rio de Janeiro that is basically a tag-team match where gravity becomes optional.
The Human Element (The Part Everyone Ignores)
We have to talk about the humans. Usually, they're the worst part of these movies. In The New Empire, they’re... fine? Rebecca Hall returns as Dr. Ilene Andrews, and Kaylee Hottle is back as Jia, who remains the emotional heartbeat of the story.
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But the real MVP is Dan Stevens as Trapper. He’s a Titan veterinarian who wears Hawaiian shirts and flies a ship like he’s in an 80s action flick. He brings a "don't take this too seriously" energy that the movie desperately needed. Brian Tyree Henry is also there as Bernie, the conspiracy theorist, mostly to provide comic relief and explain the weird science so we don't have to think too hard.
Addressing the "Minus One" Elephant in the Room
A lot of the hate from critics came because this movie released shortly after Godzilla Minus One. That Japanese film won an Oscar and made everyone cry. It was a masterpiece of human drama.
Comparing The New Empire to Minus One is like comparing a gourmet five-course meal to a giant bag of Skittles. They’re both great, but they’re doing completely different things. You don't go to a theme park expecting a history lecture, and you don't go to a Wingard movie expecting a meditation on post-war trauma.
The Monsterverse is about the "Kaiju Eiga" tradition—the fun, campy, "vs" era of the 60s and 70s. It’s colorful. It’s loud. It’s bright.
What’s Next for the Big Guys?
If you're wondering where we go from here, the future is already looking crowded. While Adam Wingard won't be returning for the next one due to scheduling, Legendary has already tapped Grant Sputore to direct the follow-up.
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The next chapter, currently being called Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, is slated for a March 2027 release.
Rumors are already flying about what’s coming. We’re hearing names like SpaceGodzilla or Gigan being tossed around by fans. What we do know for sure is that filming has kicked off in Australia, and Dan Stevens is expected to bring Trapper back to the big screen.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rewatch
If you're planning to watch Godzilla x Kong The New Empire again at home, do yourself a favor:
- Turn up the bass. The sound design when Shimo uses her frost breath is genuinely incredible.
- Watch the backgrounds. The Hollow Earth is packed with weird creature designs you’ll miss the first time.
- Don't overthink the science. The "gravity portals" and "hollow earth physics" make zero sense. Just enjoy the ride.
The Monsterverse isn't slowing down. It has found its lane as the king of the "popcorn blockbuster," and as long as they keep the fights creative and the monsters massive, the fans will keep showing up.
Next Steps:
Go watch the final Rio battle one more time, but pay attention to Mothra's interference. She’s the only reason Godzilla and Kong didn't kill each other before the real fight even started. After that, keep an eye out for the official Supernova teaser expected to drop later this year.