Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the fifth installment in the Monsterverse franchise created by Legendary and Warner Bros. Pictures. This film is expected to be the biggest blockbuster in Hollywood for 2024, and here are some reasons why you can’t miss this unique cinematic experience.
The Return of Cultural Icons
Throughout the past year, the world has witnessed the emergence of numerous iconic characters in cinema, with beloved cultural figures making a comeback. Among many superheroes with extraordinary powers, there are also iconic monsters like Godzilla and Kong, who have captivated global audiences.
The new film, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, directed by Adam Wingard—who previously helmed the successful Godzilla vs. Kong—is set to explore the next chapter of their epic saga. Speaking about the concept for the new installment, Wingard stated: “Once you’ve witnessed Godzilla and Kong in an epic battle in Godzilla vs. Kong, the question arises: ‘What comes next?’ Naturally, the answer must involve the alliance of these two titans. However, they cannot be united too easily. Once they’ve established a bond, they cannot be separated, yet these two titans are not always on the same page. They have a complex relationship. Despite fighting together, they remain distinct characters, and their differing perspectives are what we aim to explore.”
Focusing on these two titans, Wingard and his team aim to immerse audiences in a completely new world—Skull Island. Here, various other titans exist, with dangers lurking and cultural secrets hidden deep within the lore.
Creating Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a thrilling and chaotic endeavor. Wingard decided to craft a truly “monster” film, allowing the titans ample screen time to showcase their unique abilities. The narrative focus is refined down to the monsters, ensuring a deep connection with the audience that goes beyond just “big monsters fighting.” This approach delivers a more authentic and engaging experience.
Discussing this bold creative direction, Wingard emphasized: “The success of the previous films has made me confident that we can allow the titans to carry their own story. Filming with monsters is always an incredible experience. The creativity involved is something you can’t replicate. Here, I’ve learned how to make films about monsters, and I’m ready to explore new narratives and elevate the experience because, ultimately, I want to create not just a monster film, but an adventure that feels unique to the audience.”
Visual Effects and CGI
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire promises to deliver what audiences expect from a blockbuster: grand scale, numerous action sequences, and breathtaking visuals. Set against the backdrop of Skull Island—an entirely remote and fantastical environment—the filmmakers have ingeniously created a lush world filled with various flora and fauna while concealing long-hidden cultural mysteries.
Production supervisor Eric McLeod shared: “Skull Island in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will be a unique realm, a distinct space. The sets and locations will have unique forms and distinctive elements, and Adam wanted to utilize brighter colors. He envisioned Skull Island as having both dark and light hues—dark from the volcanic mountains and light from the vibrant flora. I believe this aligns with Adam’s vision of depicting the epic battle of Heaven and Earth in the film: the Iwi tribe alongside the vivid colors of the lush jungle of Skull Island, which will be shrouded in shadow under the volcanic peaks.”
Not only will there be vast landscapes, but the main characters will also undergo transformations, complemented by impressive performances from the cast. Godzilla, the mighty titan, will showcase a new energy in this installment, with his signature spikes and fearsome appearance. Meanwhile, Kong will sport a new prosthetic arm—an essential detail relevant to the plot, alongside the introduction of new wicked monsters.
All these innovations aim to achieve a singular goal: to bring a compelling story centered around the titans. When these titans meet, there’s nothing more spectacular than the grand battles that ensue.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will feature significant combat scenes between the monsters, especially in environments where the titans engage in fierce battles without any human interference. This fresh approach keeps audiences thrilled by offering a completely new experience that they haven’t encountered before, amplifying the excitement on the big screen.
For the First Time, Audiences Under 13 in Vietnam Can Attend This Film
In this release, due to changes in the screening and film classification system, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has been rated K—meaning audiences under 13 years old can watch the film with a guardian or an adult accompanying them, similar to the PG-13 rating in the United States.
With the K rating, the film can officially reach audiences under 13 years old in Vietnam—many of whom are eager for their chance to see their beloved titans. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is set to become a family-friendly film that everyone can enjoy together at the cinema, ensuring that regardless of age, audiences will witness the thrilling return of the “God” Godzilla and the “King” Kong.
From March 29, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire officially rolled out alongside major cinemas in Vietnam. Just on its early release day, the film earned impressive box office numbers (with over 100,000 viewers and a revenue of approximately 10 billion VND), placing Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire in the seat of the highest-grossing kaiju film in Vietnam’s cinematic history, as well as the film with the highest early box office revenue from Warner Bros. Pictures in Vietnam. Thus, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is expected to maintain strong box office performance in Vietnam after a period of significant “resurrection” recently.
