With the absolutely monumental success (both box office and reception-wise) that Marvel Studios had with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, other movie studios began scrambling to create their own shared movie universes, in order to get a piece of the success their rival was having. Universal Pictures launched their “Dark Universe” of monster movies (The Mummy, Invisible Man), Sony Pictures is helping Valiant Comics launch their “Valiant Cinematic Universe”, which started with Bloodshot. Warner Brothers has not one, but two cinematic universes in their pocket: The DCEU (DC Extended Universe; consisting of Wonder Woman, Man of Steel, and Justice League), and the arguably more successful MonsterVerse films.
Starting with 2014’s Godzilla (starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Bryan Cranston), Warner Brothers has produced four movies set in its MonsterVerse, with two television shows set to join the franchise within the next few years. It’s been quite successful for the studio, with all four films receiving generally positive reviews, while also raking in nearly two billion dollars total amongst the four films combined. While still early in its franchising, the MonsterVerse still has more to come for audiences in the near future. In the meantime, here are the current four movies, ranked.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
4 Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
Warner Bros/ Toho Co
Though it has the lowest ratings of the MonsterVerse movies (42% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 6/10 on IMDB), 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters is by no means a bad movie. A sequel to 2014’s Godzilla, King of Monsters follows the government group known as Monarch, as they take on evil scientist Alan Jonah, as they free more of Godzilla’s fellow “titans” (as they are referred as in the films) from the Earth, causing even more chaos and mass destruction. Fan-favorite titans such as King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan all play a significant part in the movie, as Godzilla takes them all down to become “King of the Monsters”. A movie with absolutely beautiful visual spectacles and heart-pounding monster fights, the main complaints King of The Monsters received from critics was its lack of narrative; with some calling it “ramshackle” and “cutting edge effects are still no substitute for a good story”.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
3 Godzilla (2014)
The first entry into Warner Brothers MonsterVerse, directed by Gareth Edwards (Rogue One), Godzilla (2014) was only the second Godzilla movie to be entirely made by a Hollywood Studio. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, and Bryan Cranston, Godzilla follows an American soldier named Ford Brody (Taylor-Johnson) as he tries to make it back to his family in San Francisco. Alas, however, two parasitic monsters (known as MUTOs) break free from Japan and Nevada, and cause havoc while he tries to get home. And the film’s climatic third act has the two monsters, along with the now first-seen Godzilla, converging for a final battle in San Francisco.
The film has gained generally positive reviews from across the critical spectrum, with Rotten Tomatoes saying: “With just enough human drama to anchor the sweeping spectacle of giant monsters smashing everything in sight, Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla satisfyingly restores the franchise’s fire-breathing glory.” Another critic said the film makes up for what was a disaster in 1998’s Godzilla movie. The movie also made roughly three times its budget at the box office, and was a smash for the studio.
2 Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Warner Bros
Another successful entry into their MonsterVerse, and hot off the hype of 2014’s Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island was a triumphant return for the big and bold gorilla. Almost a prequel/origin film (set in 1973), Skull Island follows a group of soldiers from the Monarch organization, as they go to the recently discovered Skull Island in the Pacific, in order to discover new creatures. With a star-studded cast featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, and more; Skull Island became the most popular of the MonsterVerse movies at the time of its release in 2017. Critics called it a “hoot”, and “Offering exhilarating eye candy, solid acting, and a fast-paced story, Kong: Skull Island earns its spot in the movie monster’s mythos without ever matching up to the classic original.” (from Rotten Tomatoes). It also became the highest grossing MonsterVerse film up to that point, gaining $567 million dollars worldwide at the box office.
1 Godzilla VS Kong (2021)
With a well-executed, proper build-up, Warner Brothers brought the fight of the ages between its two titular monsters to the big screen in 2021. With yet another cast of brilliant actors such as Millie Bobby Brown, Alexander Skarsgård, and Shun Oguri; Godzilla VS Kong follows the Monarch organization, as they try to figure out what’s going on with Godzilla’s erratic behavior. While simultaneously, a company known as Apex Cybernetics is trying to hunt down the “Hollow Earth” home of the titans. The CEO of Apex, Walter Simmons, is able to convince Monarch to let them use Kong to explore the Hollow Earth. At the same time, Apex is working on a Mecha Godzilla, and when it is activated, it attracts Godzilla to Hong Kong, headquarters of Apex. This, of course, alerts Kong as well, and he goes up to meet Godzilla; and the most epic of fights ensues. Though in a stunning turn of events, the two team up to take down Mecha Godzilla in the end.
Mixing a heartfelt narrative with absolutely bombastic battles, Godzilla VS Kong was generally well met by critics, with Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times saying: “It’s the kind of movie that makes you forget about everything else in your life while you’re watching it.”, and Jamie Graham of Total Film saying: “Watching these famous monsters share the screen for the first time since 1963’s King Kong vs. Godzilla, in a series of expertly choreographed battles, packs real wallop, even if you can’t help wishing that screen was 30ft high at your local cinema.”. Alas, the movie did not do as well at the box office, due to cinemas still recovering from the COVID pandemic, and also receiving an HBO Max streaming release date as well. More entries are yet to come to Warner Brothers MonsterVerse, with two television shows in the works as well.
