--- title: "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" year: 2024 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire" fi1m_id: "godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire" imdb_id: "tt14539740" tmdb_id: 823464 wikidata_id: "Q113360912" fi1m_score: 57 critics_score: 59 critics_reviews: 14 published: "2026-09-09" updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:59.737536+00:00" region: "HK" 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 x Kong: The New Empire (2024) Directed by Adam Wingard · 1h 55m · OFNAA IIA · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction ## Identity Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire - **IMDb ID:** tt14539740 - **TMDB ID:** 823464 - **Wikidata ID:** Q113360912 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14539740/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/823464, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113360912 **Fi1m score: 57** · Critics 59 from 14 reviews *In a sentence:* The apes act, the humans explain, and Dan Stevens wears a shirt you can hear from the back row > Adam Wingard’s second monster team-up is bright, loud and daft, and it is at its best when the humans stop talking, which is not often enough. Left alone with the apes, it is close to good fun; the rest is people reading out the plot. ## Synopsis Kong lives beneath the surface in Hollow Earth. Godzilla keeps watch above, stirring only when something threatens the world he has decided is his. When a signal from below begins to reach the surface, Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) travels down with her adopted daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the podcaster Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry) and a Titan veterinarian called Trapper (Dan Stevens). They find a hidden tribe of Iwi and its queen (Fala Chen). Kong finds a smaller ape, and behind it a tyrant called the Skar King, who rules the apes of the deep with a whip. Adam Wingard directs, from a script by Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater and Terry Rossio. ## Review Adam Wingard’s follow-up to *Godzilla vs. Kong* (2021) is the fifth film in the Legendary MonsterVerse, and it has half learned the lesson the others refused to: nobody came for the people. Kong gets long stretches of the film to himself, without a line of dialogue, and they are the best stretches. Then the humans return to explain what we have just watched, and the film sags every time. It is loud, bright and daft, and for about a third of its 115 minutes it is good fun. The setup is simple enough. Kong lives below in Hollow Earth, Godzilla patrols the surface, and a signal from the deep sends Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), her adopted daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the podcaster Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry) and a veterinarian called Trapper (Dan Stevens) down to see what is calling. What they find includes a hidden tribe of Iwi, a queen (Fala Chen) and a tyrant ape called the Skar King. The plot beyond that is a list of reasons for large things to arrive in the same place. The ape is the film. Kong’s early scenes, hunting and bathing and sulking with a sore tooth, are played entirely on his face, and the animators give him a wariness and a short temper that no human in the cast is allowed. When he picks up a smaller ape and uses it to hit other apes we laughed out loud, and the pleasure was uncomplicated, the pleasure of a child knocking over a tower of blocks. It is the one place the film knows exactly what it is. Ben Seresin shoots Hollow Earth in saturated pinks, greens and violets, so it looks like a screensaver, and the surface in flat grey daylight, so the monsters look as if they have been dropped into news footage. Tom Hammock builds the Iwi city as carved stone lit from within, and it is the one set we wanted to look at for longer than the cut allowed. Tom Holkenborg and Antonio Di Iorio’s score pulses along in synth and hits hard when the fights start. Emily Seresin puts Stevens in shirts of a loudness that becomes a running joke, and he wears them with the ease of a man who has stopped reading his own scenes. The humans are the problem, and the script by Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater and Terry Rossio does not help them. Henry’s Bernie talks constantly and says most things twice. Hall is a fine, watchful actress given readouts to frown at. Hottle, who has the film’s one real feeling to carry, a girl who does not know where she belongs, is handed a lost-tribe subplot that resolves itself in a montage. Josh Schaeffer cuts away from the people as soon as he decently can, which tells you how the editor felt about them, and the film keeps going back anyway. Somewhere past the hour we realised we had stopped listening to anyone with a mouth and were simply waiting for the next growl. That is fine in a monster film for a while. It is less fine when the climax arrives, and landmarks come down in several countries, and the sound is mixed so high that we came out of the cinema tired. The film has no interest in whether anybody was inside those buildings, and after a point neither did we, which is not a thing we like noticing about ourselves. Ishirō Honda’s *Godzilla* (1954) was about a bomb. [*Godzilla Minus One*](https://film.one/film/godzilla-minus-one) (2023) was about a man who could not forgive himself, and it made its monster frightening with a fraction of the resources. *The New Empire* is about an ape with a club, and it knows it. *Godzilla vs. Kong* was tidier, one fight promised and one fight delivered; this has more monsters and less shape. At home you can turn the sound down and skip nothing, since the plot survives in the pictures. It runs 115 minutes and carries a 12A, and the certificate is right: nothing in it will frighten anybody. See it if you are about nine, or have one with you. *Fi1m score 57, published 9 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics land in the middle, and nearly all of them agree on the shape of the thing: the monster fights are the point, and the humans are in the way. The praise clusters on the brawls themselves, bright and staged across recognisable landmarks, and on Kong, whose story several reviewers find the film tells more clearly through animated eyes and grunts than through any of its dialogue. Several call it goofy and mean it kindly. The complaints are just as consistent: a long, exposition-heavy first hour, thinly drawn people, and a plot that keeps the titans apart for too long. Where they part is on whether the fights are enough. The Wrap and Digital Spy call it the most enjoyable film in the series; Screen Daily and Den of Geek find diminishing returns, with bigger battles landing more softly each time. Slant and Deadline hold it against Godzilla Minus One and find it wanting. The spread is wide, from warm to weary. ## Straight answers **Is Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire worth watching?** *Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire* is worth watching only if you want two hours of apes hitting things and can forgive the people in between, and we scored it 57. Kong's wordless stretches are good fun; the humans read the plot aloud and the film sags each time they do. See it if you are about nine, or have one with you. **How long is Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and what is it rated?** *Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire* runs 1h 55m and is rated IIA by the OFNAA in Hong Kong. It is an action and adventure film. **Where can I watch Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire in Hong Kong?** *Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire* is streaming on HBO Max in Hong Kong. It leaves HBO Max on 3 October. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and is it suitable for children?** *Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire* carries a UK 12A, and nothing in it will frighten anybody. The violence is monsters hitting monsters and landmarks coming down in several countries, with no interest in whether anyone was inside, so it is loud rather than upsetting. The sound is mixed high enough that we left the cinema tired, which is the only thing small children may object to. **How does Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire compare to Godzilla Minus One?** *Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire* is the bigger, louder and dafter of the two, and [*Godzilla Minus One*](https://film.one/film/godzilla-minus-one) is the better film by some distance. Yamazaki makes his monster frightening with a boat, a man and a fraction of the resources; Wingard gives you an ape with a club and knows it. Choose the earlier film if you want to be scared, this one if you want to be entertained without thinking. **What should I watch after Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire?** After *Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire*, try [*Godzilla Minus One*](https://film.one/film/godzilla-minus-one) (2023, Fi1m 81): One man, one boat, one monster, and it actually frightens you. Then [*Godzilla*](https://film.one/film/godzilla) (1954, Fi1m 88): Honda’s original, where the monster is a bomb and the grief is real; and [*Pacific Rim*](https://film.one/film/pacific-rim) (2013, Fi1m 70): Del Toro’s robots versus monsters, with weight, rain and people worth minding. ### Reviews we read (20) - **Empire**, Amon Warmann (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a fun slice of monster mayhem when the creatures finally collide, praising the bright and inventive fights between the titans. They complain that the human characters are shallow and the story takes too long to reach the main event. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire/) - **Total Film**, Jane Crowther (70/100, inferred): The critic calls it disposable fun saturated in vivid colour, praising the impressive global fights and nods to classic Godzilla films. They note the long exposition-heavy setup but say the behemoth battles deliver what fans want. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review/) - **Radio Times**, James Mottram (3/5): The critic finds it a bonkers ride that may not eclipse the previous film but delivers insane destruction at global landmarks and fine comic relief from the humans. The Titans run the show with impressive rendering of new creatures like the Skar King. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review/) - **Time Out**, Olly Richards (3/5): The critic calls it brainless brawn that is pretty entertaining as a showcase for big things hitting each other, though instantly forgettable. The Kong scenes are the best parts with some attempt to tell a story through ape grunts and CG eyes. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-2024) - **Slant Magazine**, Derek Smith (2/4): The critic finds the film dispiriting monster mush that spends too long on pointless world-building and cringe human drama before delivering generic kaiju fights. The action sequences lack the emotional or psychological depth of better entries like Godzilla Minus One. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck (50/100, inferred): The critic calls it a so-so franchise entry where dull humans drag down the monster mayhem. Kong gets some emotional moments, but the CGI action feels like video-game spectacle without novelty. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review-1235861210/) - **Screen Daily** (40/100, inferred): The critic sees it as a numbing sequel of diminishing returns where fights grow more gargantuan but results get punier, with very little emotion or inspiration underneath the orgiastic violence. The humans are crudely drawn and mainly provide exposition. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review/5191966.article) - **Vulture** (40/100, inferred): The film fails to deliver strong giant-monster action and instead makes the kaiju disconcertingly cute and merchandisable. Human characters are wasted on exposition and awkward banter while the fights lack scale or impact. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/godzilla-x-kong-review-kaiju-dont-need-to-be-cute.html) - **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh: Wingard delivers a hectic, overloaded monster jam with an unusually strong cast of human actors that gets lost amid too many creatures and a harried energy that turns tiresome and deafening. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-03-28/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review-rebecca-hall-dan-stevens-brian-tyree-henry) - **Sight and Sound**, Kim Newman: The critic describes it as an enjoyably goofy monster mash where human characters work hard to keep the plot moving but the colossal beasts smash through weaker moments. The spectacle fully embraces a toddler-tantrum-on-a-colossal-scale aesthetic and is winning because of its essential goofiness. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-an-enjoyably-goofy-monster-mash) - **The Guardian**: The critic finds the monster mash-up has a likable, light-hearted zip but energy dissipates with the humans and script; it delivers child-like satisfaction in the fights but feels sloppier and more forgettable than its predecessor. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/28/godzilla-vs-kong-the-new-empire-review) - **The New York Times**, Alissa Wilkinson: The film feels like a desperate attempt to justify the franchise's existence and continuation, with too many human characters and not enough sense or emotional weight beyond the monster fights. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/28/movies/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review.html) - **The Telegraph**, Robbie Collin: The critic states it isn’t good and amounts to little more than giant monsters fighting with some trippiness at the end but lacks grandeur, emotional impact or anything beyond the bare minimum promised by the title. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review/) - **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman: The fifth MonsterVerse entry is overly busy boilerplate until its awesome clash-of-the-titans climax, but the real issue is that it gives no compelling reason to care about any of the world-building or characters. [Read](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review-1235953545/) - **The Wrap** (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it fun, ridiculous and an efficient monster fight delivery system with dense set pieces and creative creatures. They praise the monster action and inner journeys conveyed through CGI, deeming it the best and most entertaining film in the Legendary Monsterverse. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/godzilla-kong-the-new-empire-review/) - **Digital Spy**, Ian Sandwell (75/100, inferred): The critic calls it the most enjoyable MonsterVerse film yet, praising how it finally centres the titans themselves with pared-down storytelling, fun set pieces, and a sense of mischief. The story feels thin at times and lacks emotional depth, but the blockbuster spectacle delivers. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a60292074/godzilla-x-kong-review/) - **/Film**, Witney Seibold (7.5/10): The critic finds the film big, silly, and undeniably entertaining, more like a Saturday morning cartoon than a serious blockbuster. They single out the visually wild monster mayhem, such as Kong using a miniature ape as a club, for praise while noting the human story feels perfunctory. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1549687/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review/) - **Polygon**, Joshua Rivera (75/100, inferred): The critic sees the film as absurd, over-the-top spectacle more like pro wrestling than a conventional movie, with efficient pacing that prioritizes giant monster action over human elements. Kong’s arc and the sheer silly fun of the kaiju battles are singled out as highlights in an entertainingly dumb blockbuster. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/24114548/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (50/100, inferred): The critic describes it as more of the same stomp fest from the Monsterverse, with the Titans teaming up against a new villain in Hollow Earth. They note the Showa-era nostalgia and Mothra cameo but find the human elements caricatured and the film Hollywoodized compared to more impressive entries like Godzilla Minus One. [Read](https://deadline.com/2024/03/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review-the-titans-of-the-monsterverse-join-forces-against-evil-but-it-is-all-still-just-more-of-the-same-stomp-fest-1235870412/) - **Den of Geek**, David Crow (2/5): The critic calls the film a cartoonish slog for most of its runtime, with boring monsters and a weak script that keeps the titans apart too long. It only livens up in a daffy, over-caffeinated climax that arrives too late to save the movie. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Adam Wingard - **Director:** Adam Wingard - **Screenplay:** Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater - **Story:** Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett, Terry Rossio - **Cinematography:** Ben Seresin - **Editor:** Josh Schaeffer - **Music:** Junkie XL, Antonio Di Iorio - **Production design:** Tom Hammock - **Costume design:** Emily Seresin - **Producer:** Thomas Tull, Mary Parent, Jon Jashni - **Cast:** Rebecca Hall as Ilene Andrews; Brian Tyree Henry as Bernie Hayes; Dan Stevens as Trapper; Kaylee Hottle as Jia; Alex Ferns as Mikael; Fala Chen as Iwi Queen; Rachel House as Hampton; Ron Smyck as Harris - **Runtime:** 1h 55m - **Certificate (OFNAA):** IIA - **Release (Hong Kong):** 28 March 2024 - **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Science Fiction - **Budget:** $150 million - **Box office:** $572 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2u6RfmTXt0 ## Where to watch in Hong Kong - HBO Max: streaming, uhd, leaving 2026-10-03 *Checked 2026-09-10.* Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Godzilla Minus One* (2023), Fi1m 81: One man, one boat, one monster, and it actually frightens you. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-minus-one.md) - *Godzilla* (1954), Fi1m 88: Honda’s original, where the monster is a bomb and the grief is real. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/godzilla.md) - *Pacific Rim* (2013), Fi1m 70: Del Toro’s robots versus monsters, with weight, rain and people worth minding. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/pacific-rim.md) - *Shin Godzilla* (2016), Fi1m 74: A kaiju film about committee meetings, and far more gripping than that sounds. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/shin-godzilla.md) - *Colossal* (2016): Anne Hathaway discovers she is a monster in Seoul; small, odd and sharp. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire