Godzilla X Kong: New Empire generated $80 million in just one weekend in the United States and $45 million over two and a half days in China. The film is electrifying box office results, outperforming Dune 2. International estimates are forecasting very strong figures as it is released worldwide. Many people have been eager to see these titans clash on the big screen. Notably, Godzilla vs Kong in 2021 was released during the COVID crisis, limiting its standard theatrical release. The scene of Kong with Thanos’ gauntlet and Godzilla spewing pink nuclear spouts perfectly encapsulates viewers’ sentiment: more Kong means more bong.
The movie “Godzilla X Kong: New Empire” has generated $80 million in the US alone over a weekend, and $45 million in China within two and a half days. This surpasses the earnings of “Dune 2”. International projections predict even stronger global figures post-release. The film’s success is attributed to audience eagerness for large-scale spectacle, which was limited during the COVID pandemic when “Godzilla vs Kong” in 2021 had a hindered theatrical release. Humorously, the unique visuals of Kong and Godzilla are likened to internet meme culture, with Kong wearing Thanos’ gauntlet and Godzilla emitting pink nuclear spouts, embodying the excitement and humor surrounding their epic battle.
Adam Wingard has effectively refined his approach for the Godzilla X Kong sequel following three years of reflection. He has clarified what elements were successful and which ones needed improvement from the previous film. One significant adjustment involves reducing the number of human characters, particularly those whose screen time did not contribute substantially to the narrative. I experienced this firsthand by watching the film the night before my visit to Warner Bros Pictures today. With actors such as Milly Bobby Brown, Eiza González, Alexander Skarsgård, and Rebecca Hall prominently featured in the previous film, their presence sometimes overshadowed the core message: the Kaijus. When audiences pay between 10 to 20€ for a premium screening experience at the cinema to watch a film like Godzilla X Kong, they expect to be captivated by these enormous creatures dominating the screen. This sequel delivers on that expectation with fewer human characters, more monsters, and consequently, more spectacle.
The absence of these main characters does not indicate that the human narrative has disappeared; rather, it signifies an inversion in the relationship between the first and second films. In “Godzilla vs. Kong,” there were 70% human elements and 30% kaiju content. In contrast, “Godzilla X Kong” features 30% humans and 70% giant creatures. It is evident that Adam Wingard appears less concerned with the actual story and more interested in showcasing battles between these colossal beings. As a result, viewers can expect numerous encounters with formidable adversaries alongside Godzilla and Kong. From this standpoint, the film offers substantial value for those seeking to witness monumental creature confrontations on the big screen. However, it is important to note that once again, Godzilla plays a secondary role in this sequel. He receives slightly more screen time than in the previous installment, but it is clear that Kong takes center stage. This makes sense given his capacity to convey emotion through simple gestures and glances, traits that resonate universally due to his status as an animal closely related to humans.
You’re going to the dentist.
In “Godzilla X Kong: New Empire,” Godzilla safeguards Earth by protecting its inhabitants from other Kaiju invasions and has made the Colosseum of Rome his home. Meanwhile, Kong explores the Hollow Earth, an unexplored region of Earth that houses giant, primitive creatures where gravity is often reversed. The story delves into explaining these gravitational anomalies while revealing a new secret area where Kong’s people have sought refuge. Trailers reveal this new tribe is led by Scar King, an evil big ape who is a mix of monkey, gorilla, and orangutan. He wears a chain around his neck made from an animal’s vertebrae to which he has attached a mysterious and powerful artifact.
The sequel “Godzilla X Kong: New Empire” has been a significant box office success, surpassing expectations set by “Dune 2,” with substantial earnings in the U.S. and China. Director Adam Wingard rebalanced the film to focus more on the monster battles rather than human characters, following criticism that the first film, “Godzilla vs Kong” (2021), had too much emphasis on humans during the COVID pandemic, which hindered its traditional theatrical release. Wingard reduced screen time for lead actors like Milly Bobby Brown, Eiza Gonzalez, Alexander Skarsgård, and Rebecca Hall to prioritize the Kaiju creatures that are central to audience expectations. The film now features 70% Kaiju action versus 30% human narrative—a shift from the previous 70/30 ratio in favor of humans. Wingard seems more interested in the epic clashes among giant creatures, ensuring audiences get their money’s worth with an array of formidable adversaries for Kong and Godzilla. While Kong takes center stage, embodying much of the emotional weight through his primate-like expressiveness, Godzilla remains somewhat in the background, though more prominently featured than before. The plot unfolds as Kong explores the Hollow Earth, an uncharted realm within Earth that harbors colossal, ancient creatures with sometimes reversed gravity, where a new tribe led by the malevolent Scar King awaits. This sequel aims to deliver intense spectacle centered on massive monster encounters, with Kong at its heart, leveraging visual storytelling that communicates universally through gestures and expressions.
Visually, it is quite clean overall and homogeneous. There are no weaker scenes compared to others; rather, there’s an artistic choice that may not please everyone, with its bright, sometimes jarring color choices. If you’re on board with the proposal as I am, it’s a great ride. We’re clearly in the legacy of ’90s films where stories didn’t bog down actioners of the time. The CGI is top-notch, so Weta really put in the work, whether it’s modeling the Titans or the rich, varied environments that react according to the power of our Titans. The only thing missing and greatly missed is the scale relationship with human beings. Apart from 3-4 scenes, rarely do we see our Kaijus placed in a human context, which makes us lose some of their enormity, something Gareth Edwards and Godzilla Minus One successfully portrayed on screen.
Where “Godzilla X Kong” disappoints is in how both Titans are treated, clearly imbalanced. The poster and trailers promised that the two monsters would face a central threat as a team, which they do, but by the end of the film, it feels like reliving the same structure as the first 2021 film, which is unfortunate. This time, there are two distinct storylines: Kong’s and Godzilla’s. While the story around Kong is somewhat developed, Godzilla’s has been clearly underutilized, giving the impression that Adam Wingard doesn’t seem to care much about the lizard. Throughout the film, Godzilla spends most of his time searching for recharge zones, whether in a nuclear power plant or another kaiju’s hideout, leading to his subsequent pink transformation. Godzilla is clearly underexploited and, like in the first film, is only present for the final battle. It’s unfortunate because there was potential to evolve the relationship between the two Titans in a comedic way, embracing the absurdity fully.
Not Crazy Enough?
Godzilla X Kong is not a great film, and it does not claim to be one. Adam Wingard’s movie aims for spectacle and entertainment, with some references to the 1990s in certain scenes and character development (the vet). Even if one might need to suspend disbelief to watch this film, it could have been even more absurd and embraced its chaotic nature further. Nonetheless, the mantra of this sequel is clear: “fun” above all else. Surprisingly, the film is amusing and entertaining, much like Kong himself—in both senses of the term—and the more outrageous it becomes, the better it seems to be.
