--- title: "Godzilla vs. Kong: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/godzilla-vs-kong/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/godzilla-vs-kong" critics_score: 58 critics_reviews: 29 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Godzilla vs. Kong (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 58 from 29 reviews: 13 positive, 7 mixed, 9 negative. Most critics come down in favour, though few with much warmth. The praise clusters on the monster fights: they are staged clearly, lit so you can see what is happening, and choreographed so every blow registers. The neon-lit Hong Kong brawl and the shipboard battle are named again and again. Kong himself gets credit too, for expressive animation and a bond with Jia that several reviews find touching. The reservations are as consistent. Nearly everyone finds the human story thin, the dialogue tired and the mythology muddled, and the disagreement is over how much that matters. The spread is wide. Some take it as pure escapism and forgive everything; others find it wearying. The New Yorker calls it emotionally hollow and says it shrinks its own monsters, Slant finds the central fights dull and arbitrary, and Eye for Film goes further than most in faulting the effects themselves, the water in particular. ## Little White Lies — Charles Bramesco Rating 3/4/3. 29 March 2021. Bramesco finds the crossover underwhelming, despite its monster fights. He praises the clearly choreographed clashes but criticizes the humans’ drawn-out, unnecessary subplots. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/godzilla-vs-king-kong) ## Los Angeles Times — Jessica Kiang Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2021. Kiang finds the film a welcome, giddily escapist blockbuster despite its rudimentary plotting. She especially praises the spectacular kaiju battles and the fun of its oversized, neon-lit destruction. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-03-29/godzilla-vs-kong-review-hbo-max) ## The Guardian — Simran Hans Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 April 2021. Hans finds the film vastly superior to its predecessor, with spectacle more involving than its plot. She praises the dazzling image of Kong floating skyward among glowing purple rocks. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/apr/03/godzilla-vs-kong-review) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating B-. 29 March 2021. Erbland finds the film an entertaining, satisfying MonsterVerse entry whose battles deliver the franchise’s best action yet. She especially praises the clear, coherent staging of the Titan fights, including the ocean-set showdown. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/godzilla-vs-kong-review-monsterverse-1234625232/) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 April 2021. The review finds the film an entertaining spectacle, despite its hurried human storylines. It praises the monsters as appealing protagonists and their energetic, pro-wrestling-style battles. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/godzilla-vs-kong-2021-giant-alpha-male-playground-destruction-adam-wingard-alexander-skarsgard-rebecca-hall) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2021. Rooney finds the monster showdown an enjoyable, worthy franchise match despite muddled mythology and thin human characters. He especially praises Kong’s expressive animation and its poignant connection with Jia. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/godzilla-vs-kong-film-review-4157401/) ## The i Paper — Francesca Steele Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 March 2021. Steele finds the film overstuffed and narratively incoherent, but ultimately enjoys its audacious spectacle. She particularly praises the clear, elegant, and brutal monster-fight set pieces. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/godzilla-vs-king-kong-review-film-release-date-streaming-937003) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2021. Debruge finds the film a dumb-fun spectacle whose monster battles deliver impressive mayhem, though its human story and dialogue are weak. He especially praises the dynamic, visually striking fights between Godzilla and Kong. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/godzilla-vs-kong-review-1234939364/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also provides no information about what the critic praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/godzilla-vs-kong-movie-review-2021) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2021. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its standfirst mentions the film going straight to streaming, but gives no specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/godzilla-vs-kong-review/5158450.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 30 March 2021. The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint is available from the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/movies/godzilla-vs-kong-review.html) ## Time Out — Stephen A Russell Rating 3/5. 28 March 2021. Russell presents the film as mindless kaiju mayhem worth surrendering to. The review singles out the clash of the titans as its appeal. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/godzilla-vs-kong) ## Total Film — Jamie Graham Rating 3/5. 24 March 2021. The review finds the film a fun, forceful blockbuster despite weak human characters and predictable plotting. It praises the expertly choreographed monster battles for delivering real impact. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/godzilla-vs-kong-review/) ## Radio Times — Patrick Cremona Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2021. Cremona finds the film flawed and says it does not work well on a small screen. The headline allows that it has moments, while the description stresses the big-screen experience. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/godzilla-vs-kong-review/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 31 March 2021. Ebiri finds the film silly and intermittently entertaining, with its human story dragging down the spectacle. He praises the suspenseful, inventive shipboard monster battle as the standout sequence. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-godzilla-vs-kong-in-theaters-and-on-hbo-max.html) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 24 March 2021. The review finds the film’s monster fights enjoyable but says the setup and human characters make much of it a slog. It praises the coherent, well-choreographed titan battles while criticizing the cliché-ridden science-fiction story and dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/godzilla-vs-kong/) ## Slant Magazine — Keith Uhlich Rating 1/4. 30 March 2021. Uhlich finds the film a wearying, perfunctory spectacle rather than an awe-inspiring monster movie. He praises the glowstick-lit Hong Kong skyline as an eye-catching visual, but finds the central fights dull and arbitrary. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/godzilla-vs-kong-review/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2021. Brody finds the film an overloaded, emotionally hollow jumble that diminishes its monsters and their stakes. He singles out Kong’s punch at Godzilla aboard an aircraft carrier as the film’s best moment. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/godzilla-vs-kong-reviewed-a-monster-mush-of-two-venerable-franchises) ## Polygon — Joshua Rivera Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2021. The critic finds the film a thrilling, exuberant spectacle that works best as a straightforward monster brawl. They single out the kinetic, carefully choreographed fights and vivid Hong Kong backdrop for praise. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22356658/godzilla-vs-kong-review/) ## Consequence — Kyle Cubr Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2021. The critic calls the film pure escapism and tremendously fun, though its human subplot and setup can frustrate. The varied, unobscured monster battles and Kong’s humanity stand out for praise. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2021/03/film-review-godzilla-vs-kong/) ## Paste — Jim Vorel Rating 7.0. 29 March 2021. Vorel finds the film successful as a monster brawl but weighed down by thin human characters. He praises the satisfyingly bombastic, clear action between Godzilla and Kong. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/godzilla/godzilla-vs-kong-review-problems-adam-wingard) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). The critic calls it imperfect but hugely entertaining, with plot and character taking a back seat to spectacle. They praise the clearly staged, beautifully choreographed monster fights, especially the Hong Kong set-piece. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/godzilla-vs-kong-review-2912678) ## HeyUGuys — Stefan Pape Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film an entertaining, unapologetically simple monster spectacle, though its human characters lack depth. The review praises Brian Tyree Henry’s performance and the epic, compelling fights, while singling out Kong’s expressive characterization as a strength. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/godzilla-vs-kong-review/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 6.5/10. 29 March 2021. The critic finds the film silly but entertaining, arguing that its embrace of monster mayhem makes it work. He praises the clear, spectacular creature battles and Kong’s sympathetic characterization. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/580192/godzilla-vs-kong-review/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3/5. 29 March 2021. Crow finds the film’s story muddled and its human characters unengaging, but considers the monster battles dazzling and cheerfully excessive. He particularly praises the clear, well-lit action and the spectacle of Kong and Godzilla tearing through neon-lit Hong Kong. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/godzilla-vs-kong-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating D-. 29 March 2021. Goldberg finds the film an empty, disposable spectacle that gives viewers little reason to care. He singles out the underdeveloped human characters and plotting as especially weak, while noting the monster fights deliver what some viewers want. [Read the review](https://collider.com/godzilla-vs-kong-review/) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 30 March 2021. Nayman finds the film incoherent, lazy, and ultimately unrewarding despite a few entertaining moments. He praises its emphasis on Kong’s relatable underdog status and singles out Kong’s sigh in the Antarctic as the film’s best character beat. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2021/03/30/movies/godzilla-vs-kong-movie-review) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2021. The critic finds the film disappointing, with a thin story and only passable monster battles. The expressive visual effects stand out as a strength, while the human characters and action lack depth and dynamism. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/godzilla-vs-kong-film-review-2021-monsterverse/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 5 April 2021. The review finds the film a messy, overlong disappointment with little point to its spectacle. It particularly criticizes the muddled pacing and the visual effects, especially the water and neon-lit battle sequences. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/godzilla-vs-kong-2021-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/godzilla-vs-kong.md