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What do the Pokémonseries and the Godzilla series have in common? Firstly, they're two of Japan's media juggernauts that are known on a global level and have been for years. Additionally, they are based on unique creatures with interesting designs. In fact, some monsters in both franchises share similarities when it comes to their design.

This isn't surprising for those who are familiar with both universes. Many Pokémon are known to be inspired by kaiju. Satoshi Taijri, Pokémon's creator, has stated that the Godzilla franchise was a major inspiration for his work, alongside Ultraman. It's still interesting to see how this 70-year-old franchise inspired Pokémon.

Updated on March 19, 2025 by Mayra Garcia: Pokémon and Godzilla are two of the most important media franchises in Japan, so it makes sense for them to have a close relationship. This list has been updated to include more Pokémon who look a lot...

The MonsterVerse and the DC Universe are set to collide in a sequel that will once again see the Justice League face off against the biggest and baddest Titans. Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong rocked both worlds in 2023 and an upcoming follow-up promises a much more intense crossover.

This June, DC Comics and Legendary Comics are uniting for Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2, which will reunite the original miniseries’ Brian Buccellato and Christian Duce. In this new story, Amanda Waller utilizes Task Force X to help her develop hybrid Titans in order to ward off future attacks.

To stop Waller, the Justice League travels to the MonsterVerse’s Hollow Earth, where they once again discover monsters like Godzilla and Kong. This adventure not only promises to have much bigger stakes than its predecessor, but it will also feature ‘titanized’ versions of iconic DC Universe heroes and villains.

Justice League vs.

Since his emergence in 1954, Godzilla has gotten into many fights. Sometimes, it was because of his instinct to destroy, and other times, it was because he wanted to establish himself as the apex predator on a planet riddled with kaiju. Whatever the reason, Godzilla remains a true force of nature, who stands as an allegory for man-made disasters even to this day.

Although Godzilla's fights have earned him the moniker of King of the Monsters, some of his bouts are simply out of the realm of logic and common sensibilities. And this is not confined to any one era. Godzilla movies often use the pretext of fun for artistic freedom, thus leaving behind a legacy of kaiju fights that make little sense.

Godzilla’s Dropkick on Megalon Makes Sense if They Were Wrestlers Godzilla vs. Megalon Image via Toho

To make the Godzilla franchise more attractive for kids, Toho introduced a friendly,...

Masashi Kishimoto is probably responsible for one of the most brilliant mangas of the century with Naruto. However, the mangaka has revealed some brilliant inspiration that he had for the iconic Tailed Beasts that were at the center of the narrative of his manga.

Kurama – The Nine-Tailed Fox || Credit: Studio Pierrot

During his visit to France, the mangaka spoke with La Nouvelle Republique, where he revealed that the inspiration for the enormous-tailed beasts actually came from somewhere closer to home. As the artist/writer revealed, he had always been very taken with monsters, and the one key inspiration that he had for the Tailed Beasts, was none other than Godzilla himself.

Masashi Kishimoto always wanted to draw monsters

Masashi Kishimoto revealed to La Nouvelle Republique that his inspiration for the Tailed Beasts, arguably one of the most important concepts in the story of Naruto, was inspired by Japan’s most influential monster,...

The Godzillafranchise has been drawing crowds to movie theaters since 1954. Between the Japanese and American entries in the film series, nearly forty feature-length movies starring Godzilla have been produced. For a wide range of reasons, some of these installments have grossed far more financially successful than others.

Godzilla's recent films have been hits at the box office, but plenty of the King of the Monsters' older movies performed well, too. Comparing them may not seem fair due to the many cultural and economic changes that have affected the performance of films over the decades, but the numbers are what they are. The original Godzilla may have only grossed 2.25 million dollars, but multiple newer entries in the franchise have grossed over half a million dollars, ensuring that the series won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Godzilla 2000: Millennium Began a New Era of the Franchise

Along with being the...

The MonsterVerse is filled with legendary Titans, from Godzilla to Kong. Yet, among these colossal beings, the most important titan is often overlooked. Mothra, the Queen of the Monsters, is far more than a powerful ally in battle – she is the heart of the MonsterVerse.

Since her introduction in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Mothra’s actions have repeatedly determined the fate of the planet, ensuring survival in the face of threats. Revered as a guardian of Earth, Mothra’s sacrifices and strength have tipped the scales in battles where even the mightiest of Titans have failed. While others may dominate the spotlight, it’s Mothra who stands as the unsung hero of the franchise, her legacy shaping the very fabric of the MonsterVerse.

Who Is Mothra, the Unsung Hero of the Monsterverse?

Image via Warner Bros.

Mothra was first introduced in the 1961 novel The Luminous Fairies and Mothra,...

Between Godzilla and King Kong's 1962 and 2021 meetings, there was a series of three known attempts to bring the two back together again. Created in 1939 and 1954 respectively, King Kong and Godzilla have shared the big screen a total of three times over a 71-year period of shared cinematic history. After Rko and Toho arranged Godzilla and King Kong's famous clash in 1962's King Kong vs. Godzilla, decades passed before a rematch could be worked out.

Legendary's Godzilla vs. Kong notably renewed their rivalry by pitting the Monsterverse incarnations of the characters against each other. Rather than go back to their separate ways like their Toho counterparts all those years ago, Godzilla and Kong reunited again just three years later in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire's ending. What's more, a fourth partnership is expected in the untitled Godzilla x Kong sequel. But had previous efforts for Godzilla-Kong crossovers gone differently,...

Disney already has the perfect property to rival the blockbuster monster-movie crossovers of Legendary Pictures’ Monsterverse — and it’ll be completely its own thing. The Monsterverse originated as a standalone American reboot of the Godzilla franchise back in 2014. That movie was a big success, so a series of sequels and spinoffs were developed to introduce other classic monsters like Kong, Rodan, and King Ghidorah in that same shared cinematic universe. The Monsterverse, like The Conjuring Universe, has since gone on to become one of the highest-grossing cinematic universes not bearing the ol’ reliable Marvel brand.

For more than a decade now, the Monsterverse has dominated the monster movie market. Audiences love Godzilla and they love Kong, so they turn up in droves when a Monsterverse movie either pits Godzilla and Kong against each other or teams them up to fight a common enemy. Since it has two of the biggest movie monsters sharing the screen,...

Although Mothra isn't exactly renowned for her power level, her fights in the Godzilla franchise have yielded her an impressive accomplishment. Over the years, Mothra has clashed with an interesting assortment of kaiju associated with Godzilla. In addition to the King of the Monsters himself, Mothra has also done battle with two of Godzilla's kaiju villains in Toho's movies, King Ghidorah and Gigan. And thanks to the Monsterverse, she's even had a fight with Rodan, the monster considered by many to be Godzilla's greatest ally.

With those monsters - plus Godzilla - as opponents, it's no surprise that Mothra has died as many times as she has. Mothra has met her end in multiple movies, including her Monsterverse debut in Godzilla: King of the Monsters and her first film with Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla. However, that's not to see that she hasn't fared well in monster fights.

70 years of Godzilla films make for a truly titanic number of kaiju that appear across the franchise. Some of those monsters are friends of humanity, some are foes, and some go back and forth, but most importantly, they all fight. Kaiju battles are some of the most spectacular parts of these films, and that's true whether you're a fan of the modern CGI-based Monsterverse films or the classic tokusatsu films of the Showa and Heisei eras (especially with their sillier Godzilla stories).

Of course, Godzilla has the best fight record of any kaiju, but plenty of other monsters have had some impressive wins over the years. On the other hand, there are a few always-losers: the floppy-eared Baragon, overgrown shrimp Ebirah, the bug-like Megalon, Godzilla: Final Wars' menacing Monster X, and the plant-kaiju hybrid Biollante all failed to eke out even a single on-screen victory. As we wait for more...

A polarizing MonsterVerse installment has been one of the most-watched movies on Netflix since Christmas Day. Earlier this year, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire debuted to mixed critical reviews but was financially successful, becoming the highest-grossing MonsterVerse film to date.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is currently third on Netflix's Top 10 chart, only behind Carry-On and Kerry Washington's The Six Triple Eight. Directed by Adam Wingard, the film is a direct sequel to 2021's Godzilla x Kong and is the fifth film in the shared Monsterverse franchise. In Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Kong encounters more of his species in the Hollow Earth and must again ally with Godzilla to stop the tyrannical Skar King and the powerful, frost-breathing Shimo from invading the Earth's surface. Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle all reprise their roles from the previous film and are joined by Dan Stevens,...

Godzilla and the various monsters associated with him have displayed all sorts of impressive abilities over the years, harboring a wide degree of destructive capabilities. Godzilla is known as the King of the Monsters for a good reason, having faced off against and allied himself with all manner of other kaiju big enough to get their own series. Nothing shows off just how powerful the Godzilla movie monsters are like their strongest abilities, which run the gamut of apocalyptic levels of force.

Some of the strongest techniques available to the various kaiju populating Godzilla's various eras are special one-off abilities, whose usage necessitates a grand occasion. Others are more reliable pieces of a given monster's arsenal, being their both their strongest and most-used attacks at the same time. Whatever the case, cities the world over should be grateful they'll never have to witness the devastating abilities of the Godzilla series'...

Two classic kaiju from Godzilla's universe were nearly combined into one for a 1990s monster movie. Baragon and Anguirus are both counted among Godzilla's monster allies in the franchise. Introduced in Frankenstein vs Baragon and Godzilla Raids Again respectively, both were on hand when Godzilla famously opposed King Ghidorah in 1968's Destroy All Monsters.

Of the two, only Anguirus actually took part in the fighting. Godzilla and Anguirus then had a proper team-up in Godzilla vs. Gigan a few years later. Unfortunately, he didn't return to the franchise again until Godzilla: Final Wars, which only featured him in a minor role. As for Baragon, his only post-Destroy All Monsters appearance came in Godzilla, Mothra, and Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Again. However, Toho did remain interested in Baragon and Anguirus for years. In fact, there was once a plan to blend the concepts behind these two monsters together and make...

Godzilla: King of the Monsters was released in 2019 as the direct sequel to Gareth Edwards' Godzilla, which had mostly positive reviews, despite being deemed a "slow burn" and lacking monster fights. King of the Monsters looked to up the ante in every way possible, focusing on an entirely new group of human characters and pitting classic kaiju against Godzilla. Armed with fanservice and jaw-dropping visual effects, King of the Monsters had everything going for it, but sometimes more doesn't mean better. It proved to be a divisive entry into the then-young movie franchise, a crowd-pleasing affair that lacked depth despite its best efforts. However, even the most cynical Godzilla fans can find plenty to enjnoy in the film, which will be arriving on the ad-supported free streaming service Tubi on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2025.

Preceded by arguably one of the better trailers in the past decade, Godzilla: King of the Monsters...

There are only a handful of rivalries in pop culture as iconic as the feud between Godzilla and King Ghidorah. In the history of kaiju movies, these two behemoths stand as a testimony of strength, power, and destruction. Yet, only one gets to hold the moniker of King of the Monsters, leading to some deadly brawls over the years.

Humans often revere both Godzilla and King Ghidorah as Gods, one for its destructive nature and the other for its ancient origins. But their actions are not always God-like. Death follows them everywhere as the civilization of men means little to them. As the Godzilla franchise celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, Cbr takes a closer look into the timeless tussle between a God and a King.

Godzilla Takes on a Different Kind of Ghidorah

Godzilla's fight with Keizer Ghidorah ends up at the bottom of this list since it is...

Godzilla vs. Gigan nearly featured a monster lineup that would have produced the strongest villain team-up in history. While many of Godzilla's movies have been simple "versus" stories that pit him against singular villains, a number of them have been willing to pit the King of the Monsters against multiple opponents. Sometimes, this calls for Godzilla to be outnumbered, as was the case in 2014's Godzilla. On the other hand, there have been some situations - like Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire's ending - where Godzilla gets a partner to help him take on his enemies.

Villain team-ups have been occurring in the Godzilla franchise since 1972 when Toho made Godzilla vs. Gigan. One of Godzilla's many allies in Destroy All Monsters, one-time Godzilla villain Anguirus was paired up with Godzilla in the film for a two-on-two kaiju battle against Ghidorah and Gigan in his first-ever appearance. It was a fight Godzilla nearly lost,...

The world of Godzilla is as vast and complex as the monsters who inhabit it, but some of the franchise's spinoffs never made it to the big screen. Over the decades, Toho Studios, the company behind the legendary Godzilla franchise, has toyed with countless ideas featuring the kaiju's iconic allies and adversaries.

While many of the films were brought to life in spectacular fashion, countless others never had their moment on the silver screen. From ambitious sequels to creative spin-offs, these Godzilla movies eventually met the cutting room floor for a variety of reasons.

Bride of Godzilla Godzilla Almost Got a Mecha-Better Half

One of the earlier conceptualized spin-offs in the Godzilla franchise, Bride of Godzilla was as bizarre as its title suggests. Conceived in the late 1950s, this unproduced gem would have stretched the already imaginative Godzilla narrative to its limits. The story revolved around the creation of a...

Fans will be pleased to learn that fiction's most famous kaiju, in his least commercially successful MonsterVerse movie appearance, will soon make landfall on a free streaming platform. 2019's Godzilla: King of Monsters will hit Tubi on January 1.

Directed and co-written by Michael Dougherty, the film is a direct sequel to 2014's Godzilla and is the third Monsterverse film, following 2017's Kong: Skull Island. In Godzilla: King of Monsters, eco-terrorists release the alien kaiju King Ghidorah, who awakens other monsters known as Titans. Godzilla and Mothra surface to battle Ghidorah and Rodan. The movie stars Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, O'Shea Jackson Jr., David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe, and Zhang Ziyi.

Related January 1 Will Be an Amazing Day for Spawn Fans

Kick off the new year the right way with the help of Spawn.

Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros.,...

He's been away from the Marvel Universe for a while, but Godzilla is coming back next year for a crossover event that's going to span decades. In 2025, the King of the Monsters returns for a series of one-shots that will bring him together with some of the biggest Marvel Comics icons.

Per the Hollywood Reporter, Marvel Comics will be releasing Godzilla vs. Marvel, a six-issue crossover series that will unite the iconic kaiju with characters such as Spider-Man, Thor, and the Hulk. These one-shots will take place in different time periods, with the first seeing him cross paths with Marvel's First Family, the Fantastic Four.

Writer Ryan North and artist John Romita, Jr. will craft the first issue, which sees Godzilla's arch-enemy King Ghidorah becoming Galactus' new herald and gaining the Power Cosmic. In order to take Ghidorah down, Godzilla is teaming up with Galacus' most well-known herald, the Silver Surfer.

Despite being one of the most popular monsters in the Godzilla universe, Rodan has never been his main opponent for him in a movie. It's true that Rodan is one of Godzilla's closest allies, but it's important to note that the other two major heroes in the franchise have had their turn as the primary foe to Godzilla in a film. Anguirus filled this role in Godzilla Raids Again and Mothra held it twice, both in Godzilla vs. Mothra and Mothra vs. Godzilla.

Since both Mothra and Anguirus have been utilized in versus-themed Godzilla stories, it's worth wondering why Rodan was never utilized in a greater capacity. Across all of his appearances in the franchise, he's never been more than a co-star or a supporting player. There's always been plenty of potential for compelling action when it comes to a possible Godzilla vs. Rodan movie, but Toho apparently had other priorities.

A cancelled Godzilla team-up movie provides the perfect blueprint for Rodan's potential return to the Monsterverse. By leaving Rodan as one of the survivors of the big Titan battle in Boston, Godzilla: King of the Monsters' ending effectively set the stage for the King of the Skies to re-enter the picture at a later date. Because of this, there was reasonable speculation that Rodan would appear in both Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, but neither of these scenarios panned out. However, that's not to say the Monsterverse has closed the door on his story.

With a Godzilla x Kong sequel on the way, a second Monsterverse appearance for Rodan remains on the table. As for where he'd fit into the picture, that remains unclear, especially since there's all sorts of different roles he could fit in a Monsterverse movie. Of all the options available to it,...

A monster matchup Godzilla's movies tried and failed to arrange on two different occasions has the potential to be an exciting showdown if it were to occur in the Monsterverse. At some point or another, most kaiju associated with him - even those counted as Godzilla's allies - came to blows with him at least once, including Rodan, Mothra, and even Anguirus. However, there are some exceptions, with Varan being one of them.

Varan, an unique creature with the gliding ability of a flying squirrel, made his cinematic debut in 1958's Varan the Unbelievable. Made in the style of the original Godzilla movie from 1954, it saw Varan emerge as a threat to humanity before meeting its end in the film's final minutes. Much like Godzilla, he was later revived and integrated into Toho's universe of giant monsters. Unfortunately, his return never amounted to much more than a cameo in Destroy All Monsters.

It's true that plenty of sci-fi movies are more plot-heavy than character-driven, but that doesn't mean that the best additions to the genre don't include complex and well-developed characters. However, in most movies, not just speculative fiction, there are sometimes scenes that fit in well with the plot but end up undermining the arc of an otherwise well-written character. Though this doesn't take away the other moments that exemplify the character's nuanced and complex emotions and motivation, it does give the viewer pause and make them wonder why these scenes are included.

Occasionally, these characters' moments give great sci-fi movies disappointing endings since what happens to the characters is typically the most emotionally compelling piece of a story. Many of these characters are portrayed by brilliant actors who balance the contradictions within their roles and make them work within the narrative. Whether these scenes are throwaway moments meant to be...

One of Godzillas defining features from 70 years on the silver screen is his ability to adapt and transform from movie to movie, and hes not alone in that regard. The transformations that have marked Godzillas history have always been an important part of the metaphorical narrative surrounding him and his monstrous contemporaries. Godzilla has most often been portrayed as an animal or dinosaur altered and enlarged by nuclear radiation, so transformation is a core element of Godzillas entire origin story. His defining traitshis size and atomic breathare direct results of his original transformation.

In addition to Big G himself, many of the monsters in Godzilla's gallery of allies and enemies are also able to change their physical appearance to suit their needs. While transformation is a foundational aspect of some monsters like Mothra or Destoroyah, others have been able to transform only once in their cinematic history with Godzilla, and under very specific circumstances.

During this weekend's New York Comic Con, DC President, Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee shared several exciting updates about DC Comics' future plans during his annual "Jim Lee & Friends" panel.

Joined by writer Jeph Loeb, the artist announced a sequel to their acclaimed Batman: Hush series, to be published within the pages of DC’s ongoing Batman comic book series in 2025. A Hush 2 prelude will also be published in DC's Justice League Unlimited #1 on November 27.

There have already been loose sequels to the story, so we're definitely intrigued to learn what leads to another clash between the Dark Knight and Hush over two decades after the original.

Lee also revealed plans to bring back the DC Vertigo imprint as the home of DC's creator-owned comic books, graphic novels and collected editions.

Lee welcomed writer James Tynion IV to the stage, with a call-out to artist Álvaro Martínez Bueno in the crowd,...

Since 1955's Godzilla Raids Again, nearly every Godzilla movie has featured the titular Kaiju doing battle with other monsters. Among the most famous of his enemies are King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla, and King Kong. These foes are rightfully beloved, but some of the best Godzilla villains have never even made official appearances.

The Godzilla franchise is packed with memorable Kaiju, but there are even more enemies of the King of the Monsters who never made it to the screen. A lot can happen over the course of a film's development, and early ideas are often either scrapped or repurposed. Many of the most popular canceled Godzilla Kaiju met the latter fate, leaving fans to wonder if they wouldn't have been superior to the figures who replaced them.

Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on October 16, 2024: Godzilla has faced various foes throughout his history, with many movies featuring the giant monster pitting him against similar beasts.

Godzilla is one of the mightiest monsters in all fiction, with the massive kaiju having appeared in several movies. In his films, Godzilla has faced numerous rival monsters, from the three-headed King Ghidorah to the fire-breathing Rodan. These and other giant monsters have immense strength and incredible powers, making them more than a match for a certain set of robots in disguise.

The Transformers franchise is also known for its own stable of powerful characters, namely Autobots and Decepticons such as Optimus Prime and Megatron. These characters could, in some cases, take the fight to Godzilla and his fellow kaiju. In other cases, however, the monsters would reign supreme, defeating even the most valiant Cybertronians. Both brands are also celebrating birthdays, with the 70th anniversary of Godzilla bringing up the question of how he would fare against the 40-year-old Transformers.

Godzilla Could Take On the Autobots and the Decepticons First...

Of the many shared universes made in light of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) success, the MonsterVerse is arguably the only one that remained consistent in terms of both its quality and success. Beginning in 2014, this collaboration between American and Japanese studios reintroduced Godzilla and other classic Kaiju (now referred to as "Titans") to a new generation. This was done through movies and series that impressed critics with their hidden depths and blew fans away with their larger-than-life monster battles. The sole exception, however, seems to be Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

Despite bringing in three classic Toho kaiju namely King Ghidorah, Mothra and Rodan to fight with or against Godzilla, the MonsterVerse's third movie and first crossover went down as its most polarizing entry. Nowhere was this made clearer than its Rotten Tomatoes performance. To date, King of the Monsters has the MonsterVerse's lowest Tomatometer score on the review aggregator.

For the past 70 years, Godzilla has fought some truly awe-inspiring foes, but his coolest can never appear in the MonsterVerseand for a very specific reason. Godzilla has become an icon, thanks to a steady stream of films that have pit him against other giant monsters, or kaiju. These range from Rodan to the evil King Ghidorah, yet one of Godzillas best foes can only appear in Marvel Comics.

Red Ronin, first appearing in 1978s Godzilla, King of the Monsters #6, began as a potential villain before becoming an uneasy ally of the King of Monsters. Created by writer Doug Moench and artist Herb Trimpe, Red Ronin is a mecha, a giant robot piloted by a human being, and was created in conjunction with Shield, as a means of fighting Godzilla. Before Red Ronin could go onto the field, the grandson of one of its designers stole the robot, and fought Godzilla.

Like all the movies that are part of Legendary's Monsterverse, the latest chapter Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire is loaded with references to Toho's classic Godzilla movies. The fifth movie in the interconnected universe of planet-shaping kaiju saw the two most famous monsters in movie history temporarily put aside their long-standing Titan rivalry to take down a threat that would be too much for either to defeat on their own. The Monsterverse has provided a good mix of original Titans and iconic creatures from Godzilla's gallery of friends and foes, and Godzilla X Kong features some of both.

The narrative that plays out in Godzilla X Kong takes the Monsterverse, and the characters of Godzilla and Kong in general, to new, fantastic heights. However, moving the franchise into new territory does not mean that the movie ignores the extensive history of the beloved monsters at its core.

The Monsterverse has already added many iconic kaiju from Toho's classic lineup of Godzilla monsters, but could stand to add many more. Ever since the release of 2014's Godzilla, the movies of the Monsterverse have struck a balance between bringing back beloved giant monsters from previous eras of Godzilla and putting forward their own original creatures. That being said, there are plenty of kaijus from Godzilla's history yet to be used that could easily fit in as Titans in Legendary Pictures' Monsterverse.

Other than Godzilla and King Kong, the Monsterverse has already introduced several returning characters from the classic eras of Godzilla, including King Ghidorah, Mechagodzilla, Mothra, and Rodan. The series has since left plenty of promising concepts for monsters on the table, with many of Toho's old designs making perfect sense for the lore of the Monsterverse's hollow earth. Hopefully, future Monsterverse movies can continue to fill...

Godzilla and Kong have already gone head-to-head multiple times in Legendary's Monsterverse, but there are plenty of other incredible head-to-head Titan battles that the connected cinematic universe can explore. The Godzilla franchise, and really all of Toho's movie catalog, is predicated on massive monsters battling each other with an array of energy blasts, fists, and claws. The Monsterverse has followed through with that as a foundational aspect of the connected universe, with one-on-one fights and multi-monster team-ups acting as the high points of each movie.

Godzilla and Kong seem to have buried the axe for now (pun very much intended), but there are a number of Titans on the surface, deep in the Hollow Earth, and beyond who may have a bone to pick with either of the planet's two Alpha Titans. More than a dozen Titans have already been introduced in the Monsterverse, and there are plenty...

A scene in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire works as a fitting tribute to Godzilla's first-ever team-up with another kaiju. Godzilla's history of fighting beside other monsters dates all the way back to the 1964 Toho classic, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. Providing the movie debuts of Rodan and Ghidorah, the film was the fifth installment in Godzilla's movie franchise and arguably one of its most important entries to boot.

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster was a follow-up to Godzilla vs. Mothra, which famously pitted Godzilla and Mothra against each other for the first of many times in cinematic history. They reunited in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, but rather than meet as enemies again, the two found themselves on the same side. Together with Rodan, the monsters did battle with King Ghidorah and eventually succeeded in driving him off the Earth. In addition to this fight launching Godzilla's iconic rivalry with Ghidorah,...

A few months ago, we got the release of the fifth film in WB/Legendary’s MonsterVerse saga, Godzilla x Kong: The New Era. These films have attempted to somewhat reinvent the traditional Kaiju film for Western audiences, with our mighty monster heroes being called Titans. While the franchise arguably stumbled out of the gate with director Gareth Edwards’ coolly received Godzilla, the saga has steadily grown in popularity, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was a big hit. But how do the films stack up against each other? Let’s take a look with our MonsterVerse Movies Ranked List!

Godzilla (2014)

Audiences were pretty hyped for Gareth Edwards’ 2014 Godzilla reboot, with awesome early trailers that used Ligeti’s Requiem II from 2001: A Space Odyssey, promising the most intense Kaiju movie to date. It didn’t really work out that way, with many complaining about how dull the film was,...

Your browser does not support the video tag. A major Godzilla villain's absence in the MonsterVerse is a major issue that newer movies have yet to correct. Despite being Godzilla's most notorious foe, this villain only appeared in one MonsterVerse movie and was killed off. Two potential new forms of this Godzilla villain could be introduced in future MonsterVerse movies.

The MonsterVerse by Legendary Pictures has remained a resounding success, and it's one of the few examples of a successful shared movie universe beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Its 2024 entry, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, is roaring to new box office heights, showcasing that there's still a lot of juice left in the MonsterVerse's tank. At the same time, one major issue from a previous film hasn't been corrected yet in newer entries.

King Ghidorah is perhaps Godzilla's most notorious and iconic villain, with the three-headed dragon appearing across various continuities.

Rodan's portrayal in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II was a heroic and selfless beast, unlike his treatment in the Monsterverse. The Monsterverse robbed Rodan of his heroic traits, giving his big moment to Mothra instead in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. It's not too late for the Monsterverse to redeem Rodan and honor his legacy with a true selfless act alongside Godzilla.

Because of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, I can't help but feel that the Monsterverse has failed to do justice to Rodan. Despite losing to Mothra and Ghidorah in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Rodan was presented as a force to be reckoned with. Not only that, but he sported a great design and a set of fire powers that honored his portrayal in the Heisei era. He's not as strong as Godzilla, but he may still be one of the strongest Titans in the Monsterverse. All that aside,...

Godzilla movies feature surprisingly emotional deaths, from the tragic fall of Mothra to the selfless sacrifice of Dr. Serizawa. The original 1954 Godzilla's demise is a mixture of relief and tragedy, showcasing the creature as a victim of nuclear testing. Sacrifices play a prominent role in Godzilla films, with characters like Mothra and Rodan giving their lives to empower Godzilla.

As giant monster movies, it's no surprise that the Godzilla films feature plenty of death. What can be a shock is just how poignant many of these deaths are. Across Godzilla's many eras, the series has become increasingly silly, making it hard to believe that the franchise could muster any genuine emotional downbeats. Yet several of the death scenes featured throughout Godzilla's many films can be quite somber affairs, eliciting a tearful reaction amidst the chaos of kaiju battles.

The tragic deaths of Godzilla's movies come in many forms.

Godzilla has won an impressive 75% of its 56 total fights, solidifying its title as the "King of Monsters." Toho's Japanese franchise features Godzilla battling numerous iconic kaiju, with Kong being a common opponent. The American Monsterverse franchise has Godzilla winning 6 out of 8 fights, including against Ghidorah and Kong.

Since the first film was released in 1954, the Godzilla franchise has expanded to include dozens of movies, with the titular kaiju featuring in many on-screen fights. Over the decades, Godzilla has achieved international fame, becoming a household name, a pop culture icon, and holding the Guinness World Record for the longest running film franchise. The giant lizard has battled many giant beasts in its time, from Anguirus to the famous King Kong, across an astonishing 39 movies.

The films have been produced by a few different companies over the franchises 70-year run, making it confusing to watch the Godzilla movies in order. Toho, a Japanese company,...

Forget King Kong, Mothra, and Rodan, because Godzilla is about to take on his toughest foe yet: the public domain. Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theater, a new comic book series from Idw, will see the King of the Monsters battle it out with Sherlock Holmes, Jay Gatsby, and more. TheWrap has the news that the series will be written and illustrated by Tom Scioli.

Rodan would bring balance to a potential Godzilla and Kong team-up, adding a fiery dynamic to the mix. A Godzilla-Rodan alliance in Godzilla vs. Kong 3 could create a powerful quartet of Titans. The Monsterverse has the setup for Rodan to return and team up with Godzilla, Kong, and Shimo in the next film.

After Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, I'm even more eager for a Godzilla-Rodan team-up in the Monsterverse. After Rodan bowed down to Godzilla at the end of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, I was optimistic that the King of the Skies would make a second appearance in the Monsterverse. The closing scene certainly hinted at that possibility, but the subsequent Monsterverse entries have avoided that scenario entirely. But while it may seem like Rodan has been left behind, Godzilla x Kong's ending gave me a new reason to hope for his return.

I'm not sure what...

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire revived a classic trend from Toho's films, using mind control as a plot device for the Monsterverse. Toho's Showa era heavily utilized mind control to pit monsters against each other in Godzilla movies from the 1960s and 1970s. Mind control in Godzilla's older films served as an easy way to create conflict between monsters who wouldn't naturally battle each other.

In a surprising move, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire revived one of the Godzilla franchise's oldest and most overused tropes, which went dormant 20 years ago. Over the years, the Godzilla character has evolved substantially. In the beginning, he was an appropriately dark allegory for the atomic bomb and a serious threat to humanity. But as his popularity grew, Toho's depiction of Godzilla and its approach to the monster's stories went through a series of changes, with multiple versions of Godzilla debuting...

Godzilla has fought many kaiju, but fans want to see him battle the unused Ghost Godzilla, an outside-the-box villain concept from the Heisei Era. The Monsterverse has brought classic monsters to life with modern effects, sparking discussion on which Toho monsters could fit in next. The idea of Ghost Godzilla could work in the Monsterverse, with potential ties to Titan consciousness and ancestral Godzilla beings.

Godzilla has already taken on a number of incredible kaiju both in the Monsterverse, but I still need to see the modern Godzilla fight one of the craziest unused kaiju from the Heisei Era. Legendary's Monsterverse has already developed a relationship with Toho to bring some of the greatest tokusatsu monsters of the last century to life with modern special effects, including Rodan, Mothra, and Ghidorah. A common conversation point for modern Godzilla fans is which Toho monsters would be the best fit for the new direction of the Monsterverse.

Shimo's frost bite blast is even stronger than Godzilla's atomic breath in the Monsterverse. Shimo's ice breath can freeze Godzilla, potentially giving her the edge in combat. The frost bite blast not only serves as a powerful weapon, but also has the ability to plunge the Earth into an Ice Age.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire introduced a Titan ability even stronger than Godzilla's atomic breath. Whereas monsters like Kong have to rely on their own strength and agility to win fights, some of the Monsterverse's Titans enjoy inherent powers that they can use to their advantage in combat. Over the years, the Monsterverse has introduced a handful of powers for its Titans, such as King Ghidorah's gravity beams, Rodan's fiery attack, and the Ion Dragon's acid spit. But for the longest time, there's been the impression that Godzilla possesses the most potent ability of them all.

Godzilla: iconic mutated lizard with nuclear energy, famous in kaiju films since the 1950s Ultraman: alien superhero with solar-powered abilities, known for brawling hand-to-hand combat. Ultraman vs. Godzilla: Ultraman's diverse extraterrestrial superpowers could give him an advantage in a fight.

As the acclaimed big-screen behemoth Godzilla Minus One and the popular TV show Ultraman: Rising battle for viewership supremacy on Netflix, a legitimate debate about the stronger fictional character has emerged. Both gigantic fictional characters were created in Japan in the 1950s and 1960s, with the alien superhero Ultraman often facing humongous Kaiju monsters of Godzilla's ilk lurking beneath the country.

In addition to their immense size and stature, Ultraman has a host of alien technology in his favor and Godzilla has radioactive atomic energy in his, leading many fans to wonder who would come out on top if they ever clashed onscreen. Although the two iconic...

One of the more unusual creative choices made for Roland Emmerich's 1998 film "Godzilla" was to make it into, essentially, a comedy. In its structure, "Godzilla" is a straight-up adventure blockbuster, replete with the trappings of city-sized destruction and international mayhem that Emmerich typically handles with such aplomb. In its tone, however, "Godzilla" is light and breezy, and focuses on the human character Nick Tatopoulos (Matthew Broderick) and his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, the aspiring reporter Audrey (Maria Pitillo). Audrey feels stymied in her career by a lascivious, egotistical boss Charles Caiman (Harry Shearer) who implies that he'll give her a promotion in exchange for sexual favors. One might also notice that Caiman's secretary is played by actress Nancy Cartwright.

Insulted and disgusted by Charles, Audrey instead takes to the streets of New York with her cameraman Animal (Hank Azaria) hoping to catch footage of the rampaging iguana monster stalking the streets.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters is the MonsterVerse's most polarizing entry, but it has the franchise's best fight. Godzilla's and King Ghidorah's three-part battle was a well-told story in its own right. Godzilla's and King Ghidorah's fights had amazing moments and epic music, but these couldn't save the rest of the movie.

Of the many shared universes made in light of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) success, the MonsterVerse is arguably the only one that remained consistent in terms of both its quality and success. Beginning in 2014, this collaboration between American and Japanese studios reintroduced Godzilla and other classic Kaiju (now referred to as "Titans") to a new generation. This was done through movies and series that impressed critics with their hidden depths and blew fans away with their larger-than-life monster battles. The sole exception, however, seems to be Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

Despite bringing in three classic Toho kaiju namely King Ghidorah,...

Modern fandom, to say the least, is very misguided in its sense of entitlement. As proof, look no further than Change dot org, a website where anyone can start a petition for just about anything. Amongst the dozens of joke petitions, the hundreds of political petitions, and other types of requests on the website, you can find many (way too many) petitions regarding the arts and entertainment. More specifically, petitions involving what fans believe should (or should not) be included in their beloved franchises.

Perhaps, if one's feeling charitable, such petitions had some merit back during the days when most filmmakers working on franchise films were only barely aware of any given series and its fanbase. Nowadays — really, for the last 20-odd years or so — studios and producers seek to hire creators who are already self-avowed fans of a given character or source material, the better to hopefully circumvent issues with fan demands.

Godzilla has over 50 years worth of lore that has entertained fans with its bizarre tales and outlandish monsters. Being the most iconic cinematic monster, Godzilla was always more than just a creature out for blood or destruction. As cinema evolved, so did Godzilla, allowing the franchise to inhabit it with more monsters with genuine backstories and roles in the plot. Godzilla is neither a savior nor a villain despite it being either in several movies. Sometimes, when Godzilla isnt out for revenge or on a rampage, he teams up with other kaiju to fight against threats that are even scarier than him.

Although Godzilla may prefer to be a solo show, some long-standing characters and one-time wonders show up occasionally to help the famed creature in a tight spot. Many times, these characters start out as enemies, but they gone on to help him against bigger threats. Whether it was...

The 1954 Godzilla movie was far more than just the sum of its parts, with the classic movie becoming one of the greatest spectacles ever created. It not only launched the kaiju, or Japanese giant monster, genre into the mainstream but also started the longest-running and most adored movie franchise in history. With 38 films to date, Godzilla has become the most prolific leading monster and a beloved film figure.

The recent movies of the MonsterVerse, as well as the tie-in streaming series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, have rekindled America's love affair with Godzilla while paying tribute to his legacy. Likewise, Japan continues to produce new entries in the series, with one of them being lauded by fans and critics alike. There are amazing Godzilla movies from all eras, going back to the 1954 original, and a bright future for everyone's favorite 390-foot tall, city-crushing, fire (atomic breath) breathing monster.

Updated by Timothy...

Biollante is a powerhouse with regenerative abilities, challenging Godzilla in size and strength. Gigan, despite a cyborg arsenal, isn't invincible and has lost to Godzilla in two fights. Among Godzilla's rivals, only King Ghidorah could match his strength, but Godzilla still prevails due to his unmatched power.

In over 60 years of cinematic history, numerous powerful kaiju have rivaled Godzilla for his King of the Monsters title. Well over a dozen have found ways of challenging him over the years, and many have even put him at a disadvantage. The fights in his movies have made it clear that the franchise is full of powerhouses not named Godzilla.

In the movies, Godzilla has plowed through a number of his fellow monsters. Hes proven his superiority time and time again by beating kaiju like Anguirus, Ebirah, Baragon, Mothra, Kumonga, Titanosaurus, and the MonsterVerses MUTOs. Many of these fights were won easily or made difficult by team-ups.